USA Makes Big Move in Volleyball

SBJ writes, “Olympic volleyball is coming to the Honda Center. Now, with a joint USA-Canada bid, organizers hope world championship volleyball is, too.”

September 25, 2025

USA Volleyball Wants to Host 2027 Women’s World Championship
SBJ’s Rachel Axon writes, “Olympic volleyball is coming to the Honda Center. Now, with a joint USA-Canada bid, organizers hope world championship volleyball is, too.

“USA Volleyball planned to submit a bid on Sept. 21 to the International Volleyball Federation (known as FIVB) to host the women’s world championship in 2027, setting up an opportunity to further boost a sport that is among the most popular and fastest growing in the country at the youth and collegiate levels.

“Working in coordination with Playfly and OCVibe to finalize the bid, USA Volleyball presented the details to FIVB leadership during the men’s world championships in the Philippines before a vote is expected on September 25.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

Fortress Investment Group’s Pete Briger Jr. to Buy Stake in 49ers
SBJ’s Ben Fischer writes, “The 49ers have a deal in place to sell 3.2% of the franchise to Fortress Investment Group Managing Partner/Board Chairman Pete Briger Jr., sources said. The deal is said to be at the same valuation as the club’s divestment in May, sources said, or $8.6B.

“Briger, based in Menlo Park outside San Francisco, joins a roster of 49ers limited partners that is becoming a Who’s Who of Silicon Valley. In May, Sun Microsystems cofounder and Kholsa Ventures Vinod Khosla, Bessemer Venture Partners partner Byron Deeter and ICONIQ Capital partner Will Griffith and their families bought about 6.2% of the team. 49ers control owner Jed York and his family will still hold about 88% of the club after this deal closes, which is expected after required approval by NFL owners in October.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

Tom Brady Says His Role as NFL Broadcaster and a Raiders Minority Owner is 'Not Actually a Point of Conflict'
Yahoo Sports’ Chris Cwik writes, “Brady's entire argument basically boiled down to him saying, ‘Just trust me, bro,’ but in many more words.

“It's not a particularly strong defense … He could have given examples of how careful he is to separate his work as a broadcaster from his job as an owner. Instead, Brady acknowledged that there is a lot of overlap between his two roles, but then tried to wave that away by claiming he's not the type of person who would take advantage of that.

“It's also worth noting that Brady was accused of unethical behavior a few times as the player. The most notable example of that was Deflategate, in which Brady was accused of knowing New England Patriots staff members were intentionally deflating footballs to give the team an edge.”
^{Yahoo! Sports}

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Says League Could Renegotiate Media Deals as Soon as 2026
CNBC’s Alex Sherman reports: “A new media rights deal could potentially add billions of dollars to the league’s coffers. The league needs agreement from its current media partners — Disney, Comcast’s NBCUniversal, Paramount, Amazon and Fox — to start discussions on any new deal.

“The NFL signed an 11-year, $111 billion media rights deal in 2021 that contains a league opt-out clause after the 2029-30 season for all of its media partners except Disney, which has one extra year of rights.”
^CNBC

As MLB Playoffs Loom, Here’s Where the League’s New Rights Deals Stand
Sportico’s Anthony Crupi writes, “Sometime between now and when the sun enters its Earth-devouring red giant phase, Major League Baseball will make an official announcement regarding its 2026-28 media rights contracts. Commissioner Rob Manfred has confirmed the league has reached agreements in principle with a trio of outlets for what amounts to a three-year stopgap deal, and while the parties continue to work out some nettlesome particulars, the framework of the bridge is fully in view.”
^Sportico

Dallas Wings’ Social Media Staff Had a Banner Year Despite the Team’s On-Court Struggles
Hannah Nelson oversees content that goes to the Dallas Wings’ more than 850,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.

SBJ’s Irving Mejia-Hilario writes, “That’s an increase of more than 400,000 followers since April, much of which can be attributed to rookie sensation Paige Bueckers. When she joined the Wings as the No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft, the team ranked among the lower end of the league in social media presence. But Bueckers’ electric playing style, which powered her Rookie of the Year campaign, and her laid-back personality have helped make the Wings among the fastest-growing teams on social media in the WNBA.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

Sens. Warren, Sanders Press ESPN, NFL, MLB Over Media Deal Concerns
FOS’ Ryan Glasspiegel writes, “Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders and U.S. House members Pat Ryan and Joaquin Castro—three Democrats and an independent—have jointly written a letter to the leaders of Disney, ESPN, MLB, and the NFL about ‘serious concerns’ regarding ESPN’s planned new partnerships with the sports leagues … Last month, ESPN announced its intention to acquire NFL Network in exchange for a 10% stake in ESPN, part of a wide-ranging partnership with the league that also includes linear distribution and trademark rights for NFL RedZone. ESPN has separately reached an agreement in principle to license the MLB.TV streaming service.”
^{Front Office Sports}

NESN Finding Success With Casual Alt-Cast for Red Sox Games
NESN’s “Unobstructed Views” alternative broadcast for Red Sox games is the network’s “most utilized alt-cast,” delivering viewers a production that “could best be characterized as a watch-along, a casual broadcast designed to make the viewer feel like they’re watching at a bar or in their basement with friends,” according to Matt Vautour of MASSLIVE. Finding the right lineup is “critical, especially in Boston,” and this broadcast is “built around personalities.”
^{MASSLIVE via Sports Business Journal}

Chiefs Sign Playfly Sports to Sell in U.K., Ireland
The Chiefs have hired Playfly Sports to help sell sponsorships in Ireland and the United Kingdom, the agency’s first NFL team relationship outside the U.S. In a formal announcement, the parties said Playfly would “identify and structure” deals with prominent brands in the British Isles and develop activations.

The Chiefs obtained commercial rights in those countries for the first time in May as part of the NFL’s global markets program. Those rights, which five other teams have in Ireland and eight other teams have in the U.K., mirror the rights to sell media and sponsorship deals all NFL teams enjoy in their natural home territories.
^{Sports Business Journal}

The Yankees Own 10% of NYCFC. So Why Is Messi Playing at Citi Field?
Sportico’s Eben Novy-Williams and Jacob Feldman write, “It’s a decision that could have business ramifications. Messi road games are typically huge economic drivers for host teams … It would stand to reason that the Yankees might be eager to capture that at their own venue. 

“NYCFC is playing 11 games at Yankee Stadium this year, up from nine in 2024, with another five at Citi Field. There is not any agreement between the team and the Mets to have Messi play at Citi Field as part of a wider stadium real estate accord. The reason, according to people familiar with the situation, is more mundane—the Yankees play at home on Wednesday, and though MLS schedule-makers knew that in advance, this was the best date to have Inter Miami travel to play NYCFC. “
^Sportico

Sparks Unveil Plans for $150M Practice Facility
The Sparks today announced plans to build a $150M training and practice facility in El Segundo scheduled to open in 2027. The 55,000-square-foot facility will be built in partnership with global architecture and design firm Gensler. Transwestern’s Sports & Entertainment Group advised on the land acquisition and is serving as development manager and owner representative for the project. The facility will feature the WNBA’s first-ever indoor-outdoor player sanctuary, featuring an outdoor spa pool for recovery; dedicated nap rooms; spaces for yoga, meditation and quiet reflection; hydrotherapy & spa suites; two regulation basketball courts; a circular locker room; a state-of-the-art weight room and more.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Andretti Global Hires Ron Ruzewski as Team Principal, Reuniting Him With Driver Will Power
AP News’ Jenna Fryer writes, “TWG Motorsports made yet another power move for Andretti Global on Wednesday by naming Ron Ruzewski, one of three Team Penske executives fired during an Indianapolis 500 scandal, team principal of its IndyCar team. Ruzewski will start in January, per the Andretti announcement, and take over for Rob Edwards, who will transition into chief performance officer for TWG Motorsports.
^{AP News}

Sources: Nationals Bringing in Paul Toboni to Lead Operations
ESPN’s Jeff Passan writes, “The Washington Nationals are finalizing a deal to name Paul Toboni their new head of baseball operations, sources told ESPN, tabbing the Boston Red Sox assistant general manager to turn around a team barreling toward its fifth last-place finish in six seasons. Toboni, 35, is widely regarded as one of the best young executives in baseball after rising from intern to key decision-maker in Boston's front office.”
^ESPN

Bruce Arians Says Virginia Tech Looking to Hire Football GM Before Coach
Former NFL coach Bruce Arians, who is consulting with his alma mater Virginia Tech on its football coaching search, said the school is “going to hire a general manager and get him in charge of football” before they “get into the coaching search.” Arians, appearing on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday, said, “We’re just in the ground stages now, but the university is making a huge financial commitment so that we can compete in the ACC like we should be.” Arians: “It’s probably about $50M into the athletic department for all sports. That’s what you’re going to have to have in the NIL business now.”
^{The Pat McAfee Show via Sports Business Journal}

Nine NHL Teams Have a New Coach. Here’s What to Expect From the Changes
AP News’ Stephen Whyno writes, “When Mike Sullivan’s time in Pittsburgh came to an end after nearly a decade behind the bench produced two Stanley Cup championships, he became the most-sought after coach on the market.

“With plenty of vacancies around the NHL, Sullivan had his pick of the litter. He landed with the New York Rangers, tasked with taking over an Original Six franchise that missed last season’s playoffs but is loaded with talent.

“Sullivan is one of nine coaches with a new challenge in front of him.”
^{AP News}

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College Football Picks: Punts Trending Toward Record Low as Coaches Get More Aggressive on 4th Down
AP News’ Eric Olson writes, “[Nebraska’s Archie] Wilson ended up punting four times in last week’s loss to Michigan, but his relative inactivity in the previous two games was a sign of the times.

“The punt is in decline.

“Football Bowl Subdivision teams are averaging 3.8 punts per game, a figure on track to be the lowest since the NCAA began keeping the statistic in 1937. Punt attempts have dropped for eight straight seasons, and the 2024 average of 4.1 was one full punt per game less than in 2015.”
^{AP News}

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