Latest news with #FrontOfficeSports
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Grand Slam Track may not return, Michael Johnson concedes - with some athletes still yet to be paid amid 'major cash flow issue'
Michael Johnson has confessed his new Grand Slam Track venture has a 'major cash flow issue' and it is not guaranteed to return for a second year. The US legend's new athletics league launched in Kingston, Jamaica in April, with stars promised record prize money and lucrative contracts. However, the fourth and final event of the inaugural season, scheduled for Los Angeles, was cancelled at late notice last month, while athletes have still not received their winnings. Grand Slam Track have previously downplayed cash concerns, insisting participants would be paid what they were due from Jamaica by the end of this month, with money owed from the other two meets in Miami and Philadelphia to come in September. Johnson, though, has now admitted that his start-up – which was said to have received $30million of funding - is in financial crisis after a major investor backed out on an eight-figure commitment. 'We had a very difficult situation this year financially,' Johnson told Front Office Sports. 'We had an investor that wasn't able to honour their complete commitment to the league. 'That was a huge blow to us, caused a major, major cash flow issue for us, put us in a difficult position, put our athletes in a difficult position. But we're very confident that we'll pull ourselves out of it. 'We've got to get this right, we've got to get our athletes and vendors taken care of. We've been working very hard over the last couple of months to make sure that we can get everyone taken care of and making sure that we can actually get to next season. 'It's what I wake up in the middle of the night working on and thinking about.' Johnson admitted Grand Slam Track 'probably went too fast' and that they need to be 'more cautious' going forward. His confession comes after World Athletics president Lord Coe said the global governing body were closely monitoring the situation and were concerned that athletes had not been paid. 'This is not a good situation,' he said. 'Athletes do need paying. Conduct in our sport is important to us. We are following this closely.' Britain's fastest man, Zharnel Hughes, confirmed this week that he was still waiting for his prize money and that athletes would now be wary about joining a second season of Grand Slam Track. 'I think people enjoyed it, but now that the payments have been delayed and they fell short by not having the last one, people may be more hesitant to try out next season,' said Hughes.
NBC News
18-07-2025
- Sport
- NBC News
Why Caitlin Clark's latest injury is terrible timing for the WNBA
Last August, the WNBA announced that Indianapolis — home of the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark — would host the league's All-Star weekend this season for the first time. Clark's home city was a logical choice for this week's star-studded festivities. During her rookie season last year, Clark had an incredible impact on the WNBA's business, single-handedly accounting for massive increases in merchandise sales, viewership and attendance. On Thursday, however, the WNBA's best-laid plans for a Clark-led All-Star weekend officially went awry, as Clark announced she would have to sit out because of a left groin injury. 'I am incredibly sad and disappointed to say I can't participate in the 3-Point Contest or the All-Star Game,' Clark said in a statement. 'I have to rest my body. I will still be at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for all the action and I'm looking forward to helping Sandy [Brondello] coach our team to a win.' The injury is the third that has caused Clark to miss time during her sophomore season. She played in only 13 of the Fever's 23 games before the All-Star break because of quad and groin injuries. It's significant not only for Clark as a player — prior to this season, she had never missed a game in college or in her rookie year — but also for the league. While the WNBA has been steadily increasing in popularity, Clark still has an outsized impact on the attention she and the league command. Her previous injuries, for example, caused ticket prices to plummet on multiple occasions. Ticket prices to a June 27 game against the Dallas Wings fell by 40% after Clark was injured in the previous game, according to Front Office Sports. That drop was paltry compared to Indiana's June 7 game against the Chicago Sky, which has become one of the league's most anticipated matchups thanks to Clark's rivalry with Angel Reese. Ticket prices for that game — which was moved from the Sky's usual home arena to the larger United Center — fell by 71% after an injury to Clark in May. Her absence is also felt in TV ratings. In mid-June, the national audience for WNBA games fell by 55% while Clark was out, according to Nielsen. In nationally televised games featuring the Fever, ratings were down 53%. With Clark out, now it's the All-Star game that will be at the mercy of her absence. Last year, the game had a record 3.4 million viewers, a 305% increase compared with 2023, according to the WNBA. Tickets for last season were also in high demand, according to StubHub, which claimed that sales for the 2024 All-Star game were 13 times higher than the previous three years. The cheapest ticket, per StubHub, was $146 on the Monday before the game. This year, Clark's injury immediately affected the resale market. On Wednesday, Front Office Sports reported that the get-in price for the All-Star game on TickPick was $121. On Thursday, less than two hours after Clark announced she wouldn't play, the get-in price on TickPick fell to $72 — a 40% decrease. The full impact of Clark's injury on All-Star weekend won't be known until the weekend wraps up. (She's also not the only star who will be out, with Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard and Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally dealing with injuries. Reese's availability is in question after she missed Wednesday's game with a leg injury.) But as the league has observed multiple times this season, Clark's absence can be as important as her presence.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
College Football Fans Announce Boycott Of 'Big Noon Kickoff'
College Football Fans Announce Boycott Of 'Big Noon Kickoff' originally appeared on The Spun. Fox Sports is facing a lot of backlash Wednesday due to the latest report regarding "Big Noon Kickoff." In 2019, Fox Sports added "Big Noon Kickoff" to its weekend programming to compete with ESPN's "College GameDay." The show features a plethora of notable names, including Urban Meyer, Matt Leinart, Mark Ingram and Brady Quinn. According to Front Office Sports, there's a chance Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy will join "Big Noon Kickoff" for the 2025 college football season. A deal is being discussed at this time. "The network is nearing an expansive deal with Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy that would include him appearing on its college football pregame show. The deal would also involve Barstool content being featured on FS1, sources told Front Office Sports," Ryan Glasspiegel wrote. "The deal has not been finalized, and a Fox Sports spokesperson declined to comment." Portnoy, in theory, could help Fox Sports improve its ratings for "Big Noon Kickoff." It's a risky move though considering he's a controversial figure. Judging by the initial reactions to this potential collaboration, Big Ten football fans don't want to see Portnoy on "Big Noon Kickoff" this fall. "Every Ohio State game is Big Noon Kickoff and they want me to listen to DAVE PORTNOY every week while also never getting a prime time game? This is a nightmare," one fan said. "As if 'Big Noon Kickoff' couldn't get any worse," a second fan wrote on X. "Big Noon Kickoff is garbage," a third fan commented. "Why would I want to see Dave Portnoy on Big Noon Kickoff man, what are these loser media companies doing," a social media user asked. "As if I needed another reason to not watch Big Noon Kickoff," another person wrote. Fox Sports is canceling "The Facility" and "Speak," according to The Athletic. It makes sense for the network to add more talent. Can Portnoy help "Big Noon Kickoff" have its best year yet though? Only time will Football Fans Announce Boycott Of 'Big Noon Kickoff' first appeared on The Spun on Jul 16, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Fox Sports makes final decision on futures of Tom Brady's NFL colleagues Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson
Fox Sports is reportedly giving broadcasters Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson 'lucrative' contract extensions, as they will continue to be colleagues of Tom Brady moving forward. Andrews is one of the most recognizable NFL sideline reporters in the industry, while Thompson works as the host of panels on both Prime Video and Fox. Although the duo host a podcast together, they were not entering negotiations as a package deal. Yet, they came to same happy result with Fox Sports, per Front Office Sports. Andrews worked alongside Brady, Kevin Burkhardt, and Tom Rinaldi as part of Fox's top broadcast team for games, including this year's Super Bowl. Andrews, 47, was a free agent for the first time in her career after last season and stayed loyal to Fox. Thompson was more vocal during the offseason, admitting in April on her podcast she never truly shopped her services. 'No, I'm not leaving FOX. I was never leaving FOX,' she told Andrews on their podcast. 'I don't know where this took on a life of its own, where I was hosting my family at the ranch for the past weekend. Four of my family members asked, "Well, the place looks great. How are you going to afford it now that you don't have a job?" I'm not leaving FOX. I was never leaving FOX. I'm not fired.' Retaining both Andrews and Thompson, to feature alongside Brady, will keep familiar faces on the network, with some changing around them. Jimmy Johnson retired from television work in March, while Laura Okmin turned down her contract offer for other opportunities. Fox will not host the Super Bowl again this season, but does have a rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles on its slate. Fox will also broadcast a Thanksgiving Day clash between the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers alongside a record 11 doubleheaders.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL Fans React To FOX's Contract Decision For Erin Andrews
NFL Fans React To FOX's Contract Decision For Erin Andrews originally appeared on The Spun. Erin Andrews has been the No. 1 sideline reporter for FOX's coverage of the NFL since she joined the network in 2012. Will she retain that status for the 2025 season? Advertisement Although there wasn't a ton of speculation surrounding her, Andrews' previous deal with FOX actually expired after the 2024 season. That made her a free agent heading into the summer. On Tuesday night, Ryan Glasspiegel and Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports provided an update on her future with FOX. According to Front Office Sports, FOX has signed Andrews to a lucrative contract for the 2025 season and beyond. The same goes for her "Calm Down" podcast co-host, Charissa Thompson. "Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson both started their sports media careers at Fox Sports, became stars at ESPN, then returned to Fox in nationally prominent roles. They co-host The Calm Down with Erin and Charissa podcast/YouTube show. Now both are scoring lucrative contract extensions with Fox before the start of the new NFL season, sources tell Front Office Sports," Glasspiegel and McCarthy wrote. The terms of Andrews and Thompson's contracts haven't been released yet. Advertisement All we know right now is that NFL fans are glad Andrews will be on the sideline for FOX this fall. PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 05: Fox sidelines correspondent Erin Andrews reports during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles on November 5, 2023 at Lincoln Financial Field. (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)"Soooo well deserved," one fan wrote on X. "Erin deserves it," another fan said. "Big fan of Erin Andrews," a third fan replied. "Congratulations to her." "Fantastic news. Erin is great," a social media user added. Andrews will continue to work alongside Tom Brady and Kevin Burkhardt, covering "America's Game of the Week" throughout the 2025 NFL season. It was confirmed earlier this year that FOX's No. 1 crew will call a Super Bowl rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2. Advertisement Are you glad FOX signed Andrews to an extension? Related: NFL Fans Obsessed With Erin Andrews' New Swimsuit Photo NFL Fans React To FOX's Contract Decision For Erin Andrews first appeared on The Spun on Jul 9, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
