Flag Football in Olympics a Go

NFL owners unanimously approved player participation in Olympic Flag Football for 2028.

May 21, 2025

NFL Owners Unanimously Approve Player Participation in Olympic Flag Football for 2028
AP News’ Dave Campbell reports: “The vote at the spring meetings in Minnesota on Tuesday authorized the league to negotiate safety provisions and scheduling logistics with the NFL Players Association, the sport’s international governing body and the relevant Olympic authorities before it becomes reality during the next Summer Games in Los Angeles.

“No more than one player per NFL club would be allowed. The 10-player Olympic rosters will be selected by the national committee for each country, with six teams each in separate tournaments for men and women. The game itself is a 5-on-5 competition on a 50-yard field.”
^{AP News}

The NFL Is on Broadcast, Cable—and Now ‘New TV’
Sportico’s Jacob Feldman writes, “It was only a matter of time before YouTube streamed its own exclusive NFL action, with the platform now set to air a Week 1 Friday game between the Chargers and Chiefs in São Paulo, Brazil.

“YouTube and the NFL came together in 2022 on a $2 billion annual pact for Sunday Ticket rights. The rights for September’s game come cheaper—likely in the range of $100 million, based on what Peacock paid for a similar asset in 2024, though the league has not shared financial details. All those numbers pale in comparison to the $54 billion YouTube earned in 2024 revenue.”
^Sportico

NBA Playoff Ratings Stay Hot as Knicks Try to Keep the Party Going
Sportico’s Anthony Crupi writes, “If the NBA’s second apron spells doom for the era of the superteam, the rigorous salary-cap restrictions don’t seem to have diluted enthusiasm for the playoffs. 

“Per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data, the first two rounds of the NBA postseason tournament averaged 4.17 million viewers across ABC, ESPN and TNT/truTV, which marks a 3.3% improvement versus the year-ago period. Leading the ratings charge are the Disney networks, which have grown their playoff deliveries 12%. Through 22 games, ABC and ESPN are averaging 4.88 million viewers per telecast, making this the Mouse House’s second most-watched postseason in 14 years.”
^Sportico

Fever vs. Sky Draws 2.7 Million Viewers, Most-Viewed WNBA Regular-Season Game in 25 Years
The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch writes, “There is one guarantee when Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese meet on a basketball court: People will watch.

“The Indiana Fever’s 93-58 win over the Chicago Sky last Saturday drew 2.7 million viewers on ABC. That set a record for the most-viewed WNBA regular-season game across ESPN networks and is believed to be the most-viewed WNBA regular-season game in 25 years, since the era when NBC aired the WNBA. The game peaked at 3.1 million viewers.”
^{The Athletic}

ESPN President Confirms Plans for Charles Barkley, 'Inside the NBA' Next Season
SI’s Madison Williams writes, “Barkley has been outspoken about his frustration with how the media deal was handled. He claims he learned about the show's move to ESPN from the media, not even from TNT directly. Back in December, Barkley even admitted he was keeping his options open and wasn't tied to ESPN yet.

“But, it sounds like the crew consisting of Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith will be sticking together.”
^{Front Office Sports, Sports Illustrated}

Preakness Audience Among Lowest Ever Without Derby Winner in the Field
With the Kentucky Derby winner once again skipping the Preakness Stakes, NBC saw a sharp drop on Saturday for the second leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown (won by Journalism). The network averaged 4.56 million viewers for the race segment of the Preakness from 6:35-7:25pm ET; excluding the pandemic running in October 2020 (2.38 million), this year is the least-watched Preakness since 1995 on ABC (4.4 million).
^{Sports Business Journal}

Fanatics Launches Athletes vs. Celebs vs. Fans Event With $1M Prize
Sportico’s Eben Novy-Williams writes, “Fanatics is the latest company to try its hand at what’s become a growing trend: competitions that pit athletes, celebrities and fans against each other.

“Michael Rubin‘s company on Tuesday announced the launch of Fanatics Games. To be played over three days at Fanatics Fest in New York City next month, the competition will feature 100 competitors—50 athletes and celebrities, and 50 fans—in non-contact competitions…”
^Sportico

NFL Approves Ownership Stakes: Arctos, Woodson Join Ranks
The ranks of minority equity holders in the NFL have again expanded. League owners approved four new team stake sales Tuesday, including Arctos Partners acquiring an 8% stake of the Chargers, which is the NFL’s third private equity deal since approving the entry of those investors last summer. Arctos also holds a 10% stake in the Bills. 
^{Front Office Sports}

TGL Indoor Golf League to Add Detroit Team for 2027
AP News’ Doug Ferguson writes, “Two months after the inaugural TGL season, the indoor golf league has expanded. Motor City Golf Club representing Detroit will be the seventh team in TGL, the league founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy as part of their TMRW Sports entertainment company.

“It will join teams that represent Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Boston, Atlanta and Jupiter, Florida. Atlanta, with Billy Horschel and Justin Thomas, won the inaugural title.”
AP News

Major Moda Center Improvements Unlikely Before Trail Blazers Sale Completed
The sale of the Trail Blazers by the estate of late team owner Paul Allen “will not impact improvements to the Moda Center already in motion,” but future projects “likely won’t get underway before a sale is completed,” according to Aaron Fentress of the Portland OREGONIAN via SBJ.
Portland Oregonian via Sports Business Journal

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Saban Open to Consulting on College Sports Issues
Former college football coach Nick Saban said he is “all for being a consultant to anybody who would think that my experience would be beneficial to helping create” solutions for college athletics. However, the coach once again said he doesn’t believe “we need a commission” to resolve the issues. Saban added he’s “all for the players for making money,” but said he doesn’t believe “we have a sustainable system right now.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

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