Hammer Drops On NIL Payments

The College Sports Commission is rejecting deals in which players receive money from collectives that were created solely to pay them

July 15, 2025

Argument Over ‘Valid Business Purpose’ for NIL Collectives Threatens College Sports Settlement
AP News’ Eddie Pells writes, “Less than two weeks after terms of a multibillion-dollar college sports settlement went into effect, friction erupted over the definition of a ‘valid business purpose’ that collectives making name, image likeness payments to players are supposed to have.

“The new College Sports Commission sent a letter to athletic directors last week saying it was rejecting deals in which players were receiving money from collectives that were created solely to pay them and don’t provide goods or services to the general public for profit.”
^{AP News}

Indiana Fever All-Star Aliyah Boston Joins Boston Legacy FC Investor Group
The Athletic’s Tamerra Griffin reports: “Indiana Fever forward and NCAA champion Aliyah Boston is investing in Boston Legacy FC, the NWSL club announced Monday, joining an investment group that includes gymnast Aly Raisman, actress Elizabeth Banks and Celtics general manager Brad Stevens and his wife, Tracy.”

“Aliyah’s investment in our club demonstrates the strength of women’s sports as our two leagues — the WNBA and NWSL — continue to grow and expand,” said Legacy controlling owner Jennifer Epstein in a statement.
^{The Athletic}

DraftKings in Talks to Acquire Prediction Market Railbird Exchange
DraftKings is currently in acquisition talks with Railbird Exchange, an upstart prediction markets platform which recently gained federal licensure, a source told Front Office Sports. Financial terms were not known, and a deal has not been finalized. 

“DraftKings speaks to a variety of companies regarding various matters in the normal course of business, and it is our general policy not to comment on the specifics of any of those discussions,” a spokesperson for the sportsbook told FOS in a statement.
^{Front Office Sports}

All Signs Point to 2027-28 Launch of NBA’s National Streaming RSN
SBJ’s Tom Friend writes, “The NBA’s potential national streaming RSN, which Commissioner Adam Silver has intimated is a prerequisite for league expansion, might have to wait until the 2027-28 season when as many as 20 teams could be free to opt in. According to multiple club execs, there has been ‘dead silence’ up until now on the proposed national platform that will hypothetically solve declining local rights fees and appease a younger league fan base that prefers streamed and customized game broadcasts. Sources indicate that the league could have created the streaming RSN last summer while finalizing its $77B national media rights deal, but considered local TV a prohibitive revenue source -- and preferred to wait and negotiate a higher-end deal with entities such as Amazon, YouTube, Apple, Roku, ESPN or Peacock.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

EXCLUSIVE: NBCU's Super Bowl Ads Now Going for $8 Million 
Ad Week’s Bill Bradley reports: “Earlier this year, multiple outlets reported that NBCU was initially asking for around $7 million for a 30-second spot in Super Bowl 60, airing on February 8, 2026. However, due to demand, the company has already reached its cap for the number of spots that were available for advertisers to buy during the upfront season.”
^{Ad Week}

Low Attendance at Iowa IndyCar Race Clouds Future
Ticket sales of around 6,000 for each of IndyCar’s doubleheader events at the Iowa Speedway this weekend “clouded the future of IndyCar at a track” where the grandstand holds 24,000 people, and that can hold up to 45,000 people when camping and temporary suites are erected. Penske Corp. President Bud Denker said on July 10 that IndyCar plans to race at Iowa Speedway by “holding one race in 2026, but that a return is not guaranteed.”
^{Des Moines Register via Sports Business Journal}

Finally in Charge, A-Rod Says Timberwolves Need New Arena
Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore have been the Timberwolves and Lynx majority owners for a couple of weeks, but they are already planning a new arena for the organization. The duo were formally introduced to the media Friday at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas as the majority owners after an 18-month legal battle with former owner Glen Taylor.
^{Front Office Sports}

Special Olympics Names New President & CEO
The international BOD of Special Olympics has appointed David Evangelista as the global movement’s new President & CEO, effective January 1, 2026. Evangelista will succeed Mary Davis, who is retiring on Dec. 31 after 10 years in the role and 47 years of involvement with Special Olympics. Currently, Evangelista serves as the President and Managing Dir of Special Olympics Europe Eurasia.
^{Sports Business Journal}

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.

Sun Belt Votes to Add Louisiana Tech After Losing Texas State to Pac-12: Source
The Athletic’s Ralph D. Russo and Chris Vannini report: “The exit fee to leave Conference USA is expected to be more than $5 million after members signed a grant of rights to coincide with the conference’s latest television deal.

“Louisiana Tech has been part of CUSA since 2013. The addition of the Ruston, La., based school will keep the Sun Belt at 14 football schools next year and give it three full members in the state, along with Louisiana in Lafayette and Louisiana-Monroe.”
^{The Athletic}

The BIG EAST’s March into a New Era of College Sports
Just as the BIG EAST prepared to announce its new 6-year digital media deal with ESPN, Val Ackerman, BIG EAST Commissioner, sat down with Mike Schreiber, Playfly Sports Founder and Chairman, for the first episode of JohnWallStreet’s Business of College Sports podcast. She shares her vision for the conference, weighing in on media rights, the impact of revenue-sharing within BIG EAST schools, and more.

“College sports has been in the midst of really significant change over the last several years,” Commissioner Ackerman said. “Schools can now begin sharing with the athletes directly. The BIG EAST, we’re opting into that model. There are no rules other than not exceeding the cap. Our revenue is mostly going to go to basketball players, men and women. We don’t have the football revenue, which puts us in a different place…”
^{Playfly Sports, Apple Podcasts}

Greg Sankey Says CFP Could Stay at 12 Teams ‘If We Can’t Agree’ On Expanded Format
The Athletic’s Seth Emerson reports: “Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti has proposed a format where the Big Ten and SEC would get four automatic bids to the CFP, the ACC and Big 12 two apiece, and one more for the highest-ranked champion of another conference. The rest of the bids would be at-large, with the field expanding to 14 or 16.

“Other conferences prefer a ‘5+11’ model, with automatic bids for the five highest-ranked conference champions and 11 at-large bids. Either way, a 16-team format appeared to have enough momentum that it seemed a foregone conclusion.”
^{The Athletic}

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