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

Go to Source Author: Eric Fisher Until recently a staunch opponent of gambling, the NFL is now deepening its involvement with the burgeoning space.NFL licensee Aristocrat Gaming will introduce an NFL-themed slot machine at casinos around the country beginning this fall. The machines will feature both league and team branding, building on the NFL’s first casino licensing deal first struck in 2021.The league’s SVP of consumer products Joe Ruggiero said the machines “represent an opportunity to bring the league closer to our fans in a new area.”The effort also builds upon a series of high-level deals the NFL already holds with sportsbooks such as FanDuel, DraftKings, and Caesars — agreements made after the influential 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing individual states

Go to Source Author: Andrew Cohen Fanatics, the sports merchandising giant valued at $31 billion, has launched a new “live shopping” app called Fanatics Live with Major League Baseball among its initial partners.Officially debuting at this week’s National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago, Fanatics Live is an app that live streams trading card “breaks”—an industry term among collectors who record themselves opening packages of cards. It will also feature other merchandise and collectibles. NBA legend Allen Iverson will participate in a card break with Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin today at the Chicago convention. Fans who join the app can set their preferences to see content from collectors sharing the cards and merchandise they desire. On-location streams will feature athletes and celebrities, with MLB

Go to Source Author: A.J. Perez INDIANAPOLIS — Some of University of Minnesota head football coach P.J. Fleck’s defense of the program at Big Ten Media Days on Thursday irked one of his former starters. “The fact he is saying he has never used workouts as punishment is such bull,” said the player. The former player wasn’t among the six former players interviewed by Front Office Sports — who, along with former staffers — detailed allegations of a toxic environment under Fleck. The player first reached out hours after the publication of Wednesday’s story and was granted anonymity over fears of career repercussions for speaking out. Fleck called the report “baseless,” although he confirmed the existence of the Fleck Bank, which FOS reported as a

Go to Source Author: David Rumsey After expressing frustration and confusion in the wake of the PGA Tour’s bombshell framework agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, professional golfers appear intent on grabbing more control of their future.On Wednesday night, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan sent a memo to players attempting to answer several hot-button questions after a Player Advisory Council call and Policy Board meeting. The two biggest developments concern the respective compensation and discipline for loyal Tour players and LIV Golf defectors, plus the selection of a new board member. A player benefits program is being put together with input from loyal Tour members, while a task force evaluates how LIV players should be able to apply for reinstatement. Monahan said

Go to Source Author: A.J. Perez MINNEAPOLIS – P.J. Fleck’s arrival at the University of Minnesota drew national media attention to Golden Gophers football, fueled by the young head coach’s seemingly boundless energy, love of mantras, and success at Western Michigan. “We have a certain culture, and people want to know about that culture just like any successful business out there — people want to know, how did you do that? What’s your story?” Fleck said in the first episode of a four-part ESPNU series chronicling his first season at Minnesota in 2017.Over the last month, Front Office Sports interviewed several former players and staff members about Fleck’s six seasons as the Gophers’ head coach. They described an environment fraught with intimidation and

Go to Source Author: David Rumsey The ACC is taking a measured approach to financially compete with the Big Ten and SEC.At the conference’s football media days in Charlotte on Tuesday, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said that rather than expect an immediate fix, trying to narrow the per-school revenue gap to $10 million to $15 million is the “right approach.” With new media deals kicking in for the Big Ten this year ($1.15 billion annually) and the SEC next year ($710 million annually), the ACC’s long-term $240 million annual deal with ESPN puts the conference a distant third through 2036. The Big 12 is brining in $200 million a year from Fox and ESPN through 2025.“Third is certainly a good position,” Phillips said.