Sport & Story Daily September 13, 2023

Stay Ahead of the Game

September 13, 2023

Good morning! A rousing start to the NFL season got even hotter in primetime as both ESPN and NBC Sports report big gains for their offerings…

📺 ESPN reels in its most-watched Monday Night Football game ever
ESPN’s 2023 Monday Night Football season debut set records for the company as over 22.6 million viewers watched the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets to rank as the most-watched ESPN Monday Night Football game ever. The Bills-Jets is up 14% from the 2022 Monday Night Football opener. Meanwhile, Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli on ESPN2 had an audience of 1.52 million, up from the show’s 2022 Week 1 audience. Read more here.

🏈 NBC Sports notches largest two-game NFL kickoff weekend since 2015
With the return of NBC’s Sunday Night Football and last Thursday’s NFL Kickoff Game, NBC Sports delivered its largest two-game NFL Kickoff Weekend audience since 2015, averaging 24.9 million viewers across NBC, Peacock, NBC Sports Digital and NFL Digital platforms. Despite the most-lopsided shutout in NBC Sunday Night Football history (since 2006), the Cowboys’ 40-0 win over the Giants on Sunday averaged a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 21.8 million viewers – up 4% from the teams’ last meeting on SNF. Read more here.

🎾 Coco Gauff’s US Open victory marks most-viewed women’s major tennis final ever on ESPN
In other viewership news, Saturday’s historic US Open Women’s Championship between Coco Gauff and new World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was the most-viewed Women’s Final of any tennis major ever on ESPN. Gauff’s victory ranks as the second most-viewed telecast for the US Open overall, behind only Serena Williams’ final match in 2022, and the most-streamed telecast of the 2023 tournament on ESPN+. Read more here.

💹 TKO Group, merging WWE and UFC, begins trading on the NYSE
UFC and WWE officially completed their merger yesterday following Endeavor’s acquisition of the professional wrestling company earlier this year. Trading on the New York Stock Exchange, TKO opened with a valuation of $21.4 billion. UFC's parent company Endeavor will own 51% of TKO and WWE shareholders will receive a 49% stake. Read more here.

📢 Oklahoma City mayor unveils plan for $900M arena to keep NBA’s Thunder through 2050
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt is making a play to build a new $900 million downtown arena designed to keep the NBA’s Thunder in the city through at least 2050 if the plan is approved by voters. Officials call for the continuation of a 1% sales tax for six years, $70 million from an existing sales tax approved by voters in 2019 for upgrades to the current arena, and a $50 million contribution from the Thunder ownership. Read more here.

Manchester United inks front-of-shirt sponsor
Manchester United agreed to an expanded strategic collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., that will see the Snapdragon brand displayed on the front of the club’s famous shirt. Under the expanded agreement, Snapdragon will become Manchester United’s front of shirt partner from the start of the 2024/25 season, featuring on the home, away and third kits of the men’s and women’s teams.
businesswire.com

Legends in talks for $1.85 billion private credit deal for ASM
Sixth Street Partners-backed Legends Hospitality is in talks with a group of private credit firms led by Ares Management Corp. and KKR & Co. to finance its potential acquisition of venue and events management company ASM Global, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
bloomberg.com

Rithmm, Inc. premieres core and premium products and launches football offerings
Rithmm, Inc., a leading Boston-based startup specializing in AI-driven sports betting technology, announced the official launch of its sports betting platform. This launch signifies a milestone for Rithmm, transitioning from the successful beta phase to a full-fledged, comprehensive suite of products that will empower individual sports betting enthusiasts and revolutionize how they make smart bets moving forward.
prnewswire.com

8th Wonder Tea announces partnership with Donovan McNabb
8th Wonder Tea is announcing their partnership with six-time NFL Pro Bowler and sports commentator Donovan McNabb who played 13 seasons as an NFL quarterback. 8th Wonder and McNabb are kicking-off a digital advertising campaign that will continue through the summer of 2024 and highlight the healthy attributes of 8th Wonder's sparkling adaptogens.
yahoo.com

Mountain Dew sponsoring Justin Haley at Bristol
Kaulig Racing and Food City announced today they are teaming up once again to bring back the iconic Mountain Dew brand to the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) at Bristol Motor Speedway.
jayski.com

Disney tips off coverage of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs
The WNBA postseason is revved up with Disney platforms set to carry the 2023 WNBA Playoffs Presented by Google, beginning today, featuring the two teams from the 2022 WNBA Finals, the Las Vegas Aces and the Connecticut Sun. ESPN’s commentator team for the WNBA Playoffs presented by Google will be led by the main crew of Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, and Holly Rowe, with analysts LaChina Robinson, Carolyn Peck, Andraya Carter, and other voices to be featured.
espnpressroom.com

2023 BMW PGA Championship to be the first ever sports TV production powered entirely by green hydrogen
In a world first for a sporting event, the European Tour Productions and IMG led production will be powered 100% by green hydrogen, producing zero emissions with UK-based clean energy company, GeoPura, set to supply two hydrogen power units to fuel the production.
sportsvideo.org

New season of 'Generations' premieres on NFL+
Each episode of Generations takes a look at the evolution of different positions and formations, while also giving former NFL players an opportunity to share advice, wisdom and unique insight on some of the most iconic plays with many of today's top performers.
nflcommunications.com

Charlotte Hornets announce new partnership with Dole
The Charlotte Hornets and Dole Food Company announced a multi-year partnership under which Dole, which has its U.S. headquarters located in Charlotte, becomes a Proud Partner of the Charlotte Hornets.
nba.com

Air Guard partners with NFL Team on recruiting, retention
For the first time in Air National Guard history, the service has partnered with a National Football League team to bolster the Air Force Recruiting Service's Total Force recruiting efforts. As part of the Air Guard's partnership with the Washington Commanders, the component's logo will be featured on practice jerseys worn by the team’s defensive players throughout the 2023 season, helping reach and inspire the next generation of airmen.
ngaus.org

Missouri’s pro teams push for legal sports gambling on 2024 ballot
A coalition of Missouri’s professional sports teams is backing a new effort to legalize sports betting that could put the issues to voters on the 2024 ballot. The effort is spearheaded by the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, and also includes the Kansas City Chiefs football team, the Kansas City Royals baseball team, the Kansas City Current and St. Louis City soccer teams, and the St. Lous Blues hockey team.
apnews.com

Panel finds no single factor in horse deaths at Churchill Downs. More screening is suggested
Horse racing’s federally created oversight panel found no single cause of death among 12 horses at Churchill Downs this spring, but recommends further action and analysis to mitigate risk at the home of the Kentucky Derby, according to a report released Tuesday.
apnews.com

With A’s leaving Coliseum, Oakland mulls soccer team’s plan
With the Oakland A’s all but out the door of Oakland Coliseum, the city is reportedly considering a proposal from its local soccer team to make use of the surrounding area. Oakland city officials are reviewing the terms of an agreement that would allow Oakland Roots SC — which plays in the USL Championship, the second division of American men’s professional soccer — to build a temporary 10,000-seat stadium in the Malibu parking lot near the Coliseum.
frontofficesports.com

Fanatics names Andrew Low Ah Kee as next Commerce CEO
Fanatics has hired Andrew Low Ah Kee to be the next CEO of its core merchandise business, filling a critical leadership role in advance of a potential IPO in the coming years. As CEO of Fanatics Commerce, Low Ah Kee will run the company’s largest vertical, which covers licensed fan gear, jerseys, apparel and hardgoods. The business grew to annual sales of roughly $5 billion under current CEO Doug Mack, who announced his retirement last month.
sportico.com

New York Red Bulls expand leadership team
New York Red Bulls President & General Manager Marc de Grandpré announced today the expansion of the club’s Executive Leadership Team. Joe Stetson has been named Chief Commercial Officer, Elisa Padilla named Chief Marketing Officer, Christina Giunta-Quarino named Chief of Staff and Claire Noonan named Head of Human Resources. Each will report directly to de Grandpré.
newyorkredbulls.com

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Sport & Story Daily and Sports & Story College are the sport industry’s daily resource for business news. In addition to serving up exclusive trends, Q&As, and columns, the newsletter connects reads to top platforms and stories from across the sports landscape.

Chris Pursell is the founder of staple industry events such as the Cynopsis Sports Business Awards, the Esports Business Summit, the CMO Exchange, the Tempest Awards, and the Esports Newfronts. He was previously a reporter and editor for publications such as Variety and The Los Angeles Times and launched leading business publications for Cynopsis and PromaxBDA.

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