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SMU Ponied Up Big for Andy Enfield, Who’s Stumbled Out of the Gate
Southern Methodist University’s athletic director Rick Hart touted Andy Enfield as a "game changer" when hiring him as the men's basketball coach in April 2024, but the on‑court results have lagged. Nonetheless, Enfield’s salary tells a different story: SMU’s latest tax filing reveals he earned $7.54 million in total compensation for the 2024 calendar year, making him one of the highest‑paid college coaches despite a rocky start.
How the NBA Made $14.5 Billion in Revenue Last Season
The NBA reports a record $14.5 billion in revenue for the 2025‑26 season, driven by soaring team valuations, a second year of a lucrative media partnership, and high‑profile player moves to new markets. The league’s financial rise contrasts sharply with its $56 million annual media deal when Michael Jordan was a rookie, highlighting the explosive growth of NBA media rights and franchise sales.
How Adam Silver Remade the NBA’s Competitive Balance
NBA commissioner Adam Silver touts the league’s unprecedented parity, citing the fact that eight different teams have won the championship in as many seasons—a stat he’s highlighted in ten of his last thirteen press conferences. The article examines how Silver’s policies—like the luxury‑tax reforms, revamped draft lottery and player‑movement rules—have reshaped competitive balance, and assesses whether his focus on parity has truly transformed the NBA’s on‑court landscape.
Championship Rings May Be Sports’ Last Sponsor-Free Realm
The New York Knicks will receive their 2026 championship rings before the NBA season opener, marking the franchise's first title in 53 years. As the rings are unveiled, the article argues they could become the final moments in pro sports free of corporate sponsorship, as every other milestone now carries brand logos. It explores how commercial deals have permeated everything from trophies to celebrations, raising questions about the future of tradition in a fully monetized landscape.
Sporticast: Brewers Miss Golden Opportunity With Golden Tickets
In the 596th Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams examine the Milwaukee Brewers' missed chance to capitalize on their "Golden Tickets" promotion. Over ten years ago, the team sold 1,000 "Timeless Tickets" for $1,000 each, promising exclusive benefits that now clash with the Brewers' quest for a first World Series title. The discussion highlights how the outdated ticket program could have provided valuable revenue and fan engagement at a critical moment.
Cubs’ Finances Could Be Unsealed in Rooftop Suit Ahead of CBA Fight
The Chicago Cubs are fighting a federal injunction that bars the Wrigley View Rooftop from selling tickets to Wrigley Field events, and the rooftop owners are now appealing the summary‑judgment ruling. The legal clash could have broader ramifications for revenue sharing and collective bargaining in baseball, as both parties prepare for a likely rooftop‑focused lawsuit ahead of upcoming CBA negotiations.
Brewers-Rays World Series Is a Massive Financial Outlier
The 2026 World Series pits the Milwaukee Brewers against the Tampa Bay Rays, each boasting the best regular‑season records in the NL and AL and poised to claim their first championship. Sportico argues this matchup is a financial outlier for MLB, highlighting how the contrasting markets, fan bases, and media reach of the two clubs amplify viewership and revenue potential far beyond typical series. The article dives into the economic stakes, advertising dollars, and broadcast strategies that make this Brewers‑Rays showdown uniquely lucrative for the league.
Brewers ‘Timeless’ Tickets Bring Joy, Frustration Before World Series
Milwaukee Brewers COO Rick Schlesinger recounts the origins of the ‘Timeless Ticket’ promotion, which began in 2015 after a post‑office trip sparked the idea of selling 1,000 special stubs modeled after forever stamps. The piece explores how the ticket’s perpetual validity has brought both excitement and frustration to fans ahead of the World Series, highlighting the unique fan‑engagement strategy that continues to shape Brewers’ branding.
NBA’s AI Chatbot Added Skills This Offseason
The NBA launches an upgraded AI chatbot, "Ask NBA," as a centerpiece of its official app for the 2026‑27 season. The tool can answer quirky stats—like the most bench points in a game—and run fantasy‑style simulations, such as projecting LeBron James on a New York Knicks roster. Designed for the season tip‑off on Tuesday, the chatbot aims to deepen fan engagement by delivering real‑time data, historical insights, and personalized queries directly within the league’s digital ecosystem.
College Football’s Latest Innovation Is the Unfireable Coach
Penn State’s new head coach Matt Campbell, hired in December after a three‑month search and a fully guaranteed $70.5 million, eight‑year deal, faces a shaky start. The Nittany Lions sit at 21‑18 after a disappointing opening stretch, prompting questions about the Big Ten’s most secure coaching contract. The article examines whether the unprecedented financial guarantee shields the program from early setbacks or merely labels Campbell as the "unfireable" coach.
The Robots Are Here, and They’re Coming for Sports
In a guest column for Sportico, professors John Cairney and Rick Burton explore how emerging robot athletes could reshape the sports industry. Prompted by a recent New York Times piece on "robot athletes," they discuss the impact of android competitors on business models, fan engagement, and traditional sports, referencing familiar platforms like BattleBots and drone racing while speculating on future integration. The column offers a forward‑looking look at technology’s role in redefining competition and revenue streams.
Cathy Engelbert: Next WNBA Commissioner Will Need ‘Thick Skin’
The next leader of the WNBA will “have to have very thick skin,” according to outgoing commissioner Cathy Engelbert, speaking Saturday in what is expected to be her final press conference before her retirement at the end of the year. Engelbert reflected on her seven-year tenure ahead of the first game of the 2026 WNBA […]
Kill College Sports to Save College
Today’s guest column is by SUNY Albany professor emeritus Bruce Svare. In 2001, the brilliant columnist Robert Lipsyte wrote a seminal column for The New York Times on the ugly status of college sports in American higher education. Entitled “BACKTALK; The Devil and an Angel Envision a Revolution in College Sports,” Lipsyte spent time with […]
Sportico Transactions: Moves and Mergers Roundup for Oct. 16
Welcome to Sportico’s transactions wire, a weekly rundown of personnel, partnerships, products and purchases across the sports business industry. PERSONNEL Timberwolves, Lynx Name Jamie Morningstar as Chief Commercial Officer The Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx have appointed sports and entertainment executive Jamie Morningstar as chief commercial officer, a newly created position designed to deepen the organization’s […]
NCAA Sues DeWine Over Ohio’s ‘Unconstitutional’ Order
The NCAA on Friday sued Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine for violating the U.S. Constitution and state law through his allegedly “misguided attempt” to give colleges in his state “an unfair, unprecedented and unwarranted competitive advantage in stadiums and arenas throughout the country” via an executive order allowing certain athletes deemed ineligible under NCAA rules to […]
This Startup Is Thriving in the Frenetic Card-Breaking Industry
It’s a few minutes after 10 a.m. on a Wednesday in October, and Ben Zucker appears to be frustrated. The founder of collectibles startup Hot Hands Sports is livestreaming on TikTok to an audience of about 60 viewers, and he’s trying to entice the crowd to purchase a spot in an upcoming break, a term […]
The Jaguars Play 2 Home Games in London. They Only Make Money on 1
The Jacksonville Jaguars are playing a pair of “home” games in London this season. The economics of those contests, however, couldn’t be more different. The team’s last-second win over the Philadelphia Eagles last week in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was organized and operated by the NFL, part of the league’s more standard rotation of all teams […]
Brewers Clinch Small-Market World Series—and Fox Should Be Fine
When the Milwaukee Brewers finished their NLCS sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred may have found himself scrambling for the Advil®. The Brew Crew’s 6-4 series clincher in Game 4 effectively kicked the legs out from under Manfred’s thesis that MLB requires a salary cap, as one of […]
ESPN Closing in on Deal for 24-Team CFP Expansion
Two years after the masterminds behind the College Football Playoff tripled the field from four to 12 teams, the annual postseason tournament is about to be expanded even further. CFP execs are zeroing in on a deal that will see 24 teams get invited to the playoff, with ESPN set to carry those additional games […]
NBA’s Second Apron Isn’t Squeezing the Middle Class
The NBA rarely responds publicly to comments made by a player, much less one who may not even play in the league this season. But remarks made last week by Bruce Brown, an eight-year NBA veteran fighting for a roster spot with the New York Knicks, garnered enough attention online that the league piped up. […]
From Forced Sale to Finals: Dream Reflect the WNBA’s Growth
The Atlanta Dream will take the court this weekend for their first WNBA Finals game in 13 years, a pinnacle achievement for the franchise with the lowest valuation in the league still undergoing a massive turnaround. Five years ago, the Dream made headlines for their political activism more than their on-court performance. In 2020 and […]
Sporticast: What If All MLB Tickets Were Free?
On the 595th Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including the latest in the baseball playoffs, where the Milwaukee Brewers have an early NLCS lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers. They also consider a ticketing thought experience. The hosts discuss Brewers ace […]
Cubs’ Defeat of Wrigley View Rooftop Faces Appeal
The Chicago Cubs secured a permanent injunction this month barring neighboring facility Wrigley View Rooftop from selling tickets to watch games, concerts and other events at Wrigley Field. It was a decisive win in a multiyear legal battle over how far neighboring companies can go in profiting from another business’s activities. But it doesn’t end […]
José E. Feliciano to Headline Sportico Invest New York
José E. Feliciano, co-founder of Clearlake Capital and Major League Baseball’s newest owner, will join Sportico Invest New York for a keynote conversation on Nov. 10 in New York City, offering a rare insider’s perspective on the forces reshaping the global sports industry. Feliciano and his wife Kwanza Jones, who will also join the conversation, […]
Players Era’s Trademark on Track as New Era Drops Its Objection
Players Era, the NIL-paying college sports tournament operator, moved a step closer to securing trademark rights to its own name after headwear giant New Era dropped its formal protest following an undisclosed settlement. In a motion filed last week with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), New Era sought to withdraw its opposition to […]
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