Sport & Story Daily April 19, 2024

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April 19, 2024

Good morning! Is Korda Golf’s Caitlin Clark?

Nelly Korda's Recent Dominance Brings Increased Spotlight to Women's Golf
LPGA player Nelly Korda has won four straight tournaments and brought an “elevated attention” to golf at a “potential inflection point in the industry thanks to record prize money and growing interest in women’s sports,” according to Gene Wang of the WASHINGTON POST. The Chevron Championship has a total purse of $7.9M, the “richest since the tournament’s inception” and an increase from $5.2M in 2023. The USGA also announced in February a total purse of $12M for the U.S. Women’s Open, the “biggest in women’s golf history.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

In Unique $1.2 Billion Coyotes Deal, Buyer Never Met Seller
Everyone’s been about the Coyotes deal but not necessarily about the unconventional way it went down. Per Sportico, Ryan Smith has never spoken to Arizona Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo. But as Eben Novy-Williams and Scott Soshnick write, “It didn’t stop him from executing a $1.2 billion acquisition that will add an NHL team to his growing Utah sports empire.

NHL owners voted Thursday to approve the transaction, which will see Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) buy the roster, draft picks and hockey operations of the Coyotes from Meruelo. Those assets will be rolled into a new NHL franchise, which doesn’t yet have a name and will begin play later this year.
^Sportico

The Top 5 Sports Marketing Ideas to Know About Right Now
Ad Age is expanding its Creativity Top 5 series to acknowledge the best in recent sports marketing. The inaugural edition reviews efforts related to the upcoming Paris Olympics, MLB’s opening day, NHL and NBA playoffs, and the New York City Marathon.
^{Ad Age}

Paris Olympics Organizers Hope Summer Games Will Showcase France’s Modernity, From Gender-Balanced Events to Sustainability Initiatives
“Last time we had the Summer Olympics in France it was 100 years ago, so the anticipation is huge. That’s why we’ve wanted to have coverage that’s as ambitious and exhaustive as possible,” says Laurent-Éric Le Lay, head of sports at France Télévisions.
^Variety

Caitlin Clark Nearing Endorsement Deal With Nike: Sources
Industry sources have told The Atlantic that Indiana Fever rookie phenom Caitlin Clark—the No. 1 pick in Monday’s WNBA Draft—is nearing a lucrative, eight-figure endorsement deal with Nike. Clark is reportedly expected to receive a signature Nike shoe as part of a deal worth well over $20 million, plus potential bonuses. Two industry sources said Under Armour and Adidas also made sizable offers to Clark.
^{The Athletic}

Converse Extends Thunder's Gilgeous-Alexander
Per SBJ, Thunder G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has signed a "massive, multi-year shoe deal extension with Converse, cementing him as the face of the company for the future." The deal also names Gilgeous-Alexander the Creative Dir of Converse Basketball, allowing him to "provide input and direction across all products from the company."
^{Sports Business Journal}

Rich Eisen is the Top Pick as NFL Draft Host
BSM’s Andy Masur writes, “If I had the #1 pick in the NFL Draft Host draft, I wouldn’t hesitate to take Rich Eisen. He is my favorite. Eisen has the perfect demeanor to host this marathon of an event. He figures out a way to make it entertaining without going over the top. After 20 years at the NFL Network, he has the hosting thing figured out.”
^{Barrett Sports Media}

Mizzou's $250M Stadium Renovations Get Approval
Univ. of Missouri administration today approved $250M in "renovations to the Memorial Stadium north concourse," clearing the way for the school’s "most expensive athletic facilities project to date." Expected to be "complete in time for the 2026 season," the renovations will "add 2,000 premium tickets to the stadium's capacity, including 51 new suite spaces."
^{Sports Business Journal}

Washington Mystics Announce June Game vs. Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever Moved to Capital One Arena
As the Washington Mystics continue working on holding more of their 2024 home dates at a bigger venue, the team confirmed on Thursday that their June 7 game against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever will take place at the the 20,000-seat Capital One Arena. The game was originally scheduled to be played at the 4,200-seat Entertainment & Sports Arena.
^{Yahoo! Sports}

Gene Smith Reflects on Career as Ohio State Athletic Director, Talks Future of College Athletics
“Early in my career at Ohio State, I used to roam around more. I’d drop in on coaches, I’d see their practices, and spend time with them. But it's more about some of these other platforms like meetings and things of that nature where I connect with them, or different events or going to their contests. But I want to know our coaches. I want to know them as people and what they're all about. I want to know their character, so I try my best to get to know them. That’s [also true for] a lot of the staff.”
^{Eleven Warriors}

Deion Sanders Downplays Transfer Exodus From Colorado
"I think we got some [starting-caliber players] coming in from visits pretty soon, maybe even this weekend, but we can attract those type of players," Sanders said. "I don't think we're losing those type of players, and if we do, we're good. We're good. We're making a big deal out of nothing."
^ESPN

The College Basketball Players Association Has Filed an Unfair Labor Practice Charge With the NLRB Against Notre Dame
CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd tweeted, “Just filed: An unfair labor practice charge to the NLRB against Notre Dame. Similar to USC/Pac-12/NCAA complaint -- players misidentified as student-athletes. Involves all ND athletes. Will go to Indianapolis NLRB office.”
^Twitter

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