Welcome to yahoo Finance Sports Report, a unique look at the business of sports brought to you by Yahoo Finance and Yahoo Sports. I’m your host, Joe Pompeano, and I’m here to coach you through the financial game. Today we’ve got yahoo Sports senior college football reporter Ross Dellinger coming on the show to talk about the latest money moves in college sports and major League Soccer senior vice president of emerging Ventures, Chris Schloschler, to discuss the innovative technology driving MLS. Let’s huddle up and get right into it.
We are kicking off this week with PO’s Playbook, where I take a look at some of the biggest headlines in sports that you and your portfolio need to know. First, the Green Bay Packers recently shared their finances from the 2024 to 25 NFL season, and the results revealed another massive year for the NFL.The Packers disclosed that they received $432.6 million in revenue sharing from the NFL for the previous fiscal year, up 8% from the 2023-2024 season. That means with each of the NFL’s 32 teams receiving a distribution of $432.6 million the league generated a record $13.8 billion in share revenue last season. now, the reason we know this information is because the Green bay Packers are the only publicly owned team in the NFL and are required to share their finances each year. However,the numbers confirm what we already know the NFL is far and away the most financially prosperous sports league on the planet.Next,according to Josh Carpenter of sports Business Journal,Liv Golf is increasing its already massive event purses in 2026. Per SBJ sources, Liv’s weekly prize pool for events will go up to $30 million up from the current rate of $25 million per event. Now Liv’s events currently award $20 million to golfers in the league based on their individual stroke play. Pay out $5 million to the top three teams of each event, with $3 million going to the first place team, $1.5 million to the second place team, and $500,000 to the third place team. However, beginning in 2026, the additional $5 million being added to the weekly event purse will be distributed to all 13 of liv Golf’s teams based on how they finish in each week’s tournament.
Last up, caitlin Clark set another record, but this time it was off the court. Clark’s 2024 Panini WNBA rookie royalty flawless patch autographed one of one rookie card, was sold for a whopping $660,000 at last week’s Fanatics Collect July premiere auction. The $660,000 price tag easily broke the record for the most expensive women’s sports card in history, which was previously Caitlyn Clark’s 2024 Panini prism WMBA Signatures Gold vinyl Prism rookie autograph one of one card that sold for $366,000 this past March through Golden, and according to Card Ladder, there have now been 10 Caitlyn Clark cards sold for $100,000 or more.
Along with Caitlin Clark’s booming collectibles market, the business of college sports is also heating up with more money flowing into college football than ever before. Here to discuss it all is Yahoo Sports senior college football reporter Ross Dellinger. Ross, thank you so much for joining the show today. I wont to quickly hit on a topic that has been everywhere over the last last week or two, and that is President Donald Trump’s executive order on college sports. And mostly what I’ve been reading, at least the headlines have been saying that he is going to place a limit on earning NIL earning power. Can you just explain just briefly what this executive order actually entails and how it will be implemented?
yeah, you know, I’d like to, uh, probably break the executive order into two parts. Um, the first is the preamble, um, you know, thlike a actual final resolution this week, maybe perhaps even like in the next couple of days. Uh, and so that’s sort of like the big thing right now is the question ofHow much can third parties, specifically collectives do, how much can they give athletes to that gets, uh, how much can they, can they give them in compensation, um, you know, for this college sports commission to sort of let these deals through, um, and again, it’s, it’s gonna be like a murky issue, I think for the next few weeks, months, or maybe evenyears.
Yeah, well, there’s certainly no downtime in college sports right now, but Ross, thank you so much for joining today. This is interesting stuff.Welcome back to Yahoo Finance Sports Report. I’m your host, Joe Pompeano. We’ve made it to the one on one,a conversation where I get to break down news and sports with a key player in the industry. This week, we’re speaking with Chris Slossler, senior vice president of Emerging Ventures at Major League Soccer. Chris, thank you so much for joining the show today. I want to start with your recent Future of the Game showcase that took place at MLS All-Star Weekend in austin, Texas. Now, for people who don’t religiously follow MLS and may not know much about the game, can you just briefly explain exactly what this was?
Joe, it’s awesome to be here. Thanks for having me. We had an amazing week last week in Austin, astonishing, so much fun to to get everybody together. As part of the festivities, we had our future of the game showcase where we had 8 of the best startups in sports tech from around the world come to Austin, deploy their systems, and actually show in real time what they’re capable of.Lots and lots of AI this year, as you might imagine, it’s, it’s the hot button and it was really fun to to show everybody what’s possible now, and on the very leading edge of of sports technology.
Yeah, so can you give us a specific example, right? Because I, I hear AI and then I think soccer and I’m like, how in the world can these two sort of combine together and I imagine I’m not the only one thinking that.So maybe just like a specific example of something that happened during the game or how you guys are integrating that tech actually in the sport.
Yeah, and that and that’s a really engaging topic for us, right, as AI can mean so manny things to so many people right now, and it’s not just, hey, you know, let’s roll out chat to BT and see what’s happening. And what we’re seeing is lots of AI use cases get developed in very specific areas of our business. So last week, for example, we hadUh, edge sound research, which does AI sound processing. So they take in all the microphones around the field of play, they cross it through their AI engine, and then they can output amazing sound that comes out in two ways. Either in these amazing rumble seats that really feel like the ground is shaking around you, if you’reMLS has a history of innovation, being the first league built natively in the digital space. The league’s all-streaming deal with Apple makes games available in over 100 countries, providing control over production quality and technology. This allows for rapid innovation, often starting in the second-tier Pro Map league, then moving to marquee matches before full deployment across the 600+ annual games.
MLS collaborates closely with tech companies, offering marketing, IP rights, and footage usage. However, the most valuable contribution is providing expert feedback and real-time product development cycles, helping companies refine their offerings. While not explicitly stated whether MLS takes equity stakes, the league provides significant value to young companies, perhaps leading to further growth.
The Future of Sports Consumption: From Fragmentation to Immersive Experiences
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The current landscape of sports viewing is undeniably fractured. Rights to key moments and entire leagues are scattered across numerous platforms – NBC holds highlights here, ESPN controls game footage there.This fragmentation hinders the potential for truly comprehensive fan engagement. Imagine a world where all content, from live games to behind-the-scenes interviews and archival footage, resided in a single, accessible location. This consolidation isn’t just about convenience; it’s the foundation for building the next generation of immersive sports experiences.
The Apple MLS Season Pass Model: A Glimpse into the Future
Apple’s MLS Season Pass offers a compelling preview of this future. Similar to how Netflix curates content based on viewing preferences,the Season Pass delivers a tailored experience for soccer fans.Subscribers gain access not only to live matches but also to team-specific interviews, exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, and a wealth of supplementary material. This approach moves beyond simply watching a game to living within the ecosystem of a sport.
This model is particularly relevant given the evolving habits of sports fans. According to a recent report by Statista, streaming viewership of sports events has increased by 35% year-over-year, demonstrating a clear shift away from conventional broadcast television. Fans, especially younger demographics, are increasingly agreeable consuming content on demand and expect a personalized, interactive experience.
Breaking Records and Redefining the Game: The MLB at Bristol Motor Speedway
This pursuit of novel experiences is exemplified by Major League Baseball’s recent foray into unconventional venues.This past weekend, the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves faced off at Bristol Motor speedway in Tennessee, a historic event that shattered attendance records. A baseball diamond was constructed within the infield of the famed half-mile oval racetrack, creating a visually striking and unique atmosphere for both in-person attendees and television viewers.
The game, nationally televised on Fox, marked the first Major League Baseball contest ever played in the state of Tennessee. However, the true significance lies in the sheer number of fans who turned out. Over 85,000 tickets were sold, eclipsing the previous regular season attendance record of 84,587 set in 1954 during a doubleheader between the Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees at Cleveland Stadium.
The event’s global reach was also remarkable, with fans from all 50 U.S. states and nine countries participating. This demonstrates a growing appetite for innovative sporting events that transcend geographical boundaries. The success of the Speedway Classic isn’t merely a one-off spectacle; it’s a signal that MLB, and potentially other leagues, are willing to experiment with unconventional venues and formats to attract new audiences and revitalize fan engagement.
Beyond the Spectacle: The Potential for Future Innovation
The MLB Speedway Classic’s success suggests a future where sports aren’t confined to traditional stadiums. Imagine a Premier League match played in a bustling city center, or an NBA game hosted on an aircraft carrier. These aren’t far-fetched ideas; they represent a logical progression in the quest to deliver unforgettable experiences.the key will be leveraging technology to enhance the spectacle. Augmented reality overlays could provide real-time statistics and player information directly onto the field of play.Drone cameras could offer dynamic, previously impossible angles.Interactive fan experiences,facilitated by mobile apps,could allow viewers to participate in the action in new and meaningful ways.
Ultimately, the future of sports consumption isn’t just about where we watch, but how we experience the game. By embracing innovation and prioritizing fan engagement, leagues can unlock new revenue streams, cultivate loyal followings, and ensure the continued vitality of the sports industry.
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The Genesis of Big Deals: Understanding Billion-Dollar Transactions in Pro Sports
The world of professional sports, particularly the National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball (MLB), operates on a scale of financial transactions that frequently enough stretch into the billions. These aren’t just game-day profits; they represent strategic, long-term investments into franchises, infrastructure, and player growth. Understanding these billion-dollar moves requires a look at the core components that drive such immense value: team valuations, player contracts, stadium financing, and media rights.
team valuations are the bedrock. Owners invest hundreds of millions, sometimes billions, not just for the thrill of competition but as a essential asset class. The consistent profitability of the NFL, driven by its enormous viewership and revenue streams, makes its franchises incredibly valuable.Similarly, MLB teams, while perhaps not reaching the absolute peaks of NFL valuations, still command astronomical prices, with prosperous franchises consistently seeing their worth climb.
Player Contracts: The Human Capital Investment
At the heart of any sports association are its players. The contracts negotiated for star athletes are often multi-year, nine-figure deals, representing the single largest expenditure for many teams