Sports Business Journal

Join us at 8:00am ET for the very first SBJ Playbook Pop-up on Friday, August 8th at SBJ Headquarters in Charlotte 📆 ‼️   Building off our popular newsletter, SBJ Playbook, this networking event is designed for the next generation of sports business professionals. Mike Behan, Brooke Faw, Meg Little, Caitlin Roberts and Steve Vogel will discuss their career paths, how they made their way into the sports industry and advice on taking that next step in your career.    Passes are $45. Breakfast and coffee will be provided.   REGISTER HERE 🔻 https://lnkd.in/gP_-tuMq

It's official: Barstool Sports' crew of personalities will appear on FOX Sports as part of a "wide-ranging deal" with the network. In addition to appearances on "Big Noon Kickoff," Barstool will also create a new two-hour studio show to air on FS1 Monday through Friday. https://ow.ly/EGw450Wrr7V

Our Publisher & Executive Editor Abe Madkour gives out his industry awards for H1 2025 🏆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝘅 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀: National Hockey League (NHL). From a record-breaking Ovechkin, a repeat Stanley Cup champion, to a new labor agreement and plans for a 2028 World Cup of Hockey — a strong showing. 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳: Pittsburgh Pirates. From “Sell The Team” chants, fan incidents, managerial changes, to last place in the NL Central. 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿: Golf. Fresh executive talent and innovative leadership are reshaping the game. 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁: Big 12 and Big Ten with PayPal. The Big 12 signed a deal that benefits all schools, followed by a similar agreement from the Big Ten. 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆: Oklahoma City. From an NBA title run to creating a major downtown entertainment district, the city shines. 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿: Rick Welts. The Basketball Hall of Fame executive officially joined the Dallas Mavericks in January, then saw the sudden trade of the team’s most popular player in February, dealt with unprecedented fan reaction and business pain for months. Keep it honest — what did he miss?

Looking to supercharge your network? The sports industry thrives on relationships, and through our Leaders Club program, we've provided several unique networking opportunities for future sports industry leaders to develop career-critical relationships. So far this year, members of SBJ’s Leaders Club have: ⚽ Toured NYCFC Stadium Experience Center and heard from Jennifer Pogorelec O'Sullivan 📈 Explored market trends and learned how to navigate the ever-changing sports business landscape with Dan Singer and Ari Zelman 🍸 Enjoyed a cocktail reception and shared insights on the evolving interaction of sports, entertainment and culture with Daniel-Yaw Miller 🏒 Built new connections watching the New York Islanders vs. Vancouver Canucks game 🤝 Delved deep into innovations in brand and marketing with Brian Quarles and Dan Moriarty Sound interesting? Join our ever-growing network of mid-career professionals and apply to be part of the next Leaders Club cohort here: https://lnkd.in/g5ciDDJU

Major League Baseball (MLB) honored late Hall of Famer Hank Aaron’s 715th home run on July 15 during the 2025 All-Star Game with a creative on-field tribute at Truist Park ⚾ CC Sabathia proposed recreating the iconic moment when Aaron surpassed Babe Ruth in 1974. The tribute featured a slow-moving ball video followed by a custom pyrotechnic comet from home plate. Key facts: ◾1,300+ hours of creation and planning ◾1.5 tractor loads of equipment ◾ 276 pyrotechnic pieces used ◾Projection, pyrotechnics, and lighting timecode synchronized More from Mike Mazzeo: https://lnkd.in/gHfFdhx8

Major updates from the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame🏈 Nearly a year after launching the Game On! AI Experience, the Hall is seeing major results, blending tech with tradition to deepen fan engagement. Fans use a photo, short quiz and RFID badge to see themselves in iconic CFB moments like hoisting the Heisman or joining an HBCU drumline. Impact so far: ✔️ 28% increase in guest dwell time ✔️ 22% increase in attendance ✔️ 75% increase in retail sales ✔️ 13% boost in Net Promoter Score Via Ethan Joyce — https://ow.ly/4rKJ50Wra3Y

Conversations continue between Fox and Barstool Sports, as the network looks to beef up its "Big Noon Kickoff" show. No final decisions have been made, and no decisions have been made as to Barstool talent appearing on FS1 shows, a source close to the situation tells SBJ. Adding Barstool Sports talent would likely bolster the network's viewership with the brand's target audience of 18-to-34-year-olds. https://lnkd.in/eh6qPxkD

Could Seattle poach the Trail Blazers? There's speculation that a Portland outsider — maybe Jeff Bezos — could purchase the team and relocate them 175 miles north to be the Supersonics. The aging Moda Center may play a big part in what happens next. https://ow.ly/ppGH50WqPIU

Seattle can wait another 3 to 5 years for expansion or…steal away the Portland Trail Blazers. Buckle your seatbelts, Pacific Northwest. My story for Sports Business Journal: https://lnkd.in/dyZUe2ku

The National Rugby League will deploy Fastbreak AI's scheduling software, the latest league in a growing slew that work with the startup. Here's a little more from teammate Rob Irby: https://lnkd.in/eCHUHDwk