Sport & Story Daily February 28, 2024

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February 28, 2024

Good morning! WWE Merger already pays big dividends for UFC

UFC Revenue Rises 13% As TKO Sees Early Benefits of WWE Merger
As Sportico’s Brendan Coffey reports, “Live events and sponsorship money powered UFC to a 13% rise in 2023 revenue of $1.3 billion, as parent TKO Group Holdings reported its first full quarter as owner of WWE.

TKO announced full-year results Tuesday evening of $1.7 billion, which consists of all of UFC’s year and WWE’s results from Sept. 12, the day wrestling giant WWE was merged with the mixed martial arts division to form TKO.

‘TKO is off to a strong start following record financial performance in 2023 at both UFC and WWE,’ Ariel Emanuel, CEO of TKO, said in a statement. ‘We secured Anheuser-Busch as the official beer partner of UFC, delivered a transformative deal to bring WWE’s Raw to Netflix beginning in 2025 and expanded our international footprint in important growth markets.’”
^sportico.com

Michael Johnson, Winners Alliance to Create Fan-Focused Track League
Variety’s Eric Jackson writes, “Olympic champion Michael Johnson is determined to revive his beloved track and field, which for decades has only managed to capture the U.S. public’s attention during the Olympics.

As reported by our sister site Sportico, Johnson, one of the greatest sprinters of all time, is partnering with Winners Alliance to develop a new track league that aims to better engage existing fans by providing a TV-friendly product to promote the sport’s biggest stars and draw new audiences through unique storytelling. While details of the league, with a planned debut in 2025, are still being worked out, the goal is to provide the sport with an entity that more closely resembles major U.S. pro sports leagues.”
^variety.com

Sources: USL Lands Three-Year Deal With ESPN for Second Rights Pact
The USL is nearing the announcement of a three-year deal making ESPN the second national broadcast partner for its two men’s professional leagues alongside CBS , sources tell SBJ. The ESPN deal will run through the 2026 season.
^{sportsbusinessjournal.com}

Under Armour Extends Deal With IMG Academy
IMG Academy/Under Armour IMG Academy and Under Armour have agreed to a multi-year extension of their partnership that will keep the Baltimore-based apparel company the academy’s sole outfitter. Terms were not disclosed.
^{http://sportsbusinessjournal.com}

GM: Ravens Likely to Tag Justin Madubuike if No Deal Reached
As ESPN’s Jamison Hensley reports, “It doesn't look like the Baltimore Ravens will let Pro Bowl defensive tackle Justin Madubuike reach free agency.

When asked at the NFL scouting combine Tuesday whether Baltimore would put the franchise tag on Madubuike if the sides can't reach a deal by the March 5 deadline, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said, ‘I probably will, yes.’

The franchise tag for defensive tackles is $22.102 million.”
^espn.com

Dick Vitale Claps Back at Jay Williams Over Controversial Caitlin Clark Take
“Recently there has been debate about being the GOAT as it related to @CaitlinClark22,” he wrote on Twitter. “Look I RESPECT the views of others but I do not think it is FAIR to eliminate someone that doesn’t win a  championship. Championships r won by strong talented TEAMS . I always felt that WILT C (Chamberlain) & many others don’t get a fair shake . He didn’t play with a HOF roster ala the Celtics.” 
^nypost.com

Trouble in Winnipeg As Bettman Plans Visit for Ailing Jets
As Front Office Sports’ Eric Fisher writes, “The NHL’s smallest and perhaps most overlooked market is sounding the alarms, and league commissioner Gary Bettman is paying attention.

Despite sporting the third-best record in the Western Conference, the Jets currently have the league’s lowest attendance (not counting the Coyotes, who are playing temporarily in the 5,000-seat Mullet Arena). The Jets’ home average of 13,140 is down by 6% from a year ago. And given the team’s Canada Life Center is also the smallest in the league outside of Mullet Arena with a capacity of 15,321, the Jets already had little margin for error.” 
^{frontofficesports.com}

Upgrade or Not: Examining the Notable Offensive and Defensive Coordinator Moves Across the Big Ten
Georgia tailbacks coach Dell McGee was hired by Georgia State over the weekend, closing the books on the final head coach opening during a never-ending 2023-24 cycle. 

So the simple question is: Did your team’s staff get better this offseason? On3’s Jessie Simonton takes a look.
^on3.com

Mike Norvell on FSU in the Portal: 'This Program's Not for Everyone'
“We find the right guys that fit Florida State,” Norvell said. “This program is not for everybody. We go through the process, whether it’s high school, whether it’s guys in the transfer portal, we try to be very transparent and real with what we’re looking for and try to also get an understanding of what’s important to them.”
^on3.com

College Athlete Union Push Arrives As Schools Face Budget Clouds
Michael McCann of Sportico writes, “As college athletes advance toward recognition as unionized employees, their employing schools will face three choices: embrace, resist or cut.

Embrace means the school accepts the new reality and bargains terms of employment with their athletes. This is not yet the world those schools live in, but it could arrive within the next couple of years. 

Per the recent order from NLRB regional director Laura Sacks, Dartmouth men’s basketball players are employees within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act. On March 5, the players will vote on whether Service Employees International Union Local 560 represents them as a union.”
^sportico.com

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