"Ugly" Fan Chants Mar Ryder Cup

FOS’ writes, “Ugly American is no longer just a political label, but also something reflecting the U.S. team’s play at the Ryder Cup, and also fan behavior…”

September 29, 2025

Ryder Cup Chaos: Europe Holds On for Win Amid U.S. Fan Ugliness
FOS’ Eric Fisher writes, “Ugly American is no longer just a political label, but also something reflecting the U.S. team’s play at the Ryder Cup, and also fan behavior at the sometimes-fractious golf tournament held on Long Island.

“The European team completed a 15–13 win Sunday in the high-profile event, which began with plenty of anticipation but ended with the outcome never really in doubt—despite the U.S. beginning as a slight betting favorite and then attempting a late comeback in singles play. The loss was the first for the U.S. at home in the Ryder Cup since 2012.”
^{Front Office Sports}

Report: Silver Lake, Saudi PIF Preparing $50B ‘Leveraged Buyout’ of EA
Electronic Arts, the giant video game maker whose EA Sports arm produces market-leading games such as Madden NFL, EA Sports FC (the former FIFA Soccer series) and College Football, is reportedly the target of a roughly $50B leveraged buyout from “a group of investors including private-equity firm Silver Lake, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Jared Kushner’s investment firm Affinity Partners” in a deal that “could be unveiled ... as soon as next week,” reports the Wall Street Journal from “people familiar with the matter.” If the deal happens, it could be “the largest leveraged buyout of all time.”
^{Wall Street Journal via Sports Business Journal}

Playfly Sports Brokers Sponsorship Agreement Between Cadence Bank and the SIAC
Cadence Bank (NYSE: CADE) today announced its sponsorship of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), underscoring its commitment to building strong relationships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and creating meaningful connections within the communities it serves. Cadence was named the official banking partner of the SIAC with the execution of the league’s newest partnership agreement. The sponsorship, brokered by Playfly Sports, the sports industry’s leading revenue maximization company, began in July 2025 and will continue through June 2029.  
^{Playfly Sports}

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom
FOS’ Amanda Schuster writes, “Shortly after the Florida Panthers won their second consecutive Stanley Cup, new bottles appeared on the website of Mano’s Wine. Their glass is etched with the Cup, team logo, year, and the word ‘champions.’ They’re sold for $34.95 (white wine and bubbly) and $59.95 (red wine) directly through Mano’s or at Publix, a major grocery chain in Florida. At their victory parade in Fort Lauderdale, the Panthers popped corks on the silver bottles of Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine. Mano’s is one of the leaders in the ‘victory wine’ category.”
^{Front Office Sports}

ESPN Can Ditch ‘Monday Night Football’ Overlaps Soon
Sportico’s Jacob Feldman writes, “ESPN and its Disney-owned sister network have spent the last three seasons experimenting with concurrent MNF action, aiming to bring the chaotic energy of an NFL Sunday afternoon—and maybe even a March Madness Sunday afternoon—to Monday evenings. But rather than appreciating the extra game, a number of fans have balked at the additional football. Even for the world’s richest sports league, less is sometimes more. 

“Compared to last year, ESPN swapped two nights of overlapping games this season for a pair of 7 and 10 p.m. ET doubleheaders. And as early as 2026, it could be done with the overlapping contests altogether, as it awaits regulatory approval of an NFL Network takeover that would see it exchange four Monday Night Football games for games that could be played at other times. ‘We’re getting out of this side-by-side business,’ ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said after the acquisition was announced.”
^Sportico

Snoop Dogg Returning to NBC for 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics
After his popular coverage during the Paris Games, Snoop Dogg will return to NBC for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, the network announced Sunday.

Snoop will “explore northern Italy, from the vibrant streets of Milan to the breathtaking Dolomites, providing his unique perspective to viewers during NBCUniversal’s Winter Olympic primetime coverage,” according to a news release.
^{The Athletic}

Paramount+, CBS Land Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing in 5-Year Deal
FOS’ Eric Fisher writes, “One of the worst-kept secrets in sports media is no longer a secret as the Dana White-led Zuffa Boxing has completed a five-year rights deal with CBS Sports parent company Paramount. The agreement, expected for weeks, will see the newly formed boxing venture featured regularly on the Paramount+ streaming service when competition begins in January. There is also a possibility that events will be simulcast on CBS broadcast television.”
^{Front Office Sports}

Manfred Pleased With MLB’s Nat’l Viewership Figures
In its final season, ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball” averaged 1.83 million viewers, up 21% year-over-year. It was the most-watched season for “SNB” since 2013.

Fox averaged 2.04 million viewers for a 9% increase from 2024 and its most-watched season since 2022. Meanwhile, FS1 averaged 324,000 viewers, up 10% for its best season since 2019. MLB Network averaged 232,000 viewers, representing a 21% increase (and its best game coverage since 2018). TBS/truTV averaged 462,000 viewers, a 29% YOY increase.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Mariners Announce Root Sports Will End After Season
Sunday’s game between the Dodgers and Mariners on Root Sports will “mark the final Mariners’ game ever televised on the regional sports network that debuted as Northwest Cable Sports in 1988 and became affiliated with Prime Sports in 1989.” On Friday, the Mariners announced that the RSN they have majority control of “will cease to exist,” and that MLB, “which has handled all the production for their game broadcasts this season, will also take over istribution of the Mariners telecasts through cable providers and streaming platforms.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

‘Smarter’ Brewers Overcome Payroll Cuts in World Series Quest
Sportico’s Barry M. Bloom writes, “[Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark] Attanasio, now 67, was one of the first from the finance industry to buy into the sport, and he received a nice ovation from his new colleagues after the unanimous vote.

“MLB, now run by commissioner Rob Manfred, has nothing to be ashamed of as the small-market, low-payroll Brewers have recently dominated MLB, at least during the regular season. The unlikely Brewers boast the best record in the league this season, which closes Sunday; they have won their National League Central division for the third consecutive year and fourth time in the past five seasons in pursuit of the franchise’s first World Series title.”
^Sportico

NFL Commits to Multiyear Deal to Play Games in Brazil
The NFL announced a multiyear commitment to play a minimum of three regular-season games over five years in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, starting in 2026. Next year, the league will play its first game at Maracanã Stadium in Rio after playing games at Corinthians Arena in São Paolo, Brazil, in both 2024 and 2025. This year’s Chargers-Chiefs game drew 47,627 fans during the league’s Kickoff Weekend.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Ryder Cup MC Steps Down After Joining Chant Aimed at McIlroy
The PGA of America said in a statement that a Bethpage Black MC has “stepped down from hosting the first tee of the Ryder Cup” after she joined in a chant aimed at European golfer Rory McIlroy. The MC, Heather McMahan, joined in “with an expletive-led abusive chant” about McIlroy on Saturday as she “warmed up the crowd before the opening tee-shot at 7:10am local time.”
^{BBC via Sports Business Journal}

Katharina Nowak Named F1 Miami GP President
Katharina Nowak has been named President of the F1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix. Nowak was previously the grand prix’s vice president of business operations. Nowak, a 2024 SBJ New Voices Under 30 honoree, becomes the youngest F1 race president and one of only two women in the role across the world, joining F1 Las Vegas President and CEO Emily Prazer, who also serves as the CCO of F1 overall.
^{Sports Business Journal}

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NCAA Rule Change Leads to Canadian Hockey League Players Making Mass Exodus to U.S. Colleges
AP News’ John Wawrow writes, “Cale Makar has difficulty recognizing the college hockey landscape in the wake of a seismic shift that has transformed the sport in the mere five years since he left UMass to join Colorado in the NHL.

“From the introduction of name, image and likeness money to the NCAA lifting its ban on Canadian Hockey League players in November, Makar was captivated by the sheer number of players committing to Division I programs this offseason. It seemed like a mass exodus culminating with Gavin McKenna — the NHL’s prospective 2026 No. 1 draft pick — committing to Penn State.”
^{AP News}

Riley Gaines Suit Over Transgender College Athletes Mostly Dismissed
Sportico’s Michael McCann and Daniel Libit report: “U.S. District Judge Tiffany R. Johnson on Thursday dismissed all but one type of claim brought by former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines and more than a dozen other female athletes against the NCAA, the University of Georgia and other defendants over the collegiate eligibility of transgender athletes.

“In March 2024, the athletes sued in a Georgia federal district court, arguing the NCAA’s then-policy of permitting transgender athletes on a sport-by-sport basis in alignment with the Olympics and based on determinations by national governing bodies for each sport violated Title IX, the Equal Protection Clause and the right to bodily privacy.”
^Sportico

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