2026 Olympics are over budget

Sport & Story Daily February 5, 2026: The cost of the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Games is over budget.

Author

Kelsey Middleton
February 05, 2026

2026 Olympics are over budget

February 5, 2026

Milano Games cost more than expected, preparations were in emergency mode throughout-Games CEO
The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics cost more than initially budgeted. The initial budget was $1.3 million to stage the Games. That figure has gone up to more than $1.7 million. Other associated infrastructure costs are also up, including $3.5 billion in public money. The organizers are rushing to finish building two stadiums before the start of the Games.
Reuters

Live Nation set to acquire ForumNet Group
Live Nation has furthered its recent concerted push into the European arena market. They have entered into an agreement to acquire ForumNet Group. ForumNetGroup is one of Italy’s leading venue operators, that includes Milan’s Unipol Forum in its portfolio. The deal has been agreed with Bastogi, the holding company which currently controls ForumNet.
The Stadium Business

NHL Stadium Series tops two million mark, doubling Winter Classic
The NHL Stadium Series has taken over as the premier NHL outdoor game in television rankings. Sunday’s Bruins-Lightning NHL Stadium Series game averaged 2.1 million viewers on ESPN. This is the largest NHL regular-season audience since the 2019 Winter Classic and the top NHL regular-season audience ever on cable.
Sports Media Watch

Fubo Hits 6.2 Million Combined Subscribers After Closing Disney’s Hulu Merger
Fubo closed its first quarter with 6.2 million North American subscribers. This is down from a year ago, when the platform had 6.3 million North American customers. The overall subscriber base now represents customers for its  live TV streaming services, including Fubo and Hulu + Live TV, after closing a merger deal with Disney. Fubo saw its revenue rise 40% to $1.55 billion.
The Hollywood Reporter

New Ryan Field set for October opening
Northwestern University has announced that the new Ryan Field is set to debut in October. The first two non-conference games for Northwestern Football will be played at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. The remaining five home games on the 2026 schedule will be at the new Ryan Field. The field is estimated to cost $862 million. It will have a capacity of 35,000.
The Stadium Business

Firm behind horrific Super Bowl merch blasted for its 'pathetic' explanation to Patriots and Seahawks fans
Fanatics offered NFL fans an apology over recent feedback. The company’s response doesn’t appear to grasp the issue its customers are facing. Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots fans are outraged over the poor quality of the Super Bowl LX jerseys Fanatics is selling. There are social media accounts dedicated to highlighting errors the company has made, from low-quality materials to spelling mistakes to completely incorrect orders.
Daily Mail

Lions fan files $100M lawsuit after DK Metcalf clash, denies racial slur claims
Ryan Kennedy is a Michigan resident and self-described Detroit Lions fan. He is taking legal action following a December altercation with Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf at Ford Field. Kennedy announced that a lawsuit has been filed in Wayne County Court. The lawsuit seeks $100 million in damages stemming from the Dec. 21 incident and names DK Metcalf, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Ford Field.
Fox News

Phoenix Suns. Payroll Clerk
We are seeking an experienced and motivated Payroll Clerk to join our team. In this high-impact role, you will support processing bi-weekly, semi-monthly and off-cycle payments to salaried and hourly Team members within company pay policies and requirements of all applicable Federal, State and Local laws. Perform functions necessary to maintain accurate employee records. Provides excellent customer service to both internal and external clients. While playing a key role in broader department initiatives. Apply Now.

Los Angeles Sparks. Data Scientist
The Los Angeles Sparks are seeking a Data Scientist to help elevate the team’s competitive decision-making through statistical modeling, automated reporting, and data-driven insights. This role works closely with coaches, scouts, performance staff, and front-office leadership to deliver actionable analysis that supports coaching, player evaluation, roster construction, and player development. The ideal candidate is a strong quantitative thinker with basketball domain knowledge, experience working with complex datasets, and the ability to turn data into clear, impactful insights used in realistic basketball solutions. This position reports to the Assistant General Manager, Research & Development. Apply Now.

Real Salt Lake. Seasonal Assistant Athletic Trainer
Seasonal Assistant Athletic Trainers are expected to assist the sports medicine staff in providing the highest quality care to Real Salt Lake athletes. You are also asked to seek out and take advantage of opportunities to become an integral part of patient care and rehabilitation. In addition to the details, you are also expected to aid in common daily Athletic Training duties, pre-training set-up and breakdown, and assist Real Salt Lake staff however necessary. Due to the cyclical nature of the entertainment industry, the employee may be required to work varying schedules to reflect the team needs including, but not limited to working game nights, weekends (including Sunday’s), and holidays. Apply Now.

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College Athletic Departments Are Wooing Recruits With Content Studios
Cody Worsham is a senior associate athletic director for strategic communications and brand advancement at the University of Southern California. He won an Emmy for last year’s hype video produced ahead of the Trojans’ 2024 football season. The demand for creative content is high for college athletes. In the NIL world, social feeds are a new battleground to secure coveted recruits and donor dollars.
Front Office Sports

The Next Game-Changing NCAA Case Seeks Athlete Employment
College athletes lack employment status. This was noticeable in the recent event of Duke suing quarterback Darian Mensah in a case that resembled the enforcement of a noncompete agreement. Johnson v. NCAA began in 2019. The ongoing federal court case could lead to a new order in college sports that restates the economic relationship between athletes and their schools.
Sportico

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