15, 5, & 5 FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 17TH, 2024
15 TO WATCH
Bryson DeChambeau Wins Second U.S. Open, Record $4.3M Prize: Bryson DeChambeau secured his second U.S. Open title, narrowly defeating Rory McIlroy. He won a record $4.3 million, the highest for a major championship, in an event marked by high fan engagement and intense competition.
The ‘Big’ in Big 12 Could Soon Be Replaced With a Sponsor’s Name: The Big 12 Conference is considering selling its naming rights to a sponsor, potentially earning $30-50 million annually. Discussions also include a possible $800 million to $1 billion investment from CVC Capital Partners for a 15-20% stake in the conference.
Ferrari Defends Title as 499P Hypercar Wins 24 Hours of Le Mans: Ferrari won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the second consecutive year, with drivers Nicklas Nielsen, Antonio Fuoco, and Miguel Molina overcoming challenging conditions to finish first, edging out Toyota by 14.221 seconds.
UEFA Seeks to Reach New Commercial Heights Through Euro 2024: Germany will host Euro 2024, with high expectations for record attendance and revenue. UEFA projects a 25% increase in revenue, potentially generating €2.4 billion, supported by 18 commercial partners and significant global broadcast deals.
Charles Barkley Announces Retirement From Television: NBA commentator Charles Barkley will retire after the 2024-25 season, concluding a 25-year career with Turner Broadcasting. He hinted at ongoing media rights negotiations and potential successors like Jamal Crawford and Vince Carter.
U.S. Swimming Trials Draws Record Attendance: The U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials set a new attendance record with 20,689 spectators. The event featured notable performances, including Katie Ledecky's qualification for her fourth Olympics, highlighting the growing popularity of the Trials.
Rays Nearing $1.3B Stadium Deal, Clear Path to St. Pete Commitment: The St. Petersburg city council preliminarily approved a $1.3 billion stadium deal for the Rays, with the team contributing $700 million. The project aims to end relocation rumors and secure the team's future in St. Petersburg.
College World Series: Record Crowds and TV Viewership Anticipated: The College World Series in Omaha aims to break attendance and viewership records. Last year’s event drew 392,946 fans, and this year’s games are expected to attract significant attention from ACC and SEC fan bases.
Dana White Discusses Potential Saudi Boxing League Partnership: UFC President Dana White expressed openness to partnering with a new Saudi boxing league. This comes amid UFC's first event in Saudi Arabia and recent challenges in securing main event replacements.
Caitlin Clark's Impact on WNBA Attendance in 2024: Caitlin Clark has significantly boosted WNBA attendance, accounting for 33.5% of total league attendance in 2024. Games featuring Clark see a 105% increase in average attendance, highlighting her star power.
IOC Proposes Holding Separate Olympics for Esports: The IOC proposed the "Olympic Esports Games," following successful pilot events. The initiative aims to capitalize on esports' growth, despite the industry facing financial struggles.
Singer Niall Horan Invests in Fenway Sports, McIlroy TGL Team: Niall Horan invested in Boston Common Golf, part of the TGL league co-founded by Rory McIlroy. Horan’s involvement, along with his substantial social media following, supports the league’s innovative format and reach.
Smith Entertainment Group Officially Acquires NHL Franchise: Smith Entertainment Group established Utah’s first NHL franchise, Utah Hockey Club, debuting in the 2024-25 season. The team features unique branding and will play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
Castore Maintains Premier League Presence with Everton: Everton secured a record kit deal with Castore, starting in the 2024-25 season. The partnership, valued at over £20 million annually, includes Castore as a founding partner of Everton's new stadium.
Phillies' Hot Start Delivering for TV Partners with Audience Spikes: The Phillies' strong performance has boosted local TV viewership by 30%, averaging 360,000 viewers per game. National broadcasts also saw increases, with ESPN’s "Sunday Night Baseball" games featuring the Phillies drawing 1.67 million viewers on average.
SPORTS TECH 5
SEICON 2024 Announces USA TODAY Sports as Presenting Sponsor: SEICON 2024, a conference focused on sports, entertainment, and innovation, has partnered with USA TODAY Sports. The event will feature 120 thought leaders and aims to foster collaboration and innovation in sports and entertainment.
TRACAB’s Ball- and Player-Tracking Solution Receives FIFA Certification: TRACAB’s camera-based Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) received FIFA certification. The system tracks 21 body points with centimeter accuracy, enhancing VAR decisions and will be implemented in the Premier League for the 2024-25 season.
Cyberattacks and Boycotts Set to Disrupt Summer of Sport: Major sporting events face threats from cyberattacks and boycotts. Microsoft reported increased Russian disinformation campaigns targeting the Paris Olympics, highlighting the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures.
NHL Execs Set to Check Out Progress Being Made at Sphere for Upcoming Draft: NHL officials are preparing for the 2024 Draft at the Sphere in Las Vegas, a first-of-its-kind venue for the event. The innovative space promises a unique draft experience, with significant creative and promotional opportunities.
Rice University Grants $800,000 to DivInc Sports Tech Accelerator: Rice University awarded DivInc an $800,000 grant to support diverse founders in sports tech startups. The funding will enhance accelerator programs, fostering innovation and addressing capital gaps for BIPOC and women founders.
GOOD SPORTS 5
Laureus USA Announces "10 Years of Sport for Good" Campaign: Laureus USA launched a campaign to raise funds and awareness for its Sport for Good Cities initiative. The campaign celebrates ten years of empowering communities through sports and aims to expand its impact over the next decade.
Dubai Golf Commits to Environmental Conservation: Dubai Golf participated in a mangrove planting initiative to support the UAE’s goal of planting over 100 million mangroves by 2040. The initiative underscores the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability.
MLB Accelerates Sustainability Work Through WM Deal: MLB partnered with WM to enhance sustainability efforts, marking WM as the league’s first sustainability-focused partner. The collaboration includes sponsorship of Earth Day and Green Week activations and sustainability advisory services for MLB teams.
Social Responsibility Hiring in Sports Industry Drops by 18% in Q1 2023: The global sports industry saw an 18% decrease in social responsibility-related job postings in Q1 2023 compared to the previous quarter. Management occupations led the hiring activity, with the US accounting for the majority of these job postings.
Year-Round Platform Acclaimed for Growing The Game: Women’s Golf Day (WGD) continues to engage and empower women golfers globally through its year-round platform. The initiative connects golfers with resources and events, driving growth and inclusion in the sport.