Go to Source Author: Andrew Cohen TNT NBA analyst Kenny Smith is perplexed by the decision-making of ESPN as it let go of top NBA commentators Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson amid broader layoffs at the network.“I’m not really sure how they’re [ESPN] doing it. I’m not really versed on why they’re doing all their cuts and how, is it budgetary? Because certain guys are getting let go, and then you hire someone else for more money. I have no idea why they’re doing it, but stability is what brings success,” Smith told Front Office Sports.  ‘The Jet’ spoke to FOS at a youth basketball camp in The Hamptons organized by The Program, a startup looking to revitalize New York City’s youth

Go to Source Author: Owen Poindexter David Adelman, who chairs 76 Devco — the company seeking to build a new arena for the 76ers in downtown Philadelphia — is looking forward to the NBA team owning its own arena. “They’ve been good landlords,” Adelman said to Front Office Sports Today of Comcast, which owns the Wells Fargo Center, the 76ers’ current home. “But I’m not convinced they understand what’s needed to operate an arena in the NBA today.” The Wells Fargo Center recently underwent $400 million in renovations, but Adelman said those improvements, such as the additions of restaurants and luxury boxes, were “cosmetic” in nature. “They rank near the bottom in almost every major category [in the NBA fan survey],” said Adelman. “Comcast is

Go to Source Author: David Rumsey While the Pac-12 struggles to survive the defection of five more teams, the ACC’s most influential schools are pondering how they can remain competitive in the increasingly consolidated landscape of college sports.Before the wheels fell off the Pac-12’s wagon on Friday afternoon, the ACC was scheduled to meet that evening to discuss its own expansion plans, according to Yahoo Sports. A “coast to coast” idea included the possibility of adding as many as seven Pac-12 schools. Florida State has particularly been making noise, and its power brokers are clearly worried about the school’s future. The ACC is locked into a media rights deal with ESPN that pays the conference just $240 million a year through 2036 — which

Go to Source Author: Eric Fisher Already bankrupt and attempting to reorganize amid a splintering media landscape, Diamond Sports Group now faces a set of fast-approaching deadlines heavily impacting its ability to survive.The Bally Sports parent is looking to complete its Chapter 11 reorganization plan by Nov. 9, with renewed and expanded carriage deals with key distributors. But DirecTV told a U.S. bankruptcy court that DSG “should not assume” the carrier — critical to DSG’s viability — will renew its agreement, and that talks have “barely begun” to account for the recent loss of the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks from Bally Sports Arizona.“Even agreements on preliminary matters related to such renewal discussions … have thus far not been reachable,” DirecTV said.A

Go to Source Author: Daniel Myrick The USWNT has advanced to the knockout round of the Women’s World Cup, but many fans aren’t pleased with the team’s performance. Newsletter co-author David Rumsey explains why the pressure is on for the United States, and how Jamaica crowdfunded their women’s team out of the group stage. Plus, FOX Sports Digital’s SVP Michael Bucklin joins us to share what it takes to broadcast the Women’s World Cup across the world to the United States. Related StoriesUSWNT, Fox Lose Primetime World Cup Viewing Slots After Shaky Performance Fox Sports Facing Prospect of World Cup Without Big Draw of USWNT Fox Sports And Fox News Have Split Narratives On Women’s World CupFor more on how sports impacts business and culture, subscribe

Go to Source Author: Eric Fisher The San Antonio Spurs’ business is significantly escalating — and not just thanks to the heralded arrival of rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama.On Thursday, the NBA team completed an arena naming rights pact with longtime sponsor Frost Bank to rename the former AT&T Center to the Frost Bank Center.That deal is only the beginning of the franchise’s revitalization. Next month, the Spurs open their $500 million practice center and mixed-use campus, the Rock at La Cantera, a project combining a next-generation training facility with parkland, an event plaza, and commercial space. The team also received 4,000 new season-ticket deposits this summer, thanks largely to Wembanyama.“We’ve been building a team for the future, a franchise for the next generation,

Go to Source Author: A.J. Perez Saturday’s Terence Crawford-Errol Spence Jr. pay-per-view bout generated around 700,000 buys, a source with knowledge of the data told Front Office Sports. Based purely on skill and the fact both boxers entered the ring in Las Vegas undefeated, there had been hope that the PPV buys could surpass 1 million — like Showtime Boxing’s other much-hyped fight this year. In April, a card that featured Gervonta Davis’ knockout of Ryan Garcia secured around 1.2 million buys. But the number of purchases for Saturday’s card — which cost $84.99 — was in line with what many boxing and PPV insiders expected. Crawford stopped Spence with a ninth-round TKO to seize the undisputed welterweight title. “The stakes and credibility are there, and

Go to Source Author: David Rumsey It’s been over 24 hours since Pac-12 presidents, chancellors, and athletic directors held a closed-door meeting reportedly including details on a proposed media rights deal with Apple — with no further details forthcoming.Financial terms are unclear, as the value of the deal could evidently fluctuate based on new subscribers to the Apple TV+ service. Is this deal enticing enough to keep the existing conference members together?USC, UCLA, and Colorado are leaving the Pac-12 next summer, and Arizona and Arizona State could be fielding a proposal to join the Big 12 at this very moment. An Arizona board of regents meeting on Tuesday offered no public details before going into a special executive session.Best-Case Scenario?While a streaming-heavy

Go to Source Author: David Rumsey Tuesday is shaping up to be one of the most critical days in the history of the Pac-12. Conference presidents, chancellors, and athletic directors met to discuss a potential media-rights deal without coming to any official agreement, according to multiple reports.The deal discussed was streaming heavy with Apple, according to ESPN, and with enough subscriptions could theoretically bring in more revenue than the Big 12’s $380 million annual deal with Fox and ESPN that kicks in next year. It could also be worth significantly less. The Pac-12 declined to comment to Front Office Sports.While the group plans to meet again soon, the Arizona board of regents, which governs the University of Arizona and Arizona State, is scheduled

Go to Source Author: David Rumsey Manchester United and Adidas are extending the most lucrative jersey collaboration in international soccer.The German brand has re-upped as Man United’s uniform supplier after agreeing to pay the Premier League club at least $115 million a year through 2035. That’s an EPL record and a significant increase from the current annual figure of around $95 million. In 2022, Manchester United reclaimed the top spot in worldwide soccer jersey sales with more than 3 million — thanks in large part to the brief return of Cristiano Ronaldo, which sparked more than $200 million in sales in just 10 days. Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, and Barcelona rounded out the top five.In 2021, TeamViewer replaced Chevrolet as the club’s front-of-shirt