Sport & Story Daily September 18, 2024

Dealing with the Outcomes

September 18, 2024

Good morning! The MLBPA is suing FanDuel and others and pro soccer players are fed up with the game calendar.

MLBPA Sues FanDuel, DraftKings Over Use of Player Images
The Major League Baseball Players Association filed a lawsuit against DraftKings and Bet365 Group in the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia. They filed a separate lawsuit against FanDuel and Underdog Fantasy in New York State court. The players’ union argues the betting sites are using their images without permission. The union seeks compensation and punitive damages.
^{Front Office Sports}

Saudi Arabia’s SURJ Sports Investment ‘enters race’ for EuroLeague investment
Saudi Arabia’s SURJ Sports Investment has entered the race to buy a minority stake in the EuroLeague elite basketball competition. Shareholders in EuroLeague Commercial Assets are aiming to sell about a third of the business. SURJ is working with private equity firm General Atlantic on a bid for the minority stake.
^{SportsPro Media}

Fanduel Parent Buys Italian Gaming Operator Snai For $2.56 Billion
Flutter is the gaming giant that owns FanDuel. Flutter bought Italian gaming operator Snai for cash considerations at a $2.56 billion enterprise value. The purchase is part of the company’s push to invest more heavily in international markets.
^Sportico

Paris 2024 Paralympics net 15.4m viewers for NBCUniversal
A record 15.4 million total viewers watched the 2024 Paralympics across NBC, Peacock, USA Network, CNBC and Telemundo. Peacock steamed 1,500 hours of the games will all 22 sports shown.
^{SportsPro Media}

Shannon Sharpe Defeats Brett Favre In Defamation Suit Appeal
The U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed the ruling to dismiss retired NFL quarterback Brett Farve’s defamation lawsuit against sports talk show host and fellow retired NFL player Shannon Sharpe. It was said that Sharpe was simply offering strongly stated opinions about a widely reported welfare scandal.
^Sportico

Man City’s Rodri says top soccer players close to going on strike because there are too many games
Midfielder Rodri on Manchester City says soccer players are close to going on strike because of the number of games they have to play. The players are concerned about the way the game is headed as more competitions are added to the calendar.
“Rodri said players can be expected to “perform at the highest level” if they play 40 to 50 games. Not 60 to 70 matches, a number Rodri might have to play if City goes far in all of the competitions it enters.”
^{AP Sports}

Frisco council to vote on Toyota Stadium reno
Frisco City Council will vote on a $100 million renovation cost for Toyota Stadium. If approved, it will mark the first step toward refurbishing FC Dallas’ home, with construction slated to begin in January.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Report: Air Force now a serious target for AAC
The rest of the Mountain West schools are up for grabs after some are joining the Pac-12. The American Athletic Conference is now on the hunt. They are looking at Air Force as a serious target to be added.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin says Wake Forest violated an ‘unwritten rule’ in buying out 2025 game
Wake Forest bought its way out of next year’s matchup against Ole Miss. Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin says Wake Forest violated an unwritten rule, now leaving them in the dust to find another major-conference opponent. The teams had a home-and-home scheduled series. Ole Miss just beat the Demon Deacons 40-6 on Saturday. Now, there will not be a rematch next season.
^{AP Sports}

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