Latest news with #Sporticast
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sporticast 459: Have Fans Hit a Breaking Point?
On the latest Sporticast episode, host Jacob Feldman speaks to Joon Lee about Lee's recent opinion piece in the New York Times: How the N.B.A. and M.L.B. Shattered America's Sports Culture, which appeared to strike a chord online. Lee explains his perspective, as a sportswriter and as a fan, that teams and leagues are taking advantage of supporters. As he says, recent growth—from new investors to new media deals to new international efforts—could threaten the bonds that make sports a central component of American culture. Advertisement More from Now, Lee says, fans have the ability to fight for change. The two discuss how three decades of media turmoil have in some ways made being a sports fan better than ever, with more access to games and more ways to engage with athletes, while at the same time making it more expensive (and less attractive) to become a diehard fan in the first place. There are also more alternatives than ever, from video games to TikTok, that threaten sports' cultural hegemony. Some fans are already frustrated by the feeling of 'rooting for laundry.' But as franchises become increasingly financialized and analytics-driven, could the sensation of cheering for a spreadsheet be even more of a turn off? Lee also compares American sports to the Premier League, where certain fan rights are established, but where parity appears impossible. At the moment, college and women's pro sports offer alternative structures, though that too is changing. Advertisement Lastly Lee discusses why he still considers himself a fan, even after witnessing so much upheaval. (You can subscribe to Sporticast through Apple, Google, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever else you get your podcasts.) Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Sporticast 460: A New King of Los Angeles?
On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Kurt Badenhausen dive deep into Mark Walter's record-shattering $10 billion purchase of the Los Angeles Lakers. They discuss how the Lakers could be worth so much given their current revenue—and also why NBA team valuations have exploded over the last decade, even as a number of franchises have gone up for sale. This is a 'once every 50 years' type exchange for one of the U.S.'s most well-known sports properties, Kurt says. Advertisement More from They also look at the transaction from Walter's perspective. He now owns two of the 10 most valuable franchises in the world—the Lakers and the Los Angeles Dodgers—a short time after being a relative unknown among industry insiders. Scott then makes a prediction about how long it will be before we see another $10 billion transaction in sports. There is also discussion of the $10 billion Walter's TWG Global holding company recently received from Mubadala Capital, an investment arm of Mubadala Investment Company, the sovereign wealth fund based in the United Arab Emirates, and what that transaction portends for Walter's next move. Afterwards, Kurt shares the latest on the potential sale of the Tampa Bay Rays, after breaking the news that Jacksonville, Fla., developer Patrick Zalupski has agreed to buy the team for roughly $1.7 billion. However, that is far from the end of the story, which also includes the potential for MLB expansion, as Kurt explains. The deal comes amid intrigue surrounding the sale of other baseball teams too. (You can subscribe to Sporticast through Apple, Google, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever else you get your podcasts.) Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Sporticast 461: Golden State Is the WNBA's Most Valuable Team
On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Kurt Badenhausen break down our recently published 2025 WNBA Valuations. The Golden State Valkyries debuted at the top of the rankings with a worth $500 million—or 10 times what the franchise paid in expansion fees in October 2023. Golden State benefits from its affiliation with the NBA's Warriors and San Francisco's Chase Center, but the new team has also quickly built a business all its own, buoyed by new season ticket holders (and high-paying floor seat guests). Advertisement More from With franchises rising, expansion fees are too. Cleveland could pay $250 million to join the league starting in the 2028 season. Scott and Kurt also discuss what the latest team valuations mean for ongoing collective bargaining discussions with players. In particular, Scott reflects on the comparison to NBA battles of the '90s—and one specific star who could be playing a Michael Jordanesque role for the women today. NBA affiliation has benefited W teams amid recent growth, giving franchises more ability to harness a boom in interest. New media partners in the coming years will further establish the league's position in the American sports firmament. The popularity of college basketball has contributed to the WNBA's success as well. Is it only a matter of time before GSV's new position atop the league's financial charts is challenged? The hosts also touch on an NHL head coach taking a minority stake in hockey equipment company CCM, plus a big day for the Sporticast's Focus Group of One. (You can subscribe to Sporticast through Apple, Google, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever else you get your podcasts.) Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sporticast 458: A Club World Cup Check-In
On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Jacob Feldman weigh in on the first weekend of the newly expanded Club World Cup. DAZN is paying $1 billion to stream the games, while offering them for free around the world. How does that make dollars and sense? Jacob breaks down their business strategy, from sub-licensing to upselling. Advertisement More from The hosts also discuss FIFA's ticketing strategy for the event, which includes consolidating visitors into certain, TV-friendly sections for less popular matches, including those played during weekdays. A series of scoreless tilts and blowouts likely did little to help organizers increase interest in attending upcoming matches. A reported 22,137 showed up to Atlanta's 71,000-seat Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday to see LAFC play Chelsea. Where fans sit is just one of many game day operations decisions made with TV in mind. Newly developed grass has also been criticized, with all eyes focused on how the turf performs during next year's World Cup—and whether it makes its way to American venues full-time. Then, Scott explains the impact of Shaquille O'Neal signing a $1.8 million settlement in the wake of his controversial FTX endorsement. Could the FTX disaster change the way athletes approach potential endorsements? (If the money's good enough, probably not…) In the meantime, the deal could improve Shaq's standing among fans. Lastly, they touch on MLB's investment in Jomboy Media, with the help of a special, surprise guest. Advertisement (You can subscribe to Sporticast through Apple, Google, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever else you get your podcasts.) Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sporticast 454: How To Monetize Your Third Straight Stanley Cup
On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams speak with Shawn Thornton, chief revenue officer of the Florida Panthers, about the team's return to the Stanley Cup Final and what it means for various different revenue streams. The Panthers face the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the Finals on Wednesday. It's a rematch of last year's final, which the Panthers won in seven games, and the third straight Stanley Cup Final appearance for the Florida team. Advertisement More from Thornton talks about what that multiyear success means for the team. He discusses ticket renewals, sponsorship sales, and ticket pricing. He jokes that while he doesn't get a ton of inbound sales calls, the conversations are easier now. He also gave his thoughts on the team's local media partnership. The Panthers used to be on one of the Bally's RSN networks, but last summer moved to a broadcast deal with Scripps, a setup similar to a handful of other NBA, NHL and MLB teams caught in the Diamond Sports bankruptcy. While he declined to provide specifics on the economics, he did say game viewership is up more than 2x in some cases, and that helps the team in its broader partnership conversations. The trio discusses the Tkachuk brothers–Matthew is one of the Panthers' stars–who boosted their popularity during the Four Nations Face-Off earlier this year. That bleeds into a conversation about NHL players and their relationship with fame and marketing deals. For years, many marketing executives felt the culture of the sport made stars less likely to market themselves. Now, however, a fresh crop of young NHL stars seems to be changing that narrative, with a boost from new media and the league itself. Advertisement Thornton also talks about his personal journey from professional hockey player to team revenue boss. He played in the NHL for the Blackhawks, Ducks, Bruins and Panthers. At each stop, he said he gravitated to the business office. He arrived at the Panthers shortly after Vinny Viola bought the team in 2013 for $250 million, and the role grew from there. (You can subscribe to Sporticast through Apple, Google, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever else you get your podcasts.) Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
