Sporticast

Scott and Eben break down the start of the NBA season, including some major changes on the media side, and a new all-time highest earner. They also talk about Shohei Ohtani’s superlative performance, and a new plan to save college soccer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben speak with Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico’s valuations guru, about his latest NBA rankings. They discuss the business of the Warriors, Clippers and Knicks; the NBA’s international opportunity; a shift towards an NFL-style model; the economics of new arenas; and more. 1:00 – Kurt’s opening takes 6:00 – International opportunity 6:57 – The China question 17:57 – Scott prediction 19:46 – C...

Scott and Eben discuss the rush of college football buyouts, including Penn State paying James Franklin about $50 million to leave Happy Valley. They also talk NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman’s new contract, and the MLB playoff latest. 0:37 – James Franklin 4:50 – Other schools 5:40 – College sports is skittish 11:50 – Scott q on pension funds (Carol this might be a good segment for a clip) 16:10...

The WNBA Finals have garnered record ratings, even with a lot of attention focused on the ongoing negotiations and conversation between commissioner Cathy Engelbert and top players, including Napheesa Collier. Just Women’s Sports founder Haley Rosen joined Scott and Jacob to discuss both storylines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss Connor McDavid’s two-year, $25 million extension to stay in Edmonton. They also talk about Gavin McKenna, college sports private equity, the MLB playoffs, and the latest drama in the WNBA labor fight. 0:57 – Connor deal details 6:17 – Salary cap jumps 18:35 – Learfield-style deals 19:20 – Scott’s endowment q 27:51 – WNBA labor drama Learn more about your ad choices. Visit me...

Scott and Eben are joined by Sportico valuations expert Kurt Badenhausen to talk about the NHL’s rise, labor peace, new media deals, international opportunities and the marketability of the NHL’s biggest stars. 1:10 – NHL vs. MLB and text message 5:06 – Let’s talk Florida Panthers 9:15 – Local media disruption 12:35 – International opportunities 16:30 – Hockey culture shies away from marketing 19:...

Scott and Eben discuss the collapse of the New York Mets’ 2025 season, which ended with a $342 million roster failing to make the playoffs. They also talk about owner guarantees, the Ryder Cup and new investors in Angel City FC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith joins the Sporticast podcast to discuss his views on the world’s richest sports league. He talks about the NFL’s antitrust exemption, a potential long-term threat from college football, and a theory on why women’s unions seem to be making more progress than their male counterparts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben speak about the Los Angeles Dodgers hitting a big commercial milestone. They also talk about the economics of The Sphere in Las Vegas, and changes in college hockey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben talk about the highest paid NFL players, a new Masters media partner, and growing pains in women's sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss the title fight between Canelo Alvarez and Bud Crawford, which started late and paid its fighters handsomely. They also talk about Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, Nascar driver Bubba Wallace and some throwback Buds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eben and Jacob discuss the expansive grey area in the relationship between sports teams, players and sponsors. They also talk about the growing cost of sports streaming, and the NFL's YouTube numbers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben break down the biggest NBA story of the past week—allegations that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer may have tried to circumvent the league’s cap via a fraudulent tree-planting start-up. They also talk about Unrivaled’s $340M funding round, and a big NWSL loss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben speak with Marc Ganis, prominent sports consultant and NFL advisor, about the league’s business heading into the 2025 season—they touch on media, valuations, private equity, college sports, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben speak with Gareth Balch, the co-founder and CEO of Two Circles, about the company’s data work, trends about sports consumption, and how AI is already disrupting it all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss the celebrity engagement of the week. They also talk about NFL advertising, the U.S. Open, and Tommy “Cutlets” DeVito. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hosts Scott Soshnick and Jacob Feldman are joined by Kurt Badenhausen to discuss the latest sports business news, including a record-breaking sports card auction, the return of the U.S. Open, and an action-packed opening weekend of college football amid seismic change for the sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hosts Scott Soshnick and Jacob Feldman are joined by Kurt Badenhausen to discuss Sportico’s rankings of the highest-paid tennis players, led by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Then they discuss the debut of ESPN’s direct-to-consumer offering, and why the company doesn’t get enough credit for its digital transformation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss a handful of big sports business stories, including Michigan’s punishment for its sign-stealing operation, the collapse of Grand Slam track, a new revenue stream for LA28, and Aaron Rodgers’ helmet fiasco. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben are joined by valuations expert Kurt Badenhausen to discuss Sportico’s latest NFL valuations, which start with the Dallas Cowboys ($12.8 billion) and end with the Cincinnati Bengals ($5.5 billion). They also talk about recent sales involving the Minnesota Twins and Portland Trail Blazers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben speak about UFC’s new $7.7 billion deal with Paramount, which came a week after the Skydance merger was announced. They also talk about ESPN’s streaming tie-up with FOX, and a Sportico investigation into a former NFL player now being sued for fraud. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss the NFL’s latest billion-dollar media deal, a deeper relationship with ESPN that involves NFL Network, RedZone, fantasy, real estate, carriage, and more. They also talk about the Big Dumper, and Shedeur Sanders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Change is afoot. Hosts Scott Soshnick and Jacob Feldman break down a major bit of volleyball news as two leagues announce they are coming together—and expanding. Then they talk about the state of the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun sale, and whether the team will stay in New England or be shipped away from Boston. They also hit on ESPN’s acquisition of media assets from the NFL and the current state of the...

Scott and Eben discuss the latest in the NBA’s efforts to launch a new pro basketball league in Europe. They also talk about the sale of the Connecticut Sun, a film-inspired putter, and more about Deion Sanders’ business interests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss Deion Sanders’ big Colorado announcement. They also talk about medical marketing in sports, the licensing future of Hulk Hogan, and the latest in MLB’s looming labor battle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices