15/5/5 for the week of September 16th
15 TO WATCH
PAC-12 Revitalized with New Additions and Financial Implications: The PAC-12 has announced that Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State will join Oregon State and Washington State in 2026, rebuilding the conference after its collapse last year. These schools will pay exit fees of $18 million each, totaling over $70 million. The new PAC-12 schools expect to receive over $10 million annually from media rights, potentially doubling their current distributions from the Mountain West.
UFC 306 Breaks Multiple Records at The Sphere in Las Vegas: UFC 306 at The Sphere in Las Vegas shattered records, generating a $22 million gate—the highest in UFC history—and becoming the highest-grossing event at the venue. Merchandise sales also hit an all-time high for the promotion. Despite the impressive production, the headline fight saw Merab Dvalishvili dethroning Sean O'Malley, and Valentina Shevchenko regaining the flyweight title.
Disney and DirecTV Reach New Carriage Agreement: After a two-week blackout, Disney and DirecTV have reached a new carriage agreement that allows the satellite TV company to offer genre-specific bundles, including sports. ESPN and other Disney channels will return in time for major college football games and Monday Night Football. DirecTV also secured rights to offer ESPN’s forthcoming streaming service as part of the deal.
Fox Aims to Dominate College Football Friday Nights: Fox Sports is pushing further into Friday night college football, replacing WWE’s SmackDown on its main channel with a 12-game slate from the Big Ten, Big 12, and Mountain West conferences. Fox is betting on college football to match or surpass the 2.5 million viewers SmackDown averaged. West Coast schools, including USC and Oregon, will fill the key Friday night slots.
U.S. Open Finals Ratings Plunge Despite American Players: The U.S. Open men's final, featuring Jannik Sinner and Taylor Fritz, saw a 31% drop in viewership, with only 1.8 million tuning in. The women's final between Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula also experienced a 53% decrease from last year’s Coco Gauff victory. Both finals aired on broadcast TV for the first time since 2014 but faced competition from NFL games, which averaged 30 million viewers.
Manchester City’s Hearing on 115 Financial Breaches Begins: Manchester City’s long-awaited hearing on 115 Premier League financial breaches is set to begin. Accused of violating financial fair play rules and failing to cooperate with investigations, City could face severe penalties if found guilty. The club has denied all allegations, stating they have irrefutable evidence in their favor, and looks forward to the hearing to clear their name.
Men’s Cricket World Cup Generates $1.39 Billion for India: The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India generated $1.39 billion in economic impact, drawing over 1.25 million spectators and creating 48,000 jobs. Tourism accounted for $861.4 million, while secondary spending contributed $515.7 million. This event underscored cricket's immense financial power, with international visitors generating $281.2 million in tourism revenue.
NBA and MLB Consider National RSN Packages: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred are exploring national Regional Sports Network (RSN) packages to replace the crumbling RSN model. A new streaming service, similar to NFL Sunday Ticket, could pool local media rights from 15-20 teams by 2025. The shift would ensure broader access to games, though larger market teams may push back.
Tua Tagovailoa’s Contract Could Be Impacted by Health Decisions: Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s future is uncertain after another concussion, raising concerns about retirement. If Tua retires voluntarily, he could forfeit $124 million of his $212.4 million contract extension. However, a forced medical retirement would allow him to claim the remaining amount. This scenario could set a precedent for how NFL contracts are handled post-injury.
Cost of Titans’ New Stadium Rises by $100 Million: Nashville's new NFL stadium for the Tennessee Titans has seen its budget increase from $2.1 billion to $2.2 billion due to final design changes. The updated plan includes expanded spaces for future growth and the latest in point-of-sale technology, making the facility fully capable of frictionless transactions.
Topgolf and Callaway to Split into Two Companies: Callaway and Topgolf will separate into two independent companies, just three years after their merger. Callaway will focus on golf equipment and retain Toptracer, while Topgolf will continue as a standalone entertainment company. Together, the two companies generated over $4.3 billion in revenue over the past year.
Sacramento State Eyes FBS Move with Local Support: Community leaders in Sacramento have launched the "Sac-12" campaign, aiming to propel Sacramento State from FCS to FBS football, hoping for an invite from the Pac-12 or Mountain West. Sacramento State is in the nation’s 20th-largest media market and has seen growing success in athletics, but the school must undergo a two-year NCAA transition process to join the FBS ranks.
Fanatics Enters Sports Betting with Washington Spirit Partnership: Fanatics has expanded into sports betting by partnering with the Washington Spirit of the NWSL. This marks Fanatics' first women’s sports partnership, with plans for in-stadium activations and digital marketing. Fanatics continues to grow its sports betting division, leveraging its vast e-commerce reach to enter new markets.
Florida State to Pay Memphis $1.3 Million After Upset Loss: Florida State will pay Memphis $1.3 million after losing to the Tigers 20-12 in a non-conference “buy game.” The Seminoles entered the game as 6.5-point favorites, but the loss dropped them to 0-3 for the season. Memphis remains a top Group of Five contender for the College Football Playoff.
Jay Williams Advocates for Private Equity in College Sports: Former NBA player Jay Williams expressed interest in owning 49% of Duke Basketball, as private equity continues to make inroads in sports ownership. Williams sees media rights as a major asset for private equity firms and believes such investments could reshape college athletics, similar to moves in the NFL and NBA.
SPORTS TECH 5
UFC 306 at The Sphere Features Groundbreaking Technology: UFC 306 at Las Vegas’ Sphere broke new ground with its cutting-edge use of a 160,000-square-foot media plane and 16K resolution displays, enhancing the fan experience. The event’s budget exceeded $20 million, doubling the usual UFC event cost, and incorporated unique visuals that provided a one-of-a-kind viewing experience both in-venue and on pay-per-view.
Immersive 360-Degree Sports Viewing Experience Gains Popularity: Cosm’s 360-degree immersive sports viewing experience went viral during the Texas-Michigan football game, offering fans a dynamic way to watch live events. The technology allows users to toggle between multiple camera angles, integrating augmented reality and enhancing fan engagement. With plans to open 50 venues by the end of the decade, Cosm’s expansion is reshaping how sports are watched.
CrowdSync Technology Enhances Dolphins-Bills Game: The Miami Dolphins implemented CrowdSync’s rail-affixed LED lights during their Thursday Night Football game against the Buffalo Bills. This large-scale visual installation is designed to enhance in-venue experiences with dynamic light shows. The lights are controlled by radio frequency and segmented by section, creating visually stunning effects for fans.
WSC Sports Partners with Czech Soccer League: Czech soccer’s League Football Association (LFA) has partnered with AI-powered video provider WSC Sports to enhance its digital content. This technology will allow the LFA’s clubs to streamline video production, enabling quicker social media updates and tailored highlights. WSC Sports has worked with other major leagues, including La Liga and EuroLeague.
Wimbledon Enters Esports with ‘eChamps’ Tournament: Wimbledon is launching its first official esports tournament, "Wimbledon eChamps," using the TopSpin 2K25 video game. Players from eight countries will compete for a chance to win a gold-plated PlayStation 5 and an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2025 Wimbledon men’s final. The tournament highlights Wimbledon’s expansion into digital sports and esports.
GOOD SPORTS 5
FIU Partners with Alienware to Launch Esports Lounge: Florida International University (FIU) has opened a 3,042-square-foot esports lounge, featuring 39 Alienware gaming stations. The new facility aims to foster a strong esports culture on campus, with the university launching an esports marketing certificate and planning future competitions.
Bills Fans Rally Around Tua Tagovailoa with Donations: After Tua Tagovailoa suffered another concussion, Buffalo Bills fans donated nearly $18,000 to the Dolphins quarterback’s charity. The Tua Foundation supports youth initiatives and wellness programs, and this marks the second time Bills fans have rallied to support the injured quarterback.
Austin Ekeler Launches ‘Eksperience’ Fan Engagement App: NFL star Austin Ekeler has launched "Eksperience," an app designed to connect fans with athletes through personalized interactions like autographs, training tips, and virtual meet-and-greets. The app provides athletes with a new revenue stream, generating $20,000 in its first six months, and aims to enhance fan-athlete engagement.
MLS Relaunches Voting Initiative Ahead of Elections: MLS has relaunched its "MLS Unites to Vote" initiative, encouraging fans to register to vote ahead of National Voter Registration Day. The campaign includes stadium activations and digital resources to educate fans about the voting process, with several MLS clubs hosting voter registration drives at upcoming matches.
SPIRE Academy Continues to Lead Youth Sports Education: SPIRE Academy, a leading youth sports academy, has seen a 65% increase in student enrollment and a 45% rise in camp participation. SPIRE’s unique model blends world-class athletics with academics, attracting top talent and generating a significant economic impact, with a $90 million contribution to the local economy.