Sport & Story Daily July 9, 2024

Stay Ahead of the Game

July 9, 2024

Good morning! The WNBA Means Business

From business deals to this year’s very-full hype train over rookies like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, the WNBA is top of mind. Here are just some of the stories from the web as of late:

WNBA Fashion Brings Another Spotlight to League, Partners
Many WNBA players are “promoting themselves on and off the court” and are “getting tapped for opportunities in a different arena—the fashion and beauty space,” according to Taylor Ardrey of USA TODAY via SBJ. Sky’s Angel Reese modeled in a Good American campaign and collaborated with Revolve and Fashion Nova.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Angel Reese Gets Her 13th Consecutive Double-Double, Setting a WNBA Record
The rookie forward got her 13th consecutive double-double on Sunday, scoring 17 points and grabbing 14 rebounds as the Chicago Sky lost to the Seattle Storm, 84–71. It was the second matchup between the two teams in three days. And USA Today asks if Reese is finally getting the flowers she deserves.
^{Yahoo! Sports}

Caitlin Clark Becomes First WNBA Rookie to Record a Triple-Double as Fever Surge Back to Beat Liberty
Yahoo Sports’ Kari Anderson writes, “Indiana's comeback win was fueled in part by Clark's historic performance: The rookie guard put up 19 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds, becoming the first rookie in WNBA history to record a triple-double. Clark's stat line also makes her the first Indiana Fever player to record a triple-double. Her total rebounds and assists also ties her career high.”
^{Yahoo! Sports}

Why and How Fenway Sports Group Led the Investment in the PGA Tour
Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry and CEO Sam Kennedy sat down and told “the tale of how, when, where, and why” FSG and a “consortium of North American sports owners” called Strategic Sports Group “stepped in line” to close a deal worth up to $3B that “reshaped professional golf,” according to Michael Silverman of the BOSTON GLOBE via SBJ.
^{Sports Business Journal}

NYRA, Playfly Ink Deal for Sponsorship, Hospitality Sales, Ticketing
Playfly and NYRA have agreed to a three-year deal in which Playfly will serve as NYRA’s agency of record for sponsorship and premium hospitality sales, as well as ticketing consulting for the revitalized Belmont Park. A nonprofit, the NYRA operates Aqueduct Racetrack, Saratoga Race Course and Belmont Park, which is the home of Triple Crown race, the Belmont Stakes, and is undergoing a two-year, $455M renovation. As SBJ reports, the two parties first worked together last year when Playfly assisted NYRA in its preparations to move the Belmont Stakes to Saratoga for the duration of the Belmont project. 
^{Sports Business Journal}

Dan Hurley, UConn Agree to New 6-year, $50M Contract Following 2nd Straight National Title, Offer From Lakers
UConn announced Monday that Hurley has signed a new six-year, $50 million contract. It will keep Hurley in Storrs through the 2029-2030 season, and he can also earn performance-based incentives.
^{Yahoo! Sports}

NFL 2023 National Revenue Hit $13 Billion, $400 Million-Plus Per Team
Per Sportico, each of the 32 NFL teams received just over $400 million from the league office for the 2023 season, according to multiple people familiar with the league’s finances who were not authorized to speak publicly. The tally is up 6% to 8% from the 2022 season, depending on the accounting used by the team.
^Sportico

Stars Taking All Local Broadcasts to New Ad-Supported Digital Platform
SBJ’s Alex Silverman writes, “The Stars are taking a novel approach to distribution of their local broadcast rights, partnering with a technology company to launch a free ad-supported streaming service called Victory+ Sports Network that will be the primary home of all their in-market telecasts.   

“Victory+ is jointly owned by the Stars and A Parent Media Co. (APMC), an over-the-top streaming and ad technology company behind children’s content platform Kidoodle.TV and sports influencer group Dude Perfect’s streaming channel. The two parties signed a seven-year agreement. Specific financial terms were not disclosed.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

Keegan Bradley Appointed US Ryder Cup Captain After Tiger Woods Turns Down the Job
AP News’ Doug Ferguson writes, “Keegan Bradley is assured of making another Ryder Cup team, this time as the U.S. captain. The PGA of America announced his selection on Monday after months of talking with Tiger Woods about taking the job.

“The PGA of America released the news on Instagram after word began to leak during the day that Bradley, who has played on only two Ryder Cup teams and never was an assistant captain, was chosen to lead the 2025 matches at Bethpage Black in New York.”

Per Golfweek via USA Today: “Woods has said he is unsure if he wants the job as he continues to attempt another comeback from serious injuries and handles new duties as a board member with the PGA Tour and the new PGA Tour Enterprises.”
^{AP News, Golfweek, USA Today}

Capitals Promote Chris Patrick to GM, Brian MacLellan Remains President of Hockey Operations
The Washington Capitals named Chris Patrick their general manager on Monday, and longtime GM Brian MacLellan remained president of hockey operations. Patrick, 48, who was also named as a senior vice president, has worked for the Capitals in various capacities since 2009 and served as assistant GM under MacLellan for the past three years
^{AP News}

Tour de France Forced to Navigate the Paris Olympics, Too
Front Office Sports’ David Rumsey writes, “As the 173 remaining riders transition from Troyes to Orléans, where the action will pick back up Tuesday, the Tour de France is about 75 miles outside of Paris. That’s the closest it will get to the French capital in an unprecedented departure from tradition this year. For the first time in the history of the race, it won’t finish in Paris.

“Due to the Paris Olympics, which begin on July 26, five days after the Tour de France ends on July 21, race organizers had to drastically alter the 2,173-mile route this year.”
^{Front Office Sports}

Top 5 Trends in Sports Tech 2024
Rolling Stone’s Michael Schreiber writes, “IF YOU DON’T peg college students as gin drinkers, Snoop Dogg has some news. The rapper recently became the new title sponsor of the

By Dre and Snoop (disclosure: we secured this partnership). But he was only approached to lend his name to the game after our insights team identified an unexpected stat found via Playfly: gin drinkers at sporting events are 47% more likely than the general population to be college sports fans. 

“The loosening of regulations by the NCAA to allow alcohol brand advertising is the least of the changes to fan engagement. Thanks to tech innovations, the world is shifting fast — not just in our daily lives but also in the sports we love.”

Make sure to continue to open your Sport & Story Daily to stay on top of these kinds of trends in the industry.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Texas legend Ricky Williams Reflects on Cannabis, NIL, College Sports Reform
On the heels of the NCAA recently removing cannabis from its banned substance list, On3 caught up with the former Heisman winner and longtime cannabis advocate. He applauded the move but called it belated because he recalled failed drug tests "ruining" teammates' careers. 
^On3

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