Sports fandom reaches the afterlife
October 22, 2026
Die-Hard Sports Fandom Has Reached the Afterlife
The Jacksonville Jaguars have partnered with Eternal Fan to build a stadium memorial installation called the 904Ever Club, which will allow fans to store memorabilia and sealed cremains. The project features three pricing tiers ranging from $904 to $5,904 for the Founders Level, with funds allocated to long-term maintenance, security, and potential stadium relocation. Following a similar racing memorial built at Richmond Raceway, the company plans to expand its afterlife partnership model to other NFL teams, colleges, and entertainment venues.
Front Office Sports
Atlanta Falcons Add Arctos as Limited Partner
The Atlanta Falcons ownership group has added Arctos as a limited partner following formal approval from NFL owners at meetings in New York. The initial transaction involves a 7.5 percent stake in the franchise, with an additional 2.5 percent stake planned for purchase pending a future ownership vote. Proceeds from the agreement will support the family's philanthropic initiatives and community development efforts.
Atlanta Falcons
Frost Bank becomes Official Bank of the Houston Rockets and Houston Comets
Frost Bank has entered into an expanded agreement with the Houston Rockets and a new partnership with the Houston Comets to serve as the official bank for both franchises. This collaboration marks the institution's first-ever partnership with a professional women's sports team while extending its nearly decade-long relationship with the men's basketball organization. The initiative will introduce community financial literacy programs, specialized fan experiences, and upgraded arena hospitality spaces like the Frost Legends Club.
PR Newswire
Analyst predicts Netflix will buy NBCUniversal post-spinoff
As streaming growth slows and engagement plateaus, analysts suggest that expanding into live sports is critical to retaining a dedicated subscriber base. Wolfe Research analyst Peter Supino predicts that Netflix could acquire NBCUniversal following its planned spinoff from Comcast to instantly secure a massive year-round portfolio of live sports and news. This strategic combination would provide Netflix with the live broadcasting assets and traditional media footprint it currently lacks while filling a gap in Peacock's focus on scripted entertainment.
Awful Announcing
Fanatics to set first with Hawks tie-up
Fanatics has formed a multi-year, omnichannel retail partnership with the Atlanta Hawks to operate in-arena retail at State Farm Arena and manage the team's official e-commerce. As part of the agreement, Fanatics will open its first-ever flagship store in a mixed-use development at Centennial Yards in 2027. This new year-round retail destination will give fans access to Atlanta Hawks and local sports merchandise on non-game days for the first time.
The Stadium Business
Ticketmaster Goes All-In on AI, Names Ex-Amazon Exec as Chief Technology Officer
To combat persistent bot attacks and overhaul its technology, Ticketmaster has appointed former Amazon executive Jim Freeman as its chief technology officer. The company also brought on the team from AI startup Raige.ai following its recent acquisition to strengthen AI infrastructure and tool adoption across the organization. Additionally, leadership changes include naming Rachel Smith as senior vice president of data science and machine learning and Chuck Mortimore as senior vice president of product.
Variety
Celebrities turn out in force for Knicks’ banner night — with one notable absence
A host of notable celebrities and high-profile figures packed Madison Square Garden to watch the New York Knicks receive their championship rings and open their season against the 76ers. Famous fans like Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, Tracy Morgan, and even NFL commissioner Roger Goodell filled the courtside seats for the festive banner-raising ceremony. However, the star-studded crowd notably missed actor Timothée Chalamet, who was a frequent fixture at games throughout the team's previous playoff run.
New York Post
San Jose Earthquakes. Manager, Partnerships AI Operations.
The San Jose Earthquakes are seeking a proactive and resourceful individual to join our team as Manager, Partnerships AI Operations. As Manager, Partnerships AI Operations, you will improve how the department uses technology to support prospecting, sales preparation, internal communication, and partnership operations. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys figuring out how things work, solving problems, and turning manual tasks into efficient, repeatable processes. Coding experience is not required. Success in this role means shorter go-to-market timelines, fewer manual labor hours, cleaner data, and better internal communication across Partnership Sales, Partnership Marketing, and Partnership Strategy. This position reports to the Vice President, Sponsorship Sales. Apply Now.
Baltimore Orioles. Senior IT Security Analyst.
We are seeking a Sr. IT Security Analyst responsible for protecting and strengthening the organization’s IT infrastructure while serving as a key liaison between IT Security and the business. This role focuses on risk identification and mitigation through business impact assessments, security awareness initiatives, and the implementation of technical and procedural controls, with an emphasis on business continuity and disaster recovery for the Baltimore Orioles organization. Responsibilities include monitoring, investigating, and responding to security threats across the organization. The candidate will also manage IT technology equipment and support for our Florida sites (Ed Smith Stadium and Twin lakes). The ideal candidate has hands-on experience with a variety of industry standard tools with a strong understanding of IT infrastructure, excellent analytical and communication skills, and a service-oriented mindset. The candidate will also assist with escalated issue resolution by providing in-person hands-on support to end users as needed. Apply Now.
Nashville Predators. Coordinator, Premium Seats Service.
The Coordinator of Premium Seats Service provides dedicated customer service and support to VIP guests, suite holders, and club members at Bridgestone Arena. Responsibilities include managing ticket inventory and fulfillment, coordinating email communications and event updates, and serving as the primary point of contact for client requests. The role also involves managing on-site event night operations across all premium areas and collaborating with internal departments and vendors to ensure a high-level client experience. Apply Now.
Looking to fill an open position with top talent in the sports media industry? Advertise in the Sport & Story Daily to reach over 25,000 senior-level executives and professionals—and connect your job opportunity with the right audience.
What A 24-Team College Football Playoff Bracket Would Look Like In 2026
A hypothetical 24-team College Football Playoff projection models how an expanded postseason field would operate using current top-25 rankings and simple selection criteria. The format grants automatic bids to the four Power Four conference champions alongside the highest-ranked Group of Six team, while filling out the rest of the bracket with at-large selections. This larger field accommodates programs with multiple losses and introduces new first-round home games and potential upsets to decide the national champion.
Fox Sports
Thanks for reading!
Sport & Story Daily is the sports industry’s daily resource for business news. In addition to serving up exclusive trends, Q&As, and columns, the newsletter connects readers to top platforms and stories from across the sports landscape.
Place your brand in front of the Sport & Story Daily audience and connect with the most influential people in sports.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here!
Feel free to read our Privacy Policy