Tyson-Paul Fight Deemed a Win

Streaming SNAFU Aside, Logan-Paul Fight Drew Huge Numbers

November 18, 2024

Good morning! 60-million households streamed the big fight

Paul-Tyson Draws Strong Viewership Numbers, Ticket Numbers
SBJ’s Adam Stern writes, “There are strong numbers coming out of the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight on Friday, as Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions said 60 million households streamed the event in what could be the most-watched boxing event of all time but one that also had widely reported streaming issues. Meanwhile, ticket revenue was slightly more than $18M, doubling the $9M gate from a Canelo Alvarez bout against Billy Joe Saunders at AT&T Stadium in a 2021 fight. The event drew 72,300 and is being reported as the highest-grossing combat sports gate in Texas state history and easily the biggest boxing gate outside of Las Vegas in U.S. history.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

WNBA Corporate Sponsorship Deals Are Growing. But Not Every Athlete Is Getting Their Due
AP News’ Claire Savage writes, “Many of the WNBA’s young stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese brought deals with them from their playing days in college, including name, image and likeness agreements that became endorsements with such companies as Nike, Reebok and Gatorade. Players of different backgrounds landed a variety of other endorsement deals with companies like CarMax and State Farm.

“But for all those enjoying their newfound riches, there are still some players who are being left out. The WNBA recently partnered with Kim Kardashian’s underwear brand SKIMS, which featured women of color as well as LGBTQ+ players in its ads. The company received pushback, however, for excluding masculine-presenting athletes in its May campaign.”
^{AP News}

Michael Jordan and NASCAR Reach Deal as Lawsuit Continues
In a move that suggests a settlement is the most likely outcome in the ongoing antitrust lawsuit pitting Michael Jordan-owned 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports against NASCAR, the parties have reached an agreement that allows the two teams to compete as open teams while their litigation continues, according to Sportico.
^Sportico

NFL's Goodell Says Putting 'TNF' on Prime Paying Off For League
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Thursday the league’s decision to put “Thursday Night Football” exclusively on the streamer Prime Video is an example of long-term thinking that has paid off for the league.

Viewership took a hit in 2022 when "TNF" switched from Fox/NFL Network to Amazon, but it’s grown as more and more fans get comfortable with streaming, he said. But it’s nearly equal to cable games viewership now; in fact, last week, "TNF" beat out ESPN’s "Monday Night football," and "TNF" games easily top NFL Network-exclusive games from Europe.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Sources: WBD Settles Matching Rights Lawsuit Against NBA
Warner Bros. Discovery has settled its matching rights lawsuit against the NBA, SBJ sources confirmed Saturday night, with a wide-ranging multiyear agreement that allows ESPN to periodically license TNT’s revered studio show “Inside the NBA," grants Turner valuable NBA IP for free and pays the network $350M over the first five years for continuing its digital partnership with the league related to services, promotion, programming and marketing.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Bill Belichick Reportedly Wants to Return to Coaching in 2025 After Season as NFL Analyst
Yahoo Sports’ Liz Roscher writes, “Bill Belichick has spent a lot of time talking into a microphone about football this season, but he has his sights set higher for next year. He's spent the last several months popping up on every football show and podcast you can think of, though his biggest appearances have been on ESPN. He's been on Pat McAfee's ESPN show once a week, and he's regularly appeared on the Manningcast during ‘Monday Night Football.’"

According to The Athletic, Belichick wants to return to coaching in 2025. The article notes, “Coaching is in his blood.”
^{The Athletic via Yahoo! Sports}

Bills’ New Stadium Costs Balloon to $2.1 Billion, $560 Million Over Initial Estimate, Team Tells AP
AP News’ John Wawrow reports: “The projected cost of the Buffalo Bills’ new stadium has ballooned to what team officials on Friday told The Associated Press is “north of $2.1 billion,” with owners Terry and Kim Pegula responsible for picking up the more than $560 million in overruns.

“Bills president Pete Guelli said he was not surprised by the amount, given how the numbers have been tracking up since construction began 16 months ago. And he said the projected total represents the commitment the Pegulas have to the community because they are sticking to their vision for the facility without cutting corners to reduce costs.”
^{AP News}

Rays Say County’s Stalling Has Likely Killed the New Stadium Deal 
The Tampa Bay Times’ John Romano writes, “While nothing is official, it appears likely that a historic deal to build a new $1.3 billion stadium at the Tropicana Field site is all but dead. And, consequently, baseball’s future in Tampa Bay is at greater risk than ever before.

“The Pinellas County Commission has already postponed one vote on bonds that would go toward the financing of the ballpark and appears poised to delay it again Tuesday. The setback has already disrupted a series of deadlines that have halted construction plans and would likely cause a significant increase in the cost of the project.”
^{Tampa Bay Times}

LA28 Facing Key Decisions in 2025 on Competition, Venues
With 2025 on the horizon, LA28 faces key decisions about competitions and venues and a need to staff up operationally as it continues to sell on the commercial side. A visit to the IOC's coordination commission this week provided another benchmark of progress as the organizing committee pivots to delivery mode. LA28 and IOC leaders concluded the three-day visit with a press conference on Thursday, giving updates on the status of the organizing committee's plans.

First up for LA28 will be staffing up. With around 150 employees, the organizing committee will grow "rapidly" in the next nine months, said chairman Casey Wasserman.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Temple Fires Stan Drayton Amid Coach’s Third Season With Losing Record
According to The Athletic, Temple has fired football coach Stan Drayton after just nine wins in three seasons, the program announced Sunday. Defensive coordinator Everett Withers was named the team’s interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Drayton, 53, was a longtime college and NFL assistant when he came to Temple after the 2021 season as a first-time head coach. Most recently, he was an assistant head coach and running backs coach at Texas.
^{The Athletic}

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