Trump/Putin Plan Hockey Series

Trump and Putin reportedly discussed a US-Russia hockey series during their call

March 19, 2025

Trump and Putin Discuss a US-Russia Hockey Series During Their Call, the Kremlin Says
AP News’ Stephen Whyno reports: “Moscow said in its recap of the call that Trump supported Putin’s idea to organize games in the U.S. and Russia involving players from the NHL and the KHL, and agreed to remain in contact on all issues raised on the call, which was scheduled to discuss the war in Ukraine. The White House’s report of the call did not mention talks involving hockey, and the NHL learned of the idea after it was over.

“‘We have just become aware of the conversation between President Trump and President Putin,’ the NHL said in a statement sent to The Associated Press, adding, ‘It would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time.’”
^{AP News}

MLB Wants Japan to Cheer for More Than the Dodgers and Ohtani. The Prize Could Be Billions
The Athletic’s Evan Drellich writes, “If MLB has its way, the series will also serve as a beginning. The league sees a trove of fan interest and cash to be unlocked in Japan, a country long obsessed with baseball that has grown infatuated with the defending World Series champion Dodgers and their expat star, Ohtani. The mission at baseball’s central office is to broaden the appeal of the whole league here, and success would not be trivial.”
^{The Athletic}

CBS Draws Second-Best NCAA Selection Show Audience Since 2019
CBS drew 5.7 million viewers for the NCAA Men’s Selection Show on Sunday, marking the program’s second best audience since 2019 and easily the best sports program of the weekend. This year’s 6pm ET show, which unveiled the full bracket in the first 34 minutes of the hour-long telecast, is down just 3% from 2024, but up 12% from 2023. It’s up 15% from three years ago.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Peacock Launches NBC Sports RSN Subscription
Peacock today launched in-market streaming of the NBC Sports RSNs as add-on subscriptions, providing Peacock subscribers with access to NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Boston, NBC Sports California or NBC Sports Philadelphia to stream the networks’ respective live MLB, NBA and NHL games in their markets. Other pro and college sports, such as NWSL and NBA G League games, and other programming is included.
^{Sports Business Journal}

What to Know Ahead of the IOC Choosing its Next President
As SBJ’s Rachel Axon writes, “There won’t be white smoke, but the comparisons of the IOC election set to take place here on Thursday have drawn frequent comparisons to a papal conclave. A highly exclusive club set to choose a new leader in complete secrecy? OK, comparisons might be fair.

“After 12 years with Thomas Bach at the reins, the 100 or so (more on that in a minute) IOC members -- which include among their ranks an octet of royals (one of them a candidate, himself), an Oscar winner (Michelle Yeoh) and Olympic gold medalists -- will choose between seven candidates.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

Indiana Hires West Virginia Coach Darian DeVries as Next Head Coach
Yahoo Sports’ Jack Baer writes, “Indiana is making Darian DeVries one-and-done at West Virginia. The Mountaineers head coach has accepted an offer to become the Hoosiers' replacement for the fired Mike Woodson, the school announced Tuesday. The hire ends DeVries' WVU tenure after one season.”
^{Yahoo! Sports}

Missouri Hires Former Tennessee Star and Coach Kellie Harper as Its New Women’s Basketball Coach
Harper grew up in Sparta, Tennessee, and played under Pat Summitt with the Volunteers. She began her coaching career in the SEC as an assistant at Auburn in 2000, and was the head coach for Western Carolina, NC State and Missouri State before replacing Holly Warlick at her alma mater in 2019.

Harper led the Lady Vols to the NCAA Tournament in each of the four seasons it was held, including back-to-back Sweet 16 trips in 2022 and ’23. She was fired after last season, when Tennessee went 20-13 and made the second round of the NCAAs.
^{AP News}

A’s Looking for Up to $550M From Investors to Build Las Vegas Ballpark
The Athletics are in talks with potential investors as the Major League Baseball team looks to raise up to $550 million to go toward the construction of its $1.75 billion Las Vegas ballpark.

With plans to begin construction on their 33,000-fan-capacity stadium between April and June, the A’s are working on bringing in investors, who would be given an equity stake in the MLB club tied to their investment in the ballpark project, according to a person with knowledge of the process. Interested investors are being pitched the deal, noting the A’s valuation is estimated to be $2 billion, the source said.
^{Las Vegas-Review Journal}

Browns Share New Stadium Renderings, Provide Update
The Browns published a letter to fans, providing new renderings on the team’s proposed stadium and issuing an update on its progress. The Browns in the letter wrote they have “done extensive diligence and have concluded that a new enclosed” Huntington Bank Field in Brook Park with an “adjacent mixed-used development is the most viable long-term solution.” The stadium will come with a “transparent roof, maximizing natural light” while “amplifying the sounds of gameday or a live concert,” a seating bowl with seats close to the field and a “Fan Wall” for the “most ardent fans.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

Predators, Penguins Set to Play in Sweden
The Predators will “play two games” against the Penguins in Sweden as part of the NHL’s Global Series. The matchups are set for Nov. 14 and Nov. 16 at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. This will be Nashville’s “first trip abroad” since playing the Sharks in Prague, Czechia, in 2022. The event will “mark the 15th season” for the NHL’s Global Series. Past locations included Finland, Germany, England and Japan.
^{Nashville Tennesseean via Sports Business Journal}

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EA Sports Raises Payments to $1,500 for Players Appearing in College Football 26
In an email to Football Bowl Subdivision players sent Tuesday afternoon, EA Sports said it would increase players’ name, image and likeness payments from $600 to $1,500 for their inclusion in the upcoming College Football 26 video game. They will also receive a Deluxe Edition of the game, a carryover from the compensation system for College Football 25. As was also the case last year, some athletes will receive additional compensation to serve as brand ambassadors to promote the game.
^{The Athletic}

Ivy League Makes Conference History With Three Women’s NCAA Tournament Bids
“It’s really huge for the conference, particularly in back-to-back years,” Ivy League executive director Robin Harris said of getting at-large bids. “It shows the trajectory of Ivy League women’s basketball and the fact we are a premiere women’s basketball conference.”
^{AP News}

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