Ohtani’s influence highlights professional athletes’ growing role in shaping the sports business. The record-setting contract he signed, and the economic boom it has generated demonstrate how star players can redefine franchise value. A team’s worth is influenced as much by its cultural relevance as by its results; it is no longer just a sports organization. Ohtani’s appeal transcends the ballpark, drawing fans from all corners of the globe and expanding the Dodgers’ reach in ways far beyond ticket sales.
The world of sports media is constantly changing. Athlete-led podcasts have become influential lately by giving fans unique insights into the lives and perspectives of their beloved players
Sportico recently released its annual list of the most valuable NFL teams, and unsurprisingly, America’s Team, the Dallas Cowboys, claimed the top spot. With a staggering valuation of $10.32 billion, the Cowboys are not just the most valuable franchise in the NFL but also the most valuable sports franchise in North America.
August is exciting for sports fans as the 2024-2025 College Football season and the NFL Regular season are just around the corner. Amidst this excitement, fans recently learned about the upcoming launch of Venu Sports, a new sports streaming platform. A joint venture between ESPN (a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company), FOX, and Warner Bros. Discovery. was announced in February.
According to Anne Steele of the Wall Street Journal, as the Sports Business Journal reported, Kelces is now seeking a nine-figure deal—$100 million—to elevate its podcast to new heights. This ambitious ask underscores sports-related media ventures’ growing influence and commercial potential.
NBCUniversal’s presentation of the opening Saturday of the Paris Olympics competition on NBC, Peacock, and across crucial NBCU platforms posted a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 32.4 million viewers, according to custom fast national data from Nielsen and Adobe Analytics. This figure topped the opening Saturday of competition for the Tokyo Olympics by 83%, with 17.7 million viewers across all platforms.
LeBron James’s ambition to bring an NBA team to Las Vegas aligns with the city’s growing stature as a sports hub. With its record-setting sports betting revenues, successful high-profile investments like the Sphere, and imminent additions like the Athletics’ new stadium, Las Vegas stands poised to become a central player in the NBA’s expansion plans.
This significant agreement, brokered by the NBA, will see the WNBA partner with NBC, Amazon, and Disney. While the deal isn’t final yet—Warner Brothers Discovery still has time to match the NBA rights offer—it represents a substantial leap forward for the WNBA, particularly as its current $50 million media rights agreement is set to expire after the 2025 season.
The 18-time NBA champion Boston Celtics will soon be in the market for new ownership. NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski recently revealed that Boston Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck has made the team “available for sale.” The announcement comes as a surprise to many, considering the Celtics’ stellar season and championship run.