Mark Cuban paid for Mendoza Deal

Mark Cuban paid for Mendoza Deal

May 7, 2026

Mark Cuban Says He Paid for Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza Deal
Mark Cuban revealed that he personally funded the NIL deal that helped Indiana football land quarterback Fernando Mendoza via the transfer portal. Cuban said the decision came during a 2024 College Football Playoff game, when Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson told him the program needed “a little bit more” financially to secure Mendoza, prompting Cuban to respond, “I’ll put up the money to get this quarterback.” The billionaire alumnus had not previously donated to Indiana athletics, but his contribution helped bring in Mendoza, who went on to win the Heisman Trophy and lead the Hoosiers to an undefeated season and national championship. Cuban has not disclosed the exact amount he contributed, though Mendoza’s NIL valuation reportedly increased from $1.6 million at California to about $2.6 million after transferring to Indiana.
^{Front Office Sports}

How FIFA is seeking to minimize U.S. tax burden for World Cup teams — and itself
FIFA has increased total World Cup team distributions by 15% to $871 million (minimum $12.5 million per team) in response to concerns that U.S. tax exposure could offset participation earnings. Beyond boosting payouts, FIFA is actively supporting member associations in seeking U.S. federal and state tax-exempt status, which would eliminate both teams’ tax liabilities and FIFA’s withholding obligations on prize money. While FIFA itself already benefits from long-standing U.S. tax-exempt status, extending similar treatment to teams is uncertain due to their commercial activities and the tight timeline, with tax experts skeptical approvals will be secured before the tournament. The stakes are significant, as teams from countries without U.S. tax treaties could face substantial federal and additional taxes—potentially eroding most of their earnings—while exemptions could be the difference between breaking even and turning a profit.
^{Sports Business Journal}

NFLRA schedules vote to ratify new CBA with NFL
Negotiations between the NFL and the NFL Referees Association have advanced enough that the union scheduled a ratification vote on a new collective bargaining agreement ahead of the current deal’s May 31 expiration. If approved, the agreement would prevent the use of replacement officials for the upcoming season, though specific terms have not yet been disclosed. The sides had been negotiating for more than two years and reached a stalemate earlier this year, prompting the NFL to prepare contingency plans including recruiting replacement referees and implementing modified officiating procedures. The potential deal would also address league priorities such as changes to officiating job structure, including longer probationary periods, reduced emphasis on seniority for playoff assignments, and adjustments to officials’ offseason schedules.
^ESPN

NHL sees huge viewership increase during first round
The NHL saw a significant rise in viewership during the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with average audiences increasing by roughly 68–70% year-over-year. Games averaged about 1.2 million viewers across ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS, and truTV, marking the highest first-round ratings since the league’s current media rights deals began in the 2021–22 season. Several factors contributed to the surge, including a post-Olympics boost in interest, multiple long series (six of eight went at least six games), and compelling storylines such as playoff returns and rivalry matchups. The NHL also benefited from having all playoff games on traditional linear TV, which may have helped capture casual viewers compared to competing leagues distributing games on streaming platforms.
^{Front Office Sports}

MLS unveils new headquarters at 2 Penn Plaza
Major League Soccer has opened a new 126,000-square-foot global headquarters at 2 Penn Plaza, nearly doubling the size of its previous office as the league continues to expand. The facility includes more than 80 collaboration spaces and a centralized Match Day Center that will monitor and support every game with integrated real-time data and content. Designed with an “office as a stadium” concept, the space features elements inspired by soccer environments, such as player tunnel-style entrances, a central midfield hub, and locker-room-like areas. The design also incorporates league history and identity, with visual tributes to all 30 clubs, tifo-inspired graphics, and lighting inspired by the league’s original match ball.
^AMNY

The Cap That Changed the Game: New Era Celebrates 59FIFTY Day With an Exclusive Spike Lee Collection
New Era is releasing a limited-edition seven-cap New York Yankees collection with Spike Lee to celebrate 59FIFTY Day on May 9, marking the 30th anniversary of Lee’s iconic 1996 red Yankees cap that blended sports and streetwear culture. The collection includes six navy 59FIFTY caps, each featuring distinct graphics tied to Yankees World Series history (e.g., baseballs, pennants, years, bats, and gloves), with drops staggered daily beginning May 3.The centerpiece is a reissue of the original red Yankees cap, recreated in the 1996 colorway with a 30th-anniversary side patch and Spike Lee’s signature under the visor. Overall, the release is positioned as both a product drop and a cultural tribute, highlighting the moment when licensed MLB gear evolved into a broader fashion and lifestyle statement.
^HypeBeast

The Great Dane Returns: Peter Schmeichel Joins FOX Sports For 2026 FIFA World Cup
Peter Schmeichel is returning to FOX Sports as part of its broadcast team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he will serve as a studio analyst providing insights during coverage. The network is assembling a high-profile, “star-studded” lineup for the tournament that includes other major global figures such as Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Javier Hernández, and Clarence Seedorf, with Schmeichel added as one of the latest international legends. Schmeichel previously worked with FOX during UEFA Euro 2024, and executives highlighted his analytical perspective and on-air performance as reasons for bringing him back for the World Cup. The 2026 tournament, running from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be FOX Sports’ largest World Cup broadcast effort, featuring all 104 matches across FOX and FS1.
^{Fox Sports}

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UK eyes Memorial Coliseum naming rights deal in major revenue push
The University of Kentucky is exploring a naming-rights deal for Memorial Coliseum in partnership with JMI Sports as part of a broader effort to increase athletic department revenue. The venue is one of several remaining “unsold assets,” with UK set to receive 80% of advertising and inventory revenue under its long-term multimedia rights agreement, as it faces rising costs including roughly $20.5 million annually in athlete compensation. School officials emphasized that any deal would preserve the building’s historic identity, likely using a “Historic Memorial Coliseum presented by” structure without removing the Memorial designation. The coliseum, originally opened in 1950 and recently renovated for $82 million, honors over 9,000 fallen service members and remains home to multiple UK women’s and Olympic sports programs.
^{A Sea of Blue}

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