All-Star Game's Radical Twists

NBA All-Star Game Becomes Low-Scoring Tournament, and Tongues Are Wagging

December 18, 2024

NBA Announces All-Star Tournament Plan For This Season: 4 Teams, 3 Games, 1 Night
AP News’ Tim Reynolds writes, “The NBA ‘s All-Star Game is going to be an All-Star tournament this season, with the league announcing on Tuesday that it has finalized plans to use a different format for the upcoming midseason showcase in San Francisco. And scoring is sure to be down — way, way, way down.

“This season’s format is a four-team, three-game, one-night tournament, three teams of eight All-Stars apiece and the fourth team being the winner of the Rising Stars challenge for first- and second-year players. The winning team in all games will be the first to score 40 points.”

According to many news outlets, the Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant has said of the changes, "I hate it, I absolutely hate it," Durant said.
^{AP News}

European Super League to Relaunch as 'Unify League'
The European Super League is making its return to soccer under a new proposal rebranded as the “Unify League,” according to Sam Wallace of the London TELEGRAPH. The new proposal has “scrapped the notion that certain clubs qualify automatically every year.” There is a proposed “annual qualification for all four leagues” within the Unify League by the organizers behind it -- A22 Sports. The competition would be “streamed via a branded ‘Unified’ platform, via an app, with a similar model to Netflix.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

From Caitlin Clark and Simone Biles to a New Hockey League, Women’s Sports Had a Pivotal Year
The consulting firm Deloitte estimated in November 2023 that women’s sports would generate more than $1 billion in global revenue this year for the first time ever, which the company said is up about 300% from its last estimate in 2021. Skyrocketing viewership and corporate sponsorships were major factors.
^{AP News}

Sources: WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson, Nike Reach 6-Year Extension
The news comes after Wilson was named to Nike's roster of signature athletes in May and announced the launch of her signature shoe, the "A'One," which will be released in spring 2025 prior to the WNBA season. Wilson's new deal ranks among the highest-paid shoe endorsements in the sport, alongside those of 2024 WNBA No. 1 draft pick Caitlin Clark, USC star JuJu Watkins and Liberty standout Sabrina Ionescu.
^ESPN

ESPN Draws Best Heisman Audience Since 2019 With Hunter-Jeanty Drama
ESPN saw the best Heisman Trophy ceremony presentation audience since 2019, with Colorado WR/DB Travis Hunter beating out Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty. The 8pm ET telecast drew 2.5 million viewers, which is the best since Joe Burrow’s win in 2019 drew 2.54 million. The telecast was 8% better than the 2.31 million that Jayden Daniels’ win drew last year, and 52% better than the 1.65 million that Caleb Williams’ win drew in 2022.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Report: LIV Golf in Discussions With Fox for Broadcast Deal in 2025
SI’s Matt Vincenzi writes, “The story noted that Scott O'Neil, the expected new CEO and commissioner for LIV Golf to replace Greg Norman sometime in 2025, teed it up in the Crypto.com Showdown pro-am Monday in Las Vegas alongside Alan Gold, the head of sports media at CAA Evolution, and Jordan Bazant, the EVP of business development and media for Fox Sports.

“The league's events have been broadcast on the CW network for the past two years with low viewership numbers, and the lack of a mainstream television deal has been widely viewed as one of LIV's biggest shortcomings.”
^{Sports Illustrated}

ESPN Eyeing Plan to Extend ‘Pardon the Interruption’ After Cancellation of ‘Around the Horn’
With the forthcoming cancellation of “Around the Horn” next year, one of ESPN executives’ initial ideas to precede “Pardon the Interruption” in their afternoon lineup is more “Pardon the Interruption,” sources briefed on the discussions told The Athletic. ESPN has made overtures to expand the long-running hit featuring Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon from a half-hour to an hour.
^{The Athletic}

Former Alabama Coach Mike Shula Takes Over as South Carolina Offensive Coordinator
Former Alabama head coach Mike Shula is South Carolina’s new offensive coordinator, getting a three-year contract worth $1.1 million a season. The school’s board of trustees approved the agreements for Shula along with extensions and raises for the Gamecocks other nine assistants on Tuesday. Shula, who joined the program as an offensive analyst in March, will also coach quarterbacks.
^{AP News}

PGA Tour Launching Formal Search For CEO Role 
The PGA Tour is launching a formal search for a CEO position, according to a staff email from PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan that was shared with SBJ this morning. The tour discussed the move at an all-staff town hall this morning, and Monahan later sent the memo to staff. Monahan, who is remaining as commissioner, will take a spot as a director on the tour's Policy Board and also be on the search committee for the CEO. It will mark the first time a tour commissioner has had a spot on the Policy Board.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Jets Interview Former Titans General Manager Jon Robinson for Their GM Vacancy
Robinson is the second known general manager candidate to meet with the Jets, who interviewed former Atlanta Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff on Monday. The Jets have begun the process of finding their new GM after Joe Douglas was fired on Nov. 19.

Robinson was the Titans’ general manager from 2016 until he was fired late in the 2022 season. Tennessee was 66-43 with him overseeing the team, which made the playoffs four times and won the AFC South twice during his tenure.
^{AP News}

Brewers Optimistic on District Board's Lease Vote for American Family Field
According to SBJ, Brewers CEO Rick Schlesinger is optimistic that the district board will vote to approve an amended ballpark lease that would keep the team in Milwaukee through 2050.

A year ago, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed a bill to provide $550M in public funds for future renovations at American Family Field over the next three decades. The amended ballpark lease will align with the already approved legislation, and include $110M in additional financial responsibilities by the Brewers.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Facilities: Targeting Change in Minneapolis
SBJ’s Bret McCormick writes, “The end-zone sections were first covered during the 2022-23 regular season, but the tarps came off for that season’s playoffs. The arena’s operator, ASM Global, was promptly reminded why the tarps were there in the first place, as lines of patrons snaked along the tight 200-level concourse and fans waited 30 minutes for a hot dog and a beer. The tarps were back on for the entirety of the 2023-24 season, but taken off during the postseason as the Timberwolves — who made the playoffs only once between 2005 and 2021 — came within a round of the NBA Finals.” 
^{Sports Business Journal}

NWSL in Final Stages of Adding Expansion Team in Denver: Source
Per The Athletic via Sportico, the NWSL is in the final stages of adding Denver as the league’s 16th team. The source said that the expansion fee is in the range of $105 to $120 million, which was also reported by Sportico. That’s double the $53 million expansion fee that Bay FC and BOS Nation FC paid as the 14th and 15th NWSL teams, respectively.
^{The Athletic}

Coaches Question Timing of Transfer Portal Window as They Prepare for College Football Playoff
“I hate it for our players,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said Tuesday. “I told them ... I hate it that you guys, you get a chance to play in the College football Playoff, yet you are either forced to decide do I go in the portal or not. Or let’s call it like it is, people are bombarding our roster trying to pick people off our roster, and we’re trying to focus on the playoff.”
^{AP News}

How Can Schools Afford to Pay Players? Cutting Coach Pay Is One Answer
FOS’ Margaret Fleming writes, “As colleges and universities brace for potential revenue-sharing as soon as next year, schools are searching for ways to source millions of dollars to pay athletes directly. Clawing some back from struggling head football coaches could be one solution.”

The article notes that “at least three major coaches are feeling the impacts of a potential House settlement green-lighting revenue-sharing next season.”
^{Front Office Sports}

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