Front Office Sports Today

Included in today's episode: Belgium eliminates the US men in the round of 16 White House lobbied FIFA to overturn Balogun red card Brad Stevens defends the Jaylen Brown trade publicly CBS won't air McGregor's UFC 329 return fight Tiger Woods' golf simulator company sells for $530M Giannis officially traded to Miami after 13 years in Milwaukee Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Rabil joins Baker Machado of Front Office Sports to discuss: • The $100 million funding round backed by Glen Powell and Rob McElhenney • Whether the single entity model is ending and when teams will be sold • Glen Powell's role as creative advisor and expansion plans in Texas • The Women's Lacrosse League growth and expansion timeline to 2030 • PLL valuation trajectory and the path toward a billion dollar business Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Included in today's episode: FIFA overturns USMNT striker's red card suspension Neymar retires from Brazil's national team Cristiano Ronaldo confirms his final World Cup Serena's Wimbledon return draws record ESPN ratings Missouri AG investigates ESPN NFL draft analyst Taylor Swift's wedding guest list hints at Kelce's media future Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Included in today's episode: USMNT round of 16 tickets soar to $2,500 NBA tests a one free throw rule at Summer League ESPN closes in on deal to keep Mike Garafolo Alex Ovechkin signs for a 22nd NHL season Celtics-Sixers trade debate breaks down the new NBA John Denver's Country Roads becomes the USMNT's anthem Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Included in today's episode: Celtics ship Jaylen Brown to the 76ers World Cup group stage averages 5 million viewers on Fox Serena Williams tweaks knee after Wimbledon singles loss Alyssa Thomas receives death threats after Clark incident LeBron's Lakers exit explained by insider reporting MLB owners want to ban salary deferrals entirely Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Included in today's episode: LeBron James leaves the Lakers after eight seasons Kawhi Leonard headed back to Toronto in a trade Sorsby drops NFL legal fight, targets 2027 draft World Cup knockout round ticket prices fall sharply Serena Williams loses singles return match at Wimbledon A castle is being built inside MSG for Taylor Swift's wedding Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mia Hamm joins Ellyn Briggs of Front Office Sports to discuss: • Her Tylenol PainTalk campaign and women's health conversations • The World Cup's lasting impact on U.S. soccer fandom and participation • Her take on the USMNT's run and what comes next in the knockout stage • What it’s like as one of over 100 investors in Angel City FC • The 2031 Women's World Cup coming to the U.S. Chapters 0:00 The Tylenol Pain Talk Campaign and Why She Said Yes 1:14 Conversations Around Women's Sports That Need to Happen More 2:37 How World Cup 2026 Will Grow Soccer Fandom and Participation in the US 3:54 Her Take on the USMNT's Run and Tonight's Match 5:01 The 2031 Women's World Cup Coming to the United States 5:27 Being One of Over 100 Investors in Angel City FC 7:31 What She Would Want to Invest in That She Has Not Yet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Included in today's episode: Comcast spins off NBCUniversal into a standalone company Two more ex-NBA players indicted in gambling probe Tennis players pause media boycott ahead of Wimbledon NBA free agency opens with major trade rumors swirling Atlanta serves the cheapest food at the World Cup Serena Williams returns to singles play at Wimbledon Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elle Duncan joins Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports to discuss: • Hosting Netflix's first Home Run Derby presentation in Philadelphia • How Netflix is making baseball curious fans out of casual viewers • What she would change about the Netflix opening day broadcast • What she would change about the Netflix Opening Night broadcast • The “Field of Dreams” game in Iowa and the Kevin Costner question • Whether Netflix could eventually land the FIFA men's World Cup CHAPTERS 0:00 Netflix Home Run Derby: What Fans Can Expect July 13th 1:03 How Baseball Has Changed to Attract New and Younger Fans 3:53 How Netflix Will Eventize the Home Run Derby Broadcast 5:16 Barry Bonds at Opening Day and What He Brings to the Derby 7:22 What Netflix Would Take Back From the Opening Day Broadcast 9:04 The Field of Dreams Game and the Kevin Costner Question 10:22 Bull Durham vs Field of Dreams: Elle Makes a Controversial Call 11:15 Could Netflix Eventually Land the Men's FIFA World Cup Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Included in today's episode: South Korea's president calls for investigation after World Cup exit Aiyuk says he fired his agent, won't report to camp WNBA suspends Alyssa Thomas one game over Clark incident World Cup group stage wraps with a format debate Jaylen Brown blasts analytics amid Celtics trade rumors Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tracy McGrady on Reviving ABCD Camp, Owning the Bills, OBL League, and Giannis to Miami • Bringing the legendary ABCD basketball camp back after 20 years • Becoming a minority owner of the Buffalo Bills alongside Vince Carter • His one-on-one basketball league OBL and global expansion plans • Whether the NBA should bring back the straight-from-high-school pipeline • Giannis going to Miami and what happens now with Jaylen Brown CHAPTERS 0:00 Reviving the ABCD Camp With Sonny Vaccaro After 20 Years  2:43 Would McGrady Have Been Drafted Without the ABCD Camp  3:57 Documentary Plans and Business Opportunities With the ABCD Brand  4:44 NIL and Whether ABCD Could Become a Talent Agency  6:19 Buying Into the ABCD Brand and What Comes in Late July  8:55 Should the NBA Bring Back the Straight From High School Pipeline  10:06 NBA Tanking Problem and the New Draft Rules  12:18 Giannis to Miami and the Jaylen Brown Situation in Boston  14:40 NBC TV Year One and His Broadcasting Future  15:35 Minority Owner of the Buffalo Bills and the OBL League Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jay Williams joins Ben Horney of Front Office Sports to discuss: • NBA draft night 1’s biggest surprises and standout picks • The viral on-set moment with Richard Jefferson and Kenny Smith • His investments and plans to combine media with private deal flow • Private equity and naming rights opportunities in college sports • Attending the UFC White House event and the controversy that followed CHAPTERS 0:00 NBA Draft Night One: Biggest Surprises and Standout Moments 3:15 The Viral Richard Jefferson and Kenny Smith Moment Explained 5:42 Advice for Incoming NBA Rookies on the Business Side of the League 9:40 His Investments: Aries, Wealth Management, and What Comes Next 13:15 Private Equity in College Sports and the Duke Basketball Question 16:46 Jay Williams on Attending the UFC White House Event Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Included in today's episode: MLB owners propose capping free agent contracts at $202M Fanatics uses AI to ban athlete-harassing bettors Blazers owner wants taxpayers to fund arena renovation Tracy McGrady revives the legendary ABCD basketball camp Zuckerberg builds a prediction market app called Arena A boot company blocks Caleb Williams' "Iceman" trademark Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Included in today's episode: Austin Reaves signs richest undrafted NBA contract ever IOC will pay every Olympian $10,000 for first time Michele Kang buys French soccer club Olympique Lyonnais Brian Kelly heads to the CBS Sports broadcast booth Several college basketball players sue over eligibility rules Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce rumored to wed at MSG Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Included in today's episode from the NBA Draft in Brooklyn: BYU's AJ Dybantsa goes number one to Washington NFL denies Sorsby's supplemental draft request NCAA eliminates the redshirt year across college sports PGA Tour approves promotion and relegation format Tiger Woods resurfaces at PGA Tour announcement NHL explores expansion into Houston or Austin Zuckerberg builds "Arena" a prediction markets app Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Olsen joins David Rumsey of Front Office Sports to discuss: • Tight End University's sixth year with 90-plus NFL tight ends in Nashville • How young is too young for competitive youth sports separation • Whether the World Cup could push NFL stadiums toward permanent natural grass • Tight End University's sixth year with 90-plus NFL tight ends in Nashville CHAPTERS 0:00 Tight End University Year Six: What Is New This Season 1:51 The Golf Day Format and Who the Best Golfers Are 3:05 Are College Tight Ends Ever Included in TEU 3:33 Could Tight End University Go on the Road Beyond Nashville 5:00 Youth Sports Competition: How Young Is Too Young to Sort Kids 8:34 World Cup Grass Fields: Could This Change NFL Stadium Surfaces 10:57 Tom Brady, Troy Aikman, Matt Ryan: Broadcasters Moving Into NFL Front Offices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Included in today's episode: Miami trades for Giannis Antetokounmpo Michigan coach Dusty May bolts for the Mavericks Panthers reunite the Tkachuk brothers in Florida Linda Cohn is retiring after 6,000 SportsCenter episodes NBA draft is tonight at Barclays Center Lionel Messi becomes all-time World Cup scoring leader Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Included in today's episode: US men win group stage for first time since 2014 Round of 32 tickets soar past $3,000 Wyndham Clark wins US Open at Shinnecock Hills UFC White House event draws 17 million viewers Serena Williams earns Wimbledon singles wild card Scotland's Tartan Army brings $35M to Boston Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vanja Černivec joins Dan Roberts of Front Office Sports to discuss: • Building the Fire roster under extreme CBA timeline pressure • Why she doesn’t believe in copying and pasting from the Valkyries model • Portland as an emerging epicenter of women's sports • The international player pipeline and new CBA changes • Coaching through constraints and the playoff push in Year 1 CHAPTERS 0:00 Ten Months as GM of the Portland Fire: How Has It Gone 0:53 Building a Roster Under CBA Timeline Pressure 1:53 Can You Copy the Valkyries Model or Is Portland Different 3:08 How Much of the Valkyries Success Was Warriors vs Its Own Phenomenon 4:39 Portland as an Epicenter of Women's Sports Under Raj Sports Ownership 5:58 Has the WNBA Fueled Investment in All Women's Sports 6:41 International Players in the WNBA and the New CBA Impact 8:07 Project B, Unrivaled, and the Rise of Women's Basketball Globally 9:16 The Constraints-Led Coaching Approach Getting Buzz Around the League 10:53 Can the Portland Fire Make the Playoffs in Year One Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Included in today's episode: Two million fans pack the Knicks parade Protect College Sports Act clears Senate committee NHL clears Mike Babcock to return to coaching Netflix's Home Run Derby gets a new format Ben Stiller makes an A24 Knicks documentary Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Included in today's episode: Knicks hold first-ever championship ticker tape parade WNBA expands to 50 games starting in 2027 NHL Stanley Cup Finals post best ratings since 2019 Jimmie Johnson joins TNT as NASCAR studio analyst Scheffler eyes career Grand Slam at US Open Nike reveals Caitlin Clark's first signature sneaker Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jayson Tatum joins Dan Roberts of Front Office Sports to discuss: • Investing in St. Louis and a potential WNBA expansion team • Becoming chief basketball officer at Duke University • The new Celtics ownership group under Bill Chisholm • Who is the face of the NBA right now CHAPTERS 1:53 What Interests Him in Business and Investing Off the Court 2:48 The WNBA Expansion Team in St. Louis: Any Update 3:13 What He Is Not Invested In Yet That He Wants to Be 3:47 Becoming Chief Basketball Officer at Duke: What the Role Really Is 4:36 New Celtics Ownership and His Relationship With Bill Chisholm 6:13 Who Is the Face of the NBA Right Now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Included in today's episode: Knicks-Spurs Finals averages 20.6 million viewers Iran calls itself the World Cup's most oppressed team Serena and Venus Williams get Wimbledon wild card Vegas Golden Knights part ways with John Tortorella Sorsby drops NCAA lawsuit, enters NFL supplemental draft Fox set to make $250M from World Cup water breaks Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gareth Bale and John Shulman join Dan Roberts of Front Office Sports to discuss: • Launching Juggernaut Capital's new dedicated sports investment fund • Why this is more than just an athlete putting his face on a fund • Cardiff City and the search for the right soccer club to acquire • A professional women's sports team purchase coming within 60 days • World Cup 2026 ticket prices and the accessibility problem in sports CHAPTERS 0:00 Announcing the New Juggernaut Capital Sports Investment Fund 3:12 Why This Is Different From the Typical Celebrity Athlete Fund 4:29 How Large Is the Fund and What Is the Investment Strategy 5:18 Is Cardiff City Still the Target for a Soccer Club Acquisition 7:30 What Non-Soccer Sports Excite Gareth as Investment Targets 8:16 Is Wrexham the Model for What They Want to Do 10:09 Which Athletes Are Doing Athlete Ownership the Right Way 12:29 World Cup 2026: Ticket Prices and Fan Accessibility Concerns 16:37 A Professional Women's Sports Team Purchase Coming in 60 Days Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Included in today’s episode: World Cup opening weekend draws massive TV numbers Top NBA draft prospect refuses to meet Jazz Big 12 sues Texas Tech over Brendan Sorsby eligibility Gareth Bale eyes Cardiff City ownership bid UFC loses $30M on White House fight card Tunisia fires coach after just one World Cup match Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fernando Mendoza joins David Rumsey of Front Office Sports to discuss: • Transitioning from college football to the Raiders • Learning directly from Tom Brady as a minority Raiders owner • Deleting social media and building his LinkedIn network instead • His Royal Canin partnership and approach to off-field branding • The Mendoza Family Fund and his fight against MS CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction and Biggest Lessons From College to the NFL 1:47 Royal Canin Partnership and Off-Field Branding Strategy 3:17 What Position Would His Dog Scout Play in the NFL 4:02 Deleting Social Media and Going All In on LinkedIn 5:04 His Rule for Accepting LinkedIn Connection Requests 6:07 Using AI and Chat GPT for Football Prep and Organization 7:34 Learning From Tom Brady at the Raiders: Active and Passive 9:55 Trademarking Delorian and Star Wars Top Five Characters 11:30 Giving Back to Indiana and the Mendoza Family MS Fund 12:46 Morning Routine: No Coffee No Energy Drinks and Nutrition With Alex Guerrero Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Included in today's episode: The Knicks win their first title since 1973 NBA Finals ratings hit best numbers since 1998 US vs. Paraguay draws 25 million viewers Somali referee denied US entry gets FIFA pay Lewis Hamilton finally wins in Ferrari red Knicks championship parade set for Thursday Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Included in today's episode: World Cup ticket prices hold firm at kickoff Big 12 schools weigh boycotting Texas Tech over Sorsby Wimbledon announces a record $85.7M prize pool Serena Williams teased for a Wimbledon return Mahomes signs a record-breaking $500M+ extension Knicks one win away from first title since 1973 Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tim Howard and Landon Donovan join Baker Machado of Front Office Sports to discuss: • Garbage narratives surrounding the USMNT heading into the World Cup • How far the U.S. needs to advance for the tournament to be considered a success • MLS growth opportunities from hosting the World Cup • Who could be the next Messi-level star in MLS • World Cup 2026 finalist predictions from both legends CHAPTERS 0:00 The Biggest Garbage Narrative About the USMNT Right Now 1:29 How Far Does the US Need to Go for the World Cup to Be a Success 3:12 Landon's Fox Broadcasting Preparations and What He Is Watching 5:43 The Best Case Scenario for MLS Coming Out of the World Cup 7:19 European Players Are Discovering MLS in a New Way 9:40 Who Is the Next Messi in MLS After the World Cup 11:08 World Cup 2026 Finals Predictions: France Spain and Portugal 12:24 USMNT Top Five Caps Quiz: Can Tim and Landon Name Them Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Included in today's episode: The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially begins today NBA Finals Game 3 draws 23.8 million viewers Texas Tech coach publicly addresses the Sorsby gambling case Illinois governor eyes special session for Bears stadium A think tank expert breaks down skyrocketing sports ticket prices Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Included in today's episode: NBA Finals ticket prices at MSG drop sharply after the Knicks lose Game 3, while a potential Game 6 get-in price approaches $12,000 FIFA scrambles to fill World Cup seats through corporate giveaways and pulls Iranian supporters' ticket allocations days before kickoff LIV Golf's CEO sidesteps questions about whether the league's remaining events will happen as it seeks $350 million in outside investment Pat McAfee could become ESPN's highest-paid personality ever at more than $60 million a year The NCAA appeals the Brandon Sorsby reinstatement ruling as conference-wide boycotts of Texas Tech loom Josh Allen tops the NFLPA's annual player merchandise sales list for the first time Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ashlyn Harris joins Baker Machado of Front Office Sports to discuss: • Her new Roku documentary • Life after retiring and chasing purpose over success • NWSL franchise valuations and player-pay milestones • The FIFA rule mandating female coaches in women’s tournaments • World Cup 2026 ticket prices and fan accessibility concerns CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction and Game Changers Documentary on Roku 0:27 Why She Decided to Make the Documentary Now 1:44 Drawing the Line Between Public and Private Life 3:12 Using Her Platform for Purpose Beyond Soccer 5:06 NWSL Franchise Valuations and Could They Match the NFL 7:09 Is the NWSL Growing Too Fast to Protect Players 8:27 Standing on the Shoulders of Those Who Came Before 10:39 FIFA's New Female Coach Mandate: Does Ashlyn Support It 12:19 US Men's National Team Pressure at a Home World Cup 13:32 World Cup Ticket Prices and the Accessibility Problem Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Included in today's episode: Donald Trump becomes the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game as security shuts down five blocks around MSG Visa denials and delays threaten World Cup participants just days before the tournament kicks off A Texas judge grants a temporary injunction allowing a quarterback banned for gambling to play this season Vince McMahon settles a shareholder lawsuit hours before trial Two courtside seats at MSG sell for $1 million at a charity auction Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Included in today's episode: Knicks welcome President Donald Trump to Game 3, leading to a cancellation of the outdoor watch party outside Madison Square Garden and increased security measures for fans LIV Golf may not have enough funding to make it through this season, reports David Rumsey of Front Office Sports How sports is becoming ground zero for AI slop and misinformation Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rich Eisen has a new podcast called “This Was SportsCenter,” and it is exactly what it sounds like. He is sitting down one-on-one with the anchors who defined an era of sports media, going deep into what it was actually like behind the scenes, and pairing every conversation with archival footage and photographs that turn each episode into a nonstop ride down memory lane. The first episode with Dan Patrick is out now. The golden era of “SportsCenter” is something every sports fan has an opinion about, and Eisen has a very specific answer for exactly when it was, what ended it, and why the smartphone is more responsible for the shift than any decision made in a boardroom. He also goes back to host “SportsCenter” for the first time in 23 years and has thoughts on what that experience told him about the show's past and present. Rich Eisen left ESPN for NFL Network in 2003 and is now back in the fold as NFL Network becomes part of the ESPN universe. There are real questions about whether two juggernauts like Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter can coexist on the same network, and Eisen addresses those directly. He also shares whether there is someone he’d like to host with on “SportsCenter,” and the answer is as emotional as you would expect. CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction and How This Was SportsCenter Came Together 0:36 The Origin Story: From a Breakfast Meeting With Jimmy Pitaro to a Podcast 5:22 When Was the Golden Era of SportsCenter and What Ended It 9:39 Rich Eisen Returns to ESPN and NFL Network Joins the Family 12:01 Will There Be Room for Rapoport and Schefter on the Same Network 12:14 Does He Have Another SportsCenter Date Planned and Who Would He Do It With Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Front Office Sports Today is back. Join host Baker Machado for your quick daily insight into everything happening around the business and culture of sports.In today's episode: FIFA scrambles to offload tens of thousands of unsold World Cup tickets as transparency questions swirl, the NBA's European league draws bids worth up to $1 billion ahead of a 2027 launch, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell declines a congressional invite over the league's broadcast rights, and NBA Finals ticket prices at Madison Square Garden skyrocket overnight as New York plays its first Finals game in 27 years.Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Front Office Sports Today is back. Join host Baker Machado for your quick daily insight into everything happening around the business and culture of sports.In today's episode: what a Knicks championship would pay team owner James Dolan, new bipartisan college sports legislation gains traction, and the unique details of Stephen Curry's lifetime shoe deal with Li-Ning.Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Deion Sanders joins Baker Machado of Front Office Sports to discuss his partnership with Depends ahead of Men's Health Month, his son Shedeur Sanders's $17 million payday, and the state of college football in the NIL era. Deion gives his take on the College Football Playoff expansion debate and how the Big 12 is competing with the SEC and Big Ten. He also discusses potential changes to the eligibility rules around college football and what he hopes to see. Plus, he responds to NFL coaching rumors and previous reports connecting him to the Dallas Cowboys. CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction and Men's Health Month Partnership With Depend 1:02 How Deion Decides Which Brands to Work With 1:33 Shedeur Sanders Breaks Tom Brady's NFL Licensing Record 2:36 College Football Playoff Expansion: How Many Teams Should Be In 3:13 What Does It Cost to Win a College Football Championship Now 4:07 Transfer Portal Eligibility Rules and What Needs to Change 4:45 Defensive Backs vs Quarterbacks: How Non-QBs Become Household Names 5:32 How the Big 12 Competes With the SEC and Big Ten 5:56 Colorado's Expectations and What Is Different This Season 6:56 What Deion Loves Most About Living in Boulder 7:49 The NFL Coaching Rumors and the Cowboys Reports Addressed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Front Office Sports Today is back. Join host Baker Machado for your quick daily insight into everything happening around the business and culture of sports. In today's episode: the Stanley Cup Final begins as Gary Bettman's succession plan looms, ESPN adds two huge names, and MLB's growing labor dispute could get ugly. Plus: will the NBA Finals deliver on huge expectations? Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Front Office Sports Today is back. Join host Baker Machado for your quick daily insight into everything happening around the business and culture of sports.In today's episode: Myles Garrett and A.J. Brown head to Super Bowl contenders, Pat McAfee engages with ESPN on contract discussions, and Illinois fails at its latest attempt to keep the Bears inside state lines. Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Front Office Sports Today is back. Join host Baker Machado for your quick daily insight into everything happening around the business and culture of sports. In today's episode: Spurs surge to the NBA Finals behind a huge series from Victor Wembanyama, Shedeur Sanders earns a massive payday from a group licensing deal, and the World Cup still has thousands of unsold tickets with just 10 days before the tournament begins. Make sure to subscribe and follow Front Office Sports across socials to stay up-to-date on the latest conversations around the business of sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Allyson Felix, 7-time Olympics gold medalist turned investor, joins Portfolio Players for a conversation on the future of women’s sports, athlete-led investing, and the evolving business of track and field. Felix breaks down: • Her role shaping the vision for the LA28 Summer Olympics • Why track and field is at a pivotal moment globally • How athlete investors are becoming a more influential voice in sports • The strategy behind Always Alpha and backing women’s sports founders • Building Saysh and creating products designed for female athletes • The evolving ownership landscape and where she would invest next • Why representation at the decision-making level matters more than ever • What it takes to build lasting impact beyond competition This episode of Portfolio Players, presented by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, explores how athlete founders, capital, and long-term vision are reshaping the future of sports. Chapters: 01:27 — Celebrity Investors in Sports 01:47 — Intro: Assia Grazioli-Venier & Background 02:23 — From Tech to Juventus Boardroom 04:06 — Sports Teams as Modern Businesses 07:00 — Early Investment in Women’s Soccer 08:39 — Women’s Soccer Driving U.S. Growth 11:40 — Washington Spirit Investment Story 13:23 — Michele Kang’s Path to Ownership 15:24 — Why the NWSL Is Growing Rapidly 19:16 — Evaluating Teams Like Startups 21:41 — Celebrity Investors: What Actually Works 24:46 — Why Most New Leagues Will Fail 29:55 — Is Data Changing the Game? 31:46 — What She’d Invest in Next 34:31 — Career Advice & Closing Thoughts Portfolio Players is Front Office Sports’s original series exploring the deals, capital, and decision-makers shaping the future of sports business. Subscribe for more conversations with the industry’s top builders and investors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The lines between legacy sports media and independent creators have never been more blurred, and few people are navigating that shift more thoughtfully than Kofie Yeboah. He has built a loyal audience around deep dives into obscure sports moments and milestones that most people have forgotten, and the way he thinks about content creation is fundamentally different from how traditional media operates. Kofie breaks down the real economics of going independent, from YouTube AdSense to Patreon to brand deals, and what it actually takes to sustain a career when no single revenue stream is guaranteed. He also weighs in on whether a large social following has now replaced a journalism degree as the most important credential for anyone trying to break into sports media today. YouTube is making moves into NFL games and the Oscars, Netflix is licensing podcasts from Barstool and the Ringer, and big media companies are rethinking how they invest in talent. Where does all of this leave the independent creator, and is the future of sports media actually just everyone on YouTube? CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction and the Rise of Independent Sports Media 0:22 Legacy Media vs New Media: What Has Actually Changed 1:27 Where Old and New Media Will Be in Five Years 2:44 How Kofie Generates Content Ideas and Why Nostalgia Works 4:06 Staying Authentic When the Algorithm Wants You to Chase Trends 5:41 Advice for Young Journalists: Degree vs Social Following 7:53 The Economics of Going Independent in Sports Media 9:58 Netflix Licensing Podcasts and the Future of Creator Deals 14:15 YouTube Buying Media Rights and What It Means for Creators 16:07 NBA Tanking and How the League Should Fix It Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mina Kimes is an Emmy nominated NFL analyst, a Celebrity Jeopardy champion, and now the host of the Scripps National Spelling Bee airing on Ion on May 27th and 28th. It is one of the more unexpected and genuinely delightful career pivots in sports media right now, and the story of how it came together runs directly through her time on Celebrity Jeopardy. She also just received a Sports Emmy nomination for her analyst work at ESPN, NFL Live is up for one too, and ESPN is now absorbing NFL Network into its portfolio ahead of hosting the Super Bowl next year. What does that mean for her role, for the talent she already knows over there, and what does a sports media super team actually look like in practice? Then there is Pablo Torre's Pulitzer Prize, the Clippers ownership situation that Steve Ballmer keeps downplaying, and the Seattle Seahawks going up for sale. As one of the most prominent Seahawks fans in sports media, Mina has a very clear and very specific answer for what kind of owner she actually wants for that franchise. CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction and the Scripps National Spelling Bee 0:34 How Mina Kimes Became Host of the Spelling Bee 1:34 What She Would Tell Her Second Grade Self About This Moment 2:31 Which NFL Player Would Crush the Spelling Bee 3:24 ESPN Trivia Scene and Celebrity Jeopardy Update 4:21 ESPN Sports Jeopardy Hosted by Joe Buck 5:10 Sports Emmy Nomination for Mina and NFL Live 6:12 ESPN Absorbing NFL Network and What It Means for Talent 7:21 Pablo Torre's Pulitzer and the Clippers Accountability Question 8:21 Who Should Buy the Seattle Seahawks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark Cuban joins Portfolio Players for a wide-ranging conversation on NBA ownership, NIL, sports betting, media rights, and the future of professional sports. Cuban breaks down: • Why he sold the Dallas Mavericks and whether he’d buy them again • How he helped bring Fernando Mendoza to Indiana and his approach to NIL • Why owning an NBA team today is completely different than 20 years ago • His thoughts on Vegas becoming a major sports market • Why leagues continue partnering with sports betting companies • The risks surrounding NBA Europe and global expansion • Why “ratings are irrelevant” in today’s sports media ecosystem • Why Cuban believes NBA games should only be 40 minutes long This episode of Portfolio Players, presented by  @etrade_frommorganstanley , explores how one of the most influential owners in modern sports views media, league economics, and the future of team ownership. Chapters: 2:07 - Helping Bring Fernando Mendoza to Indiana 3:25 - How Cuban Supports Indiana NIL 10:04 - Why Mark Cuban Sold the Mavericks 12:37 - Owning an NBA Team Today vs. 20 Years Ago 17:09 - Vegas Becoming a Sports Market 18:01 - Why Leagues Partner With Sports Betting Companies 22:56 - Why NBA Europe Is Risky 26:32 - Why Ratings No Longer Matter 30:12 - Why NBA Games Should Be 40 Minutes Portfolio Players is Front Office Sports’s original series exploring the deals, capital, and decision-makers shaping the future of sports business. Subscribe for more conversations with the industry’s top builders and investors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Golden State Valkyries are in just their second WNBA season and are already being called the most valuable women's sports franchise in the world. The team generated $78 million in revenue in year one, has sold out every home game across two seasons, and holds a valuation that outpaces expansion fees that were set less than two years ago. Jess Smith, the team's president and winner of the WNBA's first ever Business Executive Leadership Award, sits down with Front Office Sports to talk about how all of it happened so fast. The expansion fee for the Valkyries was reportedly $50 million. The next round of expansion teams in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia paid $250 million each. Ticket prices for some Valkyries games are now outpacing Golden State Warriors games at the same venue. And the question of whether a WNBA franchise could one day be as valuable as an NBA or NFL team is no longer a hypothetical worth dismissing. The CBA negotiations created real uncertainty about whether there would even be a season. The team made headlines with a draft day trade and a waiving decision that stirred up the fan base. Joe Lacob promised a championship within five years before anyone was even hired. Jess Smith addresses all of it, including whether she thinks they will actually get there. CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction and the Billion Dollar Valuation 0:28 Did They Expect to Hit a Billion Dollars This Fast 1:35 What the Valuation Says About the Undervaluation of Women's Sports 3:12 78 Million in Revenue and the Biggest Single Revenue Driver 4:39 Could a WNBA Franchise Ever Match NBA or NFL Valuations 6:03 The 50 Million Expansion Fee vs 250 Million for New Teams 7:39 Advice to New Franchises: Know Who You Are 8:41 Sold Out Every Game and Balancing Premium Pricing With Accessibility 10:11 CBA Negotiations and Roster Construction Challenges 13:47 Project B, Unrivaled, and Whether Players Even Need Other Leagues Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jay Bilas has thoughts on everything happening in college basketball right now, and none of them are softened for comfort. The Wizards hold the number one pick, AJ Dybantsa is the consensus choice, but the draft is deeper than any in recent memory and the decision Washington faces is genuinely hard. Jay breaks down every name worth knowing before June. The NCAA tournament is expanding to 76 teams, which means a play-in round whether the NCAA wants to call it that or not. Dusty May told Front Office Sports his Michigan roster will cost more than ten million dollars this year. Mid-majors are watching their best players leave every offseason. And the question of whether college athletes will ever unionize or get a salary cap is no longer theoretical, it is a lobbying battle happening in Congress right now. Jay has been offered head coaching jobs and fielded interest from NBA teams over the years. He has also never given money to Duke's NIL fund. Both of those answers are more interesting than they sound, and he addresses both directly before the conversation is over. CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction and American Century Celebrity Golf Tournament 0:52 Lake Tahoe, Charity Work, and Who Surprises Him on the Course 2:31 Steph Curry, Annika Sorenstam, and the Best Golfers in the Field 3:55 NBA's New 3-2-1 Draft Lottery System and the Tanking Problem 5:31 Is AJ Dybantsa a Lock at Number One and Who Else Could Go Top Five 7:47 NCAA Tournament Expanding to 76 Teams: Good TV or Diluted Madness 9:41 How Do Mid-Majors Survive the Transfer Portal and NIL Era 12:27 Michigan's Ten Million Dollar Roster and What Players Deserve to Earn 14:56 Will College Athletes Unionize and Is a Salary Cap Coming 17:40 Head Coaching Offers, NBA Interest, and Has He Given to Duke's NIL Fund Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Enhanced Games just began trading on the New York Stock Exchange, backed by Peter Thiel and Donald Trump Jr., with a $25 million prize pool for 50 athletes and a $50 million total budget for an event built around one radical idea: athletes should be allowed to use performance-enhancing substances in a safe and supervised environment. The CEO Max Martin joins Front Office Sports on the day the company went public to explain how they got here and what comes next. The games take place Memorial Day weekend in Las Vegas with 2,500 invite-only spectators, but the broadcast strategy is something no major sports property has tried before. Athletes can compete clean or enhanced, and the question of how much each athlete discloses about what they are taking, and how that transparency actually works in practice, is one of the more complicated questions the Enhanced Games has had to answer. The MLB steroid era forever changed how sports fans think about performance enhancing drugs. The Enhanced Games is making the argument that the entire framework around banned substances in sports needs to be rethought, that world records are being broken, and that the future of the league extends well beyond Las Vegas and well beyond the three sports launching this year. CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction and Enhanced Games Goes Public on NYSE 1:09 The Road to Today: Three Years of Headwinds and Controversy 4:54 The $25 Million Prize Pool and Who Is Funding It 6:24 Where to Watch the Games and the Media Rights Strategy 7:50 Will Donald Trump Jr. Be There in Attendance 8:07 Athletes Competing Clean vs Enhanced: What Gets Disclosed 10:09 What FDA-Approved Substances Are Actually Allowed 11:19 The MLB Steroid Era and Whether Society Should Embrace PEDs 13:59 Age Limits and Future Plans for the Enhanced Games 15:47 World Records and Whether They Count Officially Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The PGA Championship is underway in Pennsylvania with 156 of the world's best golfers, but the event long nicknamed the fourth major has a prize money problem that no one in golf is ignoring. FOS reporter David Rumsey is on the ground at Aronimink and the business storylines surrounding this tournament are as compelling as anything happening on the course. The PGA of America has a new CEO who just stepped into the public eye for the first time since being hired in February, and he had things to say about the tournament's identity, its date, and whether it could ever leave the United States. There are also 11 LIV players in the field this week including Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, and the future of both of them on LIV is genuinely uncertain in ways that could reshape the entire golf landscape before the year is out. Then there is the food situation, which is more interesting than it sounds. General admission to the PGA Championship includes all-inclusive food and non-alcoholic beverages baked into the ticket price, and the secondary ticket market this week has done something unexpected for a sold-out event. David Rumsey has all the details from inside the ropes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave Checketts, veteran sports executive and investor, joins Portfolio Players for a conversation on ownership, expansion, and the evolving economics of global sports. Checketts breaks down: • Why scarcity is the single biggest driver of franchise value • The investment strategy behind his fund and why cash flow matters • Michael Jordan/Knicks stories, lessons from Utah & New York • The realities of launching new leagues and why venture capital often stays away • His perspective on MLS growth, global soccer, and media rights • The rise of NIL and why education still needs to be prioritized • Expansion opportunities across MLB, the NBA, and beyond hapters: 1:00 - UtahJazz Presidency 2:50 - Las Vegas Expansion 3:30 - Seattle Expansion 4:30 - Vegas Expansion Continued 5:00 - Kareem Breaking Points Record + David Stern Story 7:00 - Influx of Gambling, Good or Bad? 8:45 - Prediction Markets, League Adoption 10:00 - Knicks/Brooklyn Story 11:00 - Attending Unrivaled, as a Veritable Business 13:10 - Investing in Sports Startups 14:25 - MLS Investment, MLS vs. PL, Apple TV Deal 17:00 - Knicks & Bulls Story, MJ non-sellout 19:30 - 1990s NBA 23:00 - Investment Strategy Looking Ahead, Golf + CFB 24:30 - PE Money in College, Collective Bargaining? 26:30 - Financial Literacy In Sports 28:15 - Golf Equipment Boom, Investment Opportunities 29:15 - MLB, Utah Expansion? NBA Story 33:30 - Ownership Competition across Leagues, NFL Rules 35:15 - Family Success Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices