Front Office Sports Today

After decades of discussion and negotiations, the Tampa Bay Rays are set to announce a deal for a new stadium. The team will stay in St. Petersburg and develop the surrounding Gas Plant District, potentially freeing up MLB to focus on further expansion. Plus, we hear from Learfield president and CEO Cole Gahagan on what a new round of investments in the company will mean for its efforts in NIL and...

Major networks swarmed Colorado, where the Buffaloes kept the hype-train going after narrowly avoiding an upset to Colorado State. ESPN and Fox both had a presence in Boulder over the weekend, despite the latter network not having broadcast rights to the game. FOS newsletter co-author David Rumsey provides an on-the-ground report from the scene. Plus, we hear from comedian Rob Riggle on his experi...

The NFL has further deepened its roots in Europe by making Tottenham Hotspur Stadium its official U.K. home, and next season could bring a game played in Madrid. We also look into pushback against allowing Netflix and other platforms access for sports documentaries, as well as the NBA’s new rules to keep stars on the court. Plus, Eli Manning joins to discuss whether the NFL should replace all turf...

Amazon is entering its second season as the exclusive broadcaster of “Thursday Night Football.” Amazon feature reporter Taylor Rooks joins the show to discuss how she gets NFL players to open up and provide new angles to viewers. Plus, Major League Pickleball and the PPA Tour are merging with a $50 million investment into a new entity. Tom Webb of the rival Association of Pickleball Players joins...

Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending injury has massive implications for the New York Jets, the NFL, and its major media partners. We delve into the fallout of this stunning turn in the league’s biggest narrative of the season. Plus, "The Last Dance" executive producer and Slamball co-creator Mike Tollin joins us for a behind-the-scenes look at the Michael Jordan-focused series and the world of sports med...

The NFL and its media partners are putting the New York Jets and Giants on prime time, betting that the Jets’ Aaron Rodgers and the Giants’ recent resurgence will bring new levels of attention to the massive media market. Meanwhile, Disney and Charter settled their dispute just in time to avoid a "Monday Night Football" blackout. Plus, we hear from IndyCar champion Alex Palou on his recent victory...

YouTube made it through its first Sunday broadcasting ‘NFL Sunday Ticket’ without any major hiccups. Now it looks toward the long-term question of how many viewers and subscribers it can attract, as Google and Amazon spearhead the NFL’s streaming future. Plus, we hear from former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL star Ricky Williams on running back pay, the effects of NIL, and what he’s watching for t...

Oregon State and Washington State are exploring options to keep the Pac-12 name alive, but it’s unclear whether the conference would retain Power 5 status — or what would happen to the crumbling conference’s media deal and IP rights. Plus, TNF analytics expert Sam Schwartzstein joins us to discuss the football analytics movement, overvalued and undervalued NFL positions, and his predictions for th...

The NFL season begins with the Kansas City Chiefs on top of the football world — and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes building one of the most expansive athlete business empires before his 28th birthday. We also take a look at their Thursday night opponents, the Detroit Lions, who have gone from perennial cellar-dwellers to league darlings. Plus, KC star tight end Travis Kelce joins us for a wide-...

Disney is in a high-stakes carriage dispute with cable company Charter — one that blacked out ESPN and other Disney-owned stations for millions of fans at the peak of the US Open, the start of the college football season, and on the eve of the first ESPN-broadcast ‘Monday Night Football’ game. Cord-cutting and Disney’s long-term plans for ESPN+ make this tussle more complicated than past carriage...

Saudi Arabia’s SRJ Sports Investments has invested $100 million into the Professional Fighters League. Newsletter co-author David Rumsey breaks down the details of the transaction, along with Saudi Arabia’s growing portfolio in the world of professional sports. Next, we’re joined by Donn Davis, founder and CEO of the PFL. Davis describes how the PFL is planning to spend its $100 million — includin...

The Big Ten is taking a page from the NFL in its broadcast strategy with plans to own Saturday the way the NFL does Sunday. We also take a look at the Coach Prime phenomenon as Colorado attracts outsized attention and soaring ticket prices due to the presence of Deion Sanders. Plus, former Miami Marlins president David Samson joins us to discuss the state of the Los Angeles Angels — following one...

The College Football Playoff Board of Managers met on Wednesday to discuss the future of the CFP amid the collapse of the Pac-12. Now, Power 5 revenue distribution and the role of Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff are in question. Plus, we have a fascinating interview with Jeffrey Pollack, who has been an executive with the Los Angeles Chargers, the XFL, the Professional Bull Riders Association...

The Kansas City Royals are moving past the renderings and into the realities of getting a new stadium built — but they face certain challenges in striking a deal. Negotiations over the coming months could determine whether the team builds a downtown venue or a large development away from the city center. Plus, we hear from New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner on his offseason and playing with Aa...

Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Pittsburgh Penguins, is now buying the team's regional sports network, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fenway is expected to follow the model it has used with the Boston Red Sox's NESN channel by introducing streaming for local fans. But the purchase presents a fork in the road for the Pittsburgh Pirates — also broadcast by AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh. Plus, we hear fr...

Cal and Stanford have engaged the Big 12, Arizona State will not host bowl games this season amid an NCAA investigation, Spanish coaches are resigning en masse to protest Luis Rubiales, and the Oakland A’s may try to share Oracle Park with the San Francisco Giants for three years. Plus, we speak to USTA CEO and US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster on the 50th anniversary of Billie Jean King...

The ACC has three schools knocking out the door but remains undecided whether to let them in. Front Office Sports reporter Amanda Christovich breaks down why ACC members are on the fence —and if this is really the end of the Pac-12. Plus, FOS newsletter co-author David Rumsey speaks to New York Red Bulls president Marc de Grandpré on Messi Mania coming to the Big Apple, and we hear from tennis leg...

Reggie Bush won the Heisman Trophy in 2005, then had it taken away for accepting impermissible benefits, according to the NCAA. We dive into the backstory of this thorny case, and what’s likely to happen next. Plus, the US Gymnastics Championships begin on Thursday, as three former champions, Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, and Suni Lee, look to assert themselves. Journalist Ari Saperstein joins to d...

Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf has floated the possibility that the team could leave Guaranteed Rate Field — or even depart Chicago entirely — if they don’t get a good deal when their lease runs out in six years. We explore how serious that threat is — and whether Reinsdorf even intends to keep the team. Plus, MLB Hall of Famer Tom Glavine discusses his broadcasting career, how he’s had t...

MLS Commissioner Don Garber told ESPN he thinks clubs should take the initiative in harnessing Messi Mania for long-term growth. Newsletter co-authors Eric Fisher and David Rumsey discuss what Garber's comments mean for MLS clubs going forward. Plus, we are joined by Rob Petrozzo, co-founder of the Rally Museum — where everything on exhibit is available for public investment. Learn more about your...

Spain defeated England to win its first Women’s World Cup at a time when then the women’s game has never been more popular. We take a look at what this tournament meant for women’s soccer. Plus, we take a look at the multi-club model of soccer team ownership, first with a new women’s fund that aims to raise $100 million to buy women’s teams, and then with 777 co-founder Josh Wander, who was one of...

The Kansas City Royals are looking for a new home to replace Kaufman Stadium. We get the latest on the sites they have in mind, how much it will cost, and what will be there other than a stadium. Plus, we hear from MLB legend Tino Martinez on his work with the PBX pickleball league and his thoughts on MLB today and the state of the New York teams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....

Michael Oher, who became nationally known as the subject of “The Blind Side” book and movie, is suing the Tuohy family that he lived with for years. New York Times reporter Santul Nerkar and attorney Nick Soltman join the show to explore the narrative and legal implications of what Oher is doing, and why he is taking action years after his retirement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaph...

“Undisputed” host Skip Bayless has torn up his winning formula and is now emulating Stephen A. Smith. Front Office Sports senior writer Mike McCarthy stops by to explain the perplexing and ego-filled dilemma facing Fox — and why not everyone there is happy with the changes. Plus, Comcast has a unique program connecting sports tech startups with some of the biggest sports properties in the world. J...

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert visited Denver to explore the city as a potential site for league expansion. We take a look at which cities could add a team, when that might happen — and whether WNBA players are buying in. Plus, Major League Rugby CEO and commissioner Nic Benson joins to discuss how his league is stoking fan interest and participation in the sport ahead of the 2031 Rugby World C...