49ers Prove Wins Don't = Sales

Sport & Story Daily August 6, 2025: Despite the San Francisco 49ers' 6-11 record in 2024, they finished with the NFL’s highest ticket revenue.

August 06, 2025

Despite the San Francisco 49ers' 6-11 record in 2024, they finished with the NFL’s highest ticket revenue.

August 6, 2025

Photos by Getty Images; Illustration by Lorenzo Gordon

49ers Lead NFL With $176 Million in 2024 Ticket Revenue
Sportico’s Kurt Badenhausen writes, “The San Francisco 49ers stumbled to a 6-11 record in 2024, just one year removed from a Super Bowl appearance. Still, they finished with the NFL’s highest ticket revenue, according to someone familiar with the NFL’s internal gate report.

“The Niners generated $176 million in net gate receipts from general seating and club seating (luxury suites are excluded). The tally is after local taxes but before the visiting teams’ share. The 49ers were $40 million ahead of the Dallas Cowboys, who ranked second at $136 million."
Sportico

Trump is Creating a Task Force for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles
Trump “considers it a great honor to oversee this global sporting spectacle,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement, calling sports one of the president’s “greatest passions.”

LA28 president and chair Casey Wasserman said the task force “marks an important step forward in our planning efforts and reflects our shared commitment to delivering not just the biggest, but the greatest Games the world has ever seen in the summer of 2028.”
AP News

Getty Images

Lemieux-Burkle Group’s Offer to Reacquire Penguins ‘Well Below’ What FSG Wants
The Mario Lemieux-Ron Burkle group looking to re-acquire the Penguins is currently pushing an offer that is “well below” the price that current owner Fenway Sports Group “would want,” according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman via SBJ. The Lightning last fall sold for $1.8B, and Friedman said, “I gotta think that’s where the Penguins would want to be. From what I understand, that bid is just not close to that at this point in time.”
Sportsnet via Sports Business Journal

What We Learned From Netflix’s SEC Football Documentary, ‘Any Given Saturday’
“It’s critical that we stick together. It’s going to be hell out there,” Napier tells his players, pointing at the walls. “It’s going to be hell on the outside. Do not allow them to divide us.”

The Athletic’s Seth Emerson writes, “This was one of several locker room scenes caught by Netflix cameras, who followed around a majority of SEC teams last year. There is South Carolina coach Shane Beamer, after a close loss to LSU, telling his team, ‘We let their ass off the hook.' There is Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea, in his pregame speech before an upset of Auburn, claiming he overheard an Auburn coach tell his players, ‘they’re still Vanderbilt and we’re still Auburn.’”
The Athletic

Disney/ESPN Acquiring NFL Network, RedZone From NFL
SBJ’s Austin Karp writes, “Disney/ESPN and the NFL on Tuesday night announced a deal whereby the network will acquire NFL Network, NFL RedZone and NFL fantasy football assets from the league in exchange for a 10% stake in the network. The agreement, still described as ‘non-binding,’ culminates around four years of on-and-off discussions between the two sides.

“The unprecedented deal would see NFL Network’s linear and digital rights owned and operated by ESPN and integrated into the upcoming ESPN direct-to-consumer product launch, alongside traditional pay TV distribution.”
Sports Business Journal

Fox One Streaming Service Launch Date and Pricing Revealed
THR’s Alex Weprin reports: “Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch announced the launch during the company’s earnings call Tuesday, Aug. 5, telling analysts that Fox One will debut Aug. 21, in time for the launch of Big Noon Saturday, Fox’s flagship college football show, as well as the NFL season kickoff, and MLB playoffs.”
The Hollywood Reporter

Sources: Peacock Adds Big 12 Men’s Hoops Package
SBJ’s Ben Portnoy reports: “The Big 12 is set to announce a new package of 20 men’s regular-season basketball games that will be streamed on Peacock beginning in 2025, sources told SBJ … Financial details of the multiyear partnership were not immediately available, and an official announcement is expected today.

“The deal is of particular significance as it now means the Big 12 will see its product broadcast by each of the five major networks in the college sports space -- Fox, ESPN, NBC, CBS and TNT.”
Sports Business Journal

USA Gymnastics, NBC Sports Extend Deal Through 2032
SBJ’s Rachel Axon reports: “The current agreement ran through 2024, and the extension will ensure NBC continues to air the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships and the U.S. Classic presented by Saatva through the next two quadrennia.

“The agreement also includes NBC Sports producing a selection show for the women’s artistic team rosters for world championships in non-Olympic years. The company will also increase the number of its gymnastics shows in the lead-up to LA28. The deal is the longest extension NBC Sports has made with an NGB since the Paris Games.”
Sports Business Journal

MLS Commissioner On Apple TV Deal: Critics ‘Don’t Get It Yet’
THR’s Alex Weprin reports: “Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch announced the launch during the company’s earnings call Tuesday, Aug. 5, telling analysts that Fox One will debut Aug. 21, in time for the launch of Big Noon Saturday, Fox’s flagship college football show, as well as the NFL season kickoff, and MLB playoffs.”
The Hollywood Reporter

Getty Images

Padres’ Attendance Poised to Exceed 3 Million for Third Straight Season
The Padres will “blow past 3 million in home attendance next month,” making it three years in a row they have “cracked baseball’s golden marker at the gate,” according to Tom Krasovic of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE via SBJ. The capacity turnout on Sunday “moved the Padres ahead” of the Yankees for “second in home attendance this season,” behind only the Dodgers.
San Diego Union-Tribune via Sports Business Journal

Bristol President Apologizes for Fan Frustrations at Speedway Classic
Bristol Motor Speedway President Jerry Caldwell yesterday apologized for “circumstances that left some fans dissatisfied with their experience at the Speedway Classic baseball game” this past weekend, according to David McGee of the BRISTOL HERALD COURIER via SBJ. Fans expressed “frustration over long lines, a shortage of food and beverages at concession stands.”
Bristol Herald Courier via Sports Business Journal

Los Angeles Clippers. Vice President of Marketing
The Los Angeles Clippers’ Marketing team is looking for a Vice President of Marketing to join the team at the LA Clippers and Intuit Dome. As VP of Marketing, you will take the lead on the creation and implementation of strategic and tactical plans for all marketing activities, including but not limited to: marketing strategy, digital engagement, growth marketing, advertising, demand and lead generation, and project management. To be considered, you should exhibit a successful history of directing brand strategy and execution, digital marketing proficiency, using data to inform and support your decisions, and a willingness to be hands-on with execution. Apply Now.

NBCUniversal. Vice President, Brand Marketing
The Vice President, Brand Marketing will serve as a strategic leader responsible for developing and executing comprehensive brand marketing strategies across Versant's entertainment networks (USA, E!, SYFY, Oxygen) and sports properties. This role will drive brand positioning, consumer engagement, and revenue growth while providing critical marketing leadership support to both Distribution Sales and Ad Sales Marketing functions. The Vice President will also lead sports key partnerships marketing initiatives across our Golf vertical, WWE partnership, Premier League partnership, A10 college basketball partnership, NASCAR, and emerging partnership opportunities. Apply Now.

LIV Golf. Director, Player & Team Communications
The Director, Player & Team Communications will be responsible for supporting the development and implementation of year-round communications efforts involving LIV Golf’s 13 Team golf clubs and its 52 players. Under the direction of the VP, Team & Player Communications, they will work intimately with the Communications team, league departments, and external partners to create and execute integrated Communications strategies, aligned with the league’s narrative and positioning, for league initiatives, league events, media engagement, and offseason activities. In addition, the role will support the development of bespoke franchise communication strategies and support related needs. Apply Now.

Los Angeles Lakers. Executive Director, Corporate Partnerships
The Executive Director, Corporate Partnerships, is a proactive, high-energy sales executive with a deep love for the sports industry. This is a high-pressure, high-reward role. This position will leverage a positive reputation in the sports industry with the Lakers’ iconic brand to generate team revenue. It is ultra-responsive, corporate-client focused, and is responsible for business development and client relationship management, while maintaining the Lakers brand guidelines. Apply Now.

Looking to fill an open position with top talent in the sports media industry? Advertise in the Sport & Story Daily to reach over 25,000 senior-level executives and professionals—and connect your job opportunity with the right audience.

Yahoo Sports Elevates Coverage for New Era of College Sports
Yahoo Sports announced new investments today that reinforce its position as a premier destination for college sports news, analysis, and commentary. Arriving alongside college athletics’ new revenue-sharing era, the updates will help fans better follow the on-field moments and off-field decisions defining this next chapter.

“With these investments, we can deliver the kind of smart, in-depth coverage that will help fans better follow their favorite schools and understand the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics,” said Sam Farber, Yahoo Sports Head of Content.
Yahoo! Sports

Thanks for reading!

Sport & Story Daily is the sports industry’s daily resource for business news. In addition to serving up exclusive trends, Q&As, and columns, the newsletter connects readers to top platforms and stories from across the sports landscape.

Place your brand in front of the Sport & Story Daily audience and connect with the most influential people in sports.

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here!

Feel free to read our Privacy Policy

Reply

or to participate.