SEC Commish: "It's a Chapter"

“It’s not the end of the story,” Sankey told the audience at the CAA World Congress of Sports on Tuesday in Nashville. “It is a chapter. It’s a necessary chapter … The coping that you hear is we’re trying to figure out what we have to deal with from our past. That’s the chapter we’re in right now.”

April 23, 2025

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey Sounds Off on Changing College Sports Landscape
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey sounds off on changing college sports landscape
SBJ’s Ben Portnoy writes, “SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has seen plenty over the last five years.

“COVID. Conference realignment. NIL. Lawsuits.

“But as the proposed House settlement could receive approval in the coming days, the college sports world faces a new reality that will see schools paying players directly.”

“It’s not the end of the story,” Sankey told the audience at the CAA World Congress of Sports on Tuesday in Nashville. “It is a chapter. It’s a necessary chapter. And one of the realities around other ideas related to college sports is they have started at a point ignoring what we have to deal with from the past … The coping that you hear is we’re trying to figure out what we have to deal with from our past. That’s the chapter we’re in right now.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

Bob Iger Calls ESPN’s Upcoming DTC Launch ‘Biggest Move’ Since Getting Full NFL Season
That’s the importance Disney CEO Bob Iger is assigning to the launch of ESPN’s direct-to-consumer product in the fall.

Iger was interviewed on Day 1 of the CAA World Congress of Sports by ESPN Chair Jimmy Pitaro. Both execs confirmed that a launch date has been picked, a price has been determined and a name has been chosen -- but they weren’t ready to divulge the state secrets just yet (Pitaro would only say that the service would not be called Flagship, as many in the industry have been calling it).
^{Sports Business Journal}

Lou Lamoriello Out as Islanders GM in Seismic Shift After Ugly Season
The New York Post’s Ethan Sears writes, “A 35-35-12 record in 2024-25 that saw the Islanders miss the playoffs for the second time in four seasons, with the roster stagnating for the duration, was enough for ownership to take decisive action. Lamoriello, who turns 83 in October, leaves the Islanders with a mixed legacy, having piloted the team’s greatest era since the Dynasty from 2018-21 before presiding over its decline from 2021-25.”
^{New York Post}

US Center for SafeSport Fires CEO Ju’Riese Colón, the Latest Sign of Frisis for the Olympic Watchdog
AP News’ Eddie Pells reports: “The U.S. Center for SafeSport fired CEO Ju’Riese Colón on Tuesday in the latest and most visceral sign of a crisis that began after revelations the center had hired an investigator who would later be charged with rape.

“It brought an abrupt end to a tenure that began in 2019. She was hired to help the then-2-year-old center, which was established to combat sex abuse in Olympic sports, bring its operation to full speed.”
^{AP News}

Florida’s Todd Golden Rounds Out His Coaching Staff and Officially Fills 2 Roster Spots
Florida coach Todd Golden officially filled two open spots on his staff Tuesday by promoting analytics director Jonathan Safir and hiring New York University head coach Dave Klatsky. Safir and Klatsky replace John Andrzejek and Kevin Hovde. Andrzejek left to take the head coaching job at Campbell, and Hovde took over at Columbia.

Safir has been Florida’s director of basketball strategy and analytics since 2022, and Golden praised his work during the team’s national championship run in the NCAA Tournament. Klatsky, meanwhile, went 68-16 in three years at NYU and advanced to the Division III national title game last season.
^{AP News}

Predators Planning $650M Redevelopment of Bridgestone Arena
The Predators will “undertake a monumental redevelopment of Bridgestone Arena in 2027,” with early plans to “expand the arena by about 175,000 square feet, construct two adjoining towers and enhance the fan experience at 501 Broadway by 2030,” according to Hadley Hitson of the Nashville TENNESSEAN via SBJ. Predators CEO Sean Henry said that the “transformation is estimated” at $650M.
^{The Nashville Tennesseean via Sports Business Journal}

Bengals, Hamilton County Agree to Paycor Stadium Upgrades
Hamilton County has “struck a deal” with the Bengals to spend $185M improving Paycor Stadium in 2026, a “first phase of what could, in the long run,” be an $830M, larger package of upgrades to the facility, according to Chris Wetterich of the CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER via SBJ. A lease extension or brand-new lease is “not part of the stadium improvement deal.” The parties have a June 30 deadline to “come up with a new lease deal” or “approve the first of several two-year extensions allowed by the current lease.”
^{Cincinnati Business Courier via Sports Business Journal}

Portland WNBA Team Breaks Ground on Training Center it Will Share With NWSL’s Thorns
AP News’ Anne M. Peterson writes, “There’s no team name just yet, but the expansion Portland WNBA team broke ground Tuesday on the training facility it will share with the Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League. The $150 million project set to be built west of Portland is the first such alliance between the two women’s leagues.

“Portland’s WNBA team will join the league in 2026. The team is owned by the Bhathal family, which also owns the Thorns and has a stake in the NBA’s Sacramento Kings.”
^{AP News}

UNC Football Moving 2026 Season Opener to Ireland
247 Sports’ Adam Smith writes, “North Carolina is going international with its 2026 college football season opener, and moving an already scheduled game against TCU to Ireland…

“As part of the deal to move the 2026 opener to Dublin, Ireland, the Tar Heels have negotiated compensation for TCU, sources have confirmed, as a means of accounting for the Horned Frogs losing a home date on their schedule, and therefore recouping the revenue that's generated by a home football game.”
^{247 Sports}

R&A Looking Into Feasibility of Trump's Turnberry as Venue for the Open
The R&A would like to see U.S. President Donald Trump's Turnberry course in Scotland return as host of The Open but will first need to assess the feasibility of the venue, the governing body's chief executive Mark Darbon said. Turnberry, a seaside course in South Ayrshire, Scotland, has staged The Open four times - most recently in 2009 when American Stewart Cink won. Trump bought the property in 2014.
^Reuters

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Learfield, Univ. of Washington to Announce New 12-Year Deal
“It’s a reset in terms of their commitment to us and our commitment to them, and our understanding that we believe there’s tremendous upside in the University of Washington,” Washington AD Pat Chun told SBJ.

Washington has worked with Learfield since 2006, while its current deal was set to expire on June 30. The school also utilizes Learfield subsidiaries Paciolan, Amplify and the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC).
^{Wall Street Journal via Sports Business Journal}

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