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Closing Bell

Airbnb inks major deal for FIFA World Cup tourneys…Telemundo cancels World Cup boat party after Coast Guard inspection…FanDuel pushing into MMA with PFL pact. Airbnb and FIFA have struck a major partnership spanning three tournaments, where Airbnb will serve as an Official Partner for the 2025 Club World Cup, an Official Supporter for the 2026 […]

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Closing Bell

Airbnb inks major deal for FIFA World Cup tourneys…Telemundo cancels World Cup boat party after Coast Guard inspection…FanDuel pushing into MMA with PFL pact.

Airbnb and FIFA have struck a major partnership spanning three tournaments, where Airbnb will serve as an Official Partner for the 2025 Club World Cup, an Official Supporter for the 2026 World Cup and an Official Supporter for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. Additionally, Airbnb will offer Official Fan Accommodation on its platform for the three tournaments. In addition, Airbnb will implement the Airbnb Host City Impact Program, a separate, targeted $5M investment for the 2026 World Cup that will involve collaborating with Host Cities to fund select initiatives that foster economic growth and enhance the event experience for residents and visitors (FIFA).The Telemundo Deportes logo is seen on a microphone being held by a sideline reporterTelemundo abruptly canceled a private event in Miami last night celebrating a year to go until the 2026 FIFA World Cup after U.S. Coast Guard personnel boarded the luxury party boat serving as the event venue. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Telemundo abruptly canceled a private event in Miami last night celebrating a year to go until the 2026 FIFA World Cup after U.S. Coast Guard personnel boarded the luxury party boat serving as the event venue. The NBC-owned media company, which will carry next summer’s World Cup matches in Spanish, called the incident a “routine Coast Guard inspection.” “Due to delays caused by a routine Coast Guard inspection, Telemundo canceled its One Year To Go celebration event in Miami yesterday,” the network said in a statement. “We regret the inconvenience to our guests and appreciate their understanding. We look forward to continuing the road to the FIFA world Cup 26 and bringing this historic tournament to our viewers.” The Coast Guard also issued a statement to SBJ, saying, “Wednesday, Coast Guard Sector Miami and partner agency crews conducted a boarding on the vessel, Barefoot Princess, an inspected passenger vessel. Coast Guard crews are investigating to determine if the vessel violated a federal Captain of the Port order that was issued earlier this year. The vessel was cited for safety violations. Coast Guard crews routinely board vessels to make sure lifesaving and safety compliance ensuring safety of life at sea.” An Instagram video posted by Spanish-language entertainment journalist Mandy Fridmann on Instagram showed partygoers disembarking after being ferried back to shore by a water taxi. NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises Chair Luis Fernández, FIFA Chief Business Officer Romy Gai and Miami Dade-County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava were among those seen departing.

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PFL FanDuel
FanDuel will now set up markets for bettors for the PFL World Tournament and Champions Series. PFL FanDuel

FanDuel has finalized a deal to become the official U.S. sports betting partner of the Professional Fighters League, with assets to include logos in and around the PFL Smartcage, rights to use PFL’s logo and marks in advertising and promotions, social/digital content, and providing betting odds during broadcasts. The arrangement will start today with the PFL World Tournament Semifinals at Nashville Municipal Auditorium. FanDuel will set up markets for bettors for the World Tournament and PFL Champions Series events. The fighting property is trying to challenge UFC and regards itself as the No. 2 MMA property in the world, with broadcasts aired in 190 countries across 20 media-rights holders. PFL SVP/New Business Development Mike Chioditti noted in prepared remarks that betting “is a key engagement driver for today’s sports audience, and through this partnership, we’re delivering unrivaled access to our fans.” UFC is aligned with DraftKings.Jamaica's Danielle Williams races to win the Women's 100 meter race during the Grand Slam Track meet at the National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica on April 6,2025. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)Grand Slam Track staged three previous meets including its inaugural event in Jamaica. AFP via Getty Images The final leg of Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track series has been “cancelled only two months after the competition began.” The L.A. leg on June 28-29 was cancelled “in light of the failure to secure sufficient sponsorship and broadcast revenue for the league” as well as “poor ticket sales so far.” The cancellation will “save organisers” $3M in prize money and travel. The league, which launched in April, staged three previous meets in Jamaica, Miami and Philadelphia. Grand Slam “insist they will be back next year with new sponsors,” but the cancellation of L.A. “points to a far less positive legacy” (London TIMES, 6/12).

Levy will provide F&B service for UCF athletics, including the Orlando-based school’s $88M Roth Tower expansion project at its football stadium. AECOM designed expansion, which will help UCF grow its non-football events business at the stadium. UCF

The Univ. of Central Florida’s BOT approved a contract during its Thursday meeting that makes Levy the food and beverage service provider for the UCF Athletics Association and its Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village.

UCF’s board approved a 10-year deal that includes two additional five-year renewal periods upon the UCFAA providing 120 days written notice of intent to review. Levy takes over July 1 from incumbent Oak View Group.

Levy will provide exclusive food and beverage services across the Athletics Village, which includes the newly renamed football stadium, the Acrisure Bounce House — undergoing an $88M expansion — Additional Financial Arena and a half-dozen other sports facilities. The deal includes concessions, premium hospitality (including in the numerous new spaces created by the football stadium renovation project), special events and training table operations for student-athletes, in addition the non-exclusive opportunity to provide catering services within the Athletics Village.

Levy will pay the UCFAA commission-based revenue shares (see below) on gross food and beverage sales. The deal includes capital investment of $5.5M in the first year of the contract, $1.5M in both the second and fifth years, $5.5M if the first contract renewal is exercised and another $5.5M if the second renewal option is enacted. A $1M signing bonus can be used at the UCFAA’s discretion.

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N.Y. Jets owner Woody Johnson is “in talks” over a $272M investment in Premier League club Crystal Palace. Getty Images

N.Y. Jets owner Woody Johnson is “in talks” over a $272M investment in Premier League club Crystal Palace, a deal that “could clear the path for the FA Cup winners to participate” in next season’s UEFA Europa League, according to sources. Palace, who won their first-ever major trophy by defeating Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley, are “at risk of being barred from the Europa League due to a multiclub ownership rule violation.” Minority stakeholder John Textor also owns a majority stake in Ligue 1 club Lyon. Though Textor has “no day-to-day involvement in the running of Palace,” who are controlled by chair Steve Parish and U.S. investors Josh Harris and David Blitzer, UEFA rules “prevent two teams with the same ownership playing in the same competition unless shares in one club are placed into a blind trust” (ESPN.com, 6/12).

Industry insiders believe that a “purchase of Textor’s shares by the current co-owners,” Harris and Blitzer, is the “most likely outcome this summer.” However, options include “at least two other proposals from the US.” A deal with Johnson is viewed as an “outside shot.” Other suitors for Palace are believed to include Warriors F Jimmy Butler, “part of a consortium of sport and entertainment executives that is expected to make an offer” (London TELEGRAPH, 6/12).

The total prize money at this year’s Wimbledon “will increase by 7% to a record” $72.7M. GETTY IMAGES

The total prize money at this year’s Wimbledon “will increase by 7% to a record” $72.7M. This is double the $36M on offer in 2015. Last year’s winners, Carlos Alcaraz and Barbora Krejcikova, each took home $3.7M. This year’s winners will receive $4M, an increase of 11%. Players knocked out in the first round will receive $89,700, an increase of 10% (BBC.com, 6/12).

Meanwhile, this year’s Wimbledon will see line judges “replaced for the first time with the electronic line calling system.” All England Lawn Tennis Club CEO Sally Bolton said that “the time is right to move on.” She added that “many line judges would return in different roles as match assistants, with two assigned per court” (REUTERS, 6/12).

LISBON, PORTUGAL - MAY 24:  Kim Little and Leah Williamson of Arsenal lifts the UEFA Women's Champions League trophy after their team's victory in the UEFA Women's Champions League final match between Arsenal WFC and FC Barcelona at Estadio Jose Alvalade on May 24, 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Halfway through 2025, soccer and women’s sports are the global drivers in sports growth, according to a report from Nielsen. Getty Images

Halfway through 2025, soccer and women’s sports are the global drivers in sports growth, according to a report from Nielsen.

Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Nielsen found that over two thirds of global soccer fans found sponsoring brands appealing, compared to 54% of the general population. The U.S. is second only to Brazil in receptiveness from fans, and that’s only expected to increase with the upcoming World Cup.

The other major driver for growth is women’s sports and women fans, especially in the WNBA, which saw a 201% increase in viewership in 2024. In general, women’s sports reached 50% of the population in 2024, up from 45% in 2022.

“We’ve seen an increased diversification in sponsor categories as purchase intent shifts,” the report said, referencing luxury brand Coach joining the WNBA as its handbag partner.

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Tom Brady was inducted into the Patriots HOF in June 2024. China Wong/Getty Images

The Patriots will honor former QB Tom Brady on Aug. 8 when a “12-foot bronze statue is unveiled outside of Gillette Stadium” before the team plays the Commanders in a preseason game. The Patriots made the announcement via a social media video that included “highlights from Brady’s time in New England” that spanned two decades and included six Super Bowl championships. The Patriots retired his No. 12 in June 2024, and he was inducted into the team HOF after owner Robert Kraft announced he was “going to waive the four-year waiting period” (MASSLIVE, 6/12).

Schefter had a record day on social media around the start to NFL free agency
A report earlier had indicated ESPN’s Adam Schefter had been banned from “The Pat McAfee Show” this year. ESPN Images

ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” this afternoon after The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported McAfee had “banned” Schefter from the show earlier in the year. McAfee introduced the interview, which was scheduled before the report came out, by saying, “I learned a lot about my business this morning in another article. Seems like that happens all the time. … When that rat writes something, it is nice to be like, ‘Well, that’s bullshit’ immediately. Joining us now, a banned man.” Schefter lightheartedly said, “Pat, as I was saying when I was so rudely interrupted three months ago, Aaron Rodgers is going to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers.” The interview proceeded without any other reference to the report (“The Pat McAfee Show,” ESPN, 6/12).Brand Innovation Summit Day 2BodyArmor VP/Marketing Sara Weaver and Barstool Sports podcast host Dan Katz discuss how brands are building relationships with the next generation of sports content consumers. Tony Florez In the dynamic sports content economy, brands are forging significant connections with consumers by leveraging strategic partnerships with creators, influencers and media partners, resulting in substantial business impact.On the second day of SBJ’s annual Brand Innovation Summit in Chicago, Barstool Sports podcast host Dan Katz, known as “Big Cat,” and BodyArmor Sports Nutrition VP/Marketing Sara Weaver discussed the future of sports content and the collaborative efforts of their businesses in creating sponsored content.Katz said the most effective advertising model for their partnership involves doing unscripted content while having the BodyArmor logo in the background or “in our hands.”“That works because a lot of the stuff that we do is something that we’ve never planned,” Katz said. “It’s a clip that goes viral, it’s a clip that gets 30 million views that we had no idea was going to get 30 million views, but BodyArmor is there with us and that type of advertising I think always is the most effective.”Read More >>>

Brand Innovation Summit
Bespoke Sports & Entertainment President Greg Busch, Genesco Sports CEO John Tatum, Wasserman Chief Insights & Innovation Officer Shelley Pisarra and Excel Sports Management Head of Brand Marketing Tuck Burch discuss trends in partnership marketing. Tony Florez

With the World Cup coming in 2026 and the Olympics in 2028, soccer has an outsized effect in the U.S. on the agency side.

“Over half of US soccer fans have moved up the scale in avidity in just the last 18 months,” said Shelley Pisarra, Chief Insights & Innovation Officer at Wasserman, during a Wednesday panel at SBJ’s Brand Innovation Summit in Chicago. “There’s only one Messi, but there are a lot of eyeballs on the US as a ground that’s always been a little bit secondary to the world, but now we have a chance to really show off. It helps us all continue to support the reasoning around why partnerships really matter and in a global sport that’s growing like this, yes, this is your home base, but you can reach everybody at the same time.”

For Tuck Burch, Head of Brand Marketing at Excel Sports, there’s an “infinite” number of ways for marketers to engage with the global sport.

“We’re coaching our clients to be really, really purposeful in how we engage in that marketplace,” said Burch. “Then obviously storytelling on the back end of that. Are you being additive? Are you enhancing the experiences for these consumers?”

Read More >>>


Speed Reads…

Kroenke Sports & Entertainment and Revesco Properties announced the sale of Revesco’s interest in The River Mile development to KSE (Kroenke Sports & Entertainment).

Bundesliga Americas and Amazon Web Services are partnering to bring Bundesliga Haus to Miami for FC Bayern Munchen v Boca Juniors on June 20 (Bundesliga).

USA Baseball and Panini America announced a third extension of their exclusive licensing agreement (Panini America).

PGA of Canada named ororo as supporting sponsor for the 2025 National Championship events (ororo).

MASN expanded its MASN+ DTC streaming option to include MLB.TV as an additional platform, allowing fans to purchase MASN+ through MLB.TV and watch all regular season Orioles and Nationals games live or on demand with no blackouts (MASN).

The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and Taymar Sales U. signed a multiyear agreement for the firm to oversee membership sales and service, convention registrations and ticket sales for the WMBC Showcase Nov. 20-24 in Orlando (Taymar Sales U.).

BetterHelp announced multiyear partnerships with the Liberty, Aces and Wings, aligning the WNBA teams on mental health initiatives (BetterHelp).

Box to Box has partnered with Olympic athlete Noah Lyles to launch new production venture Iconic Productions. The venture will develop long-form and short-form branded content (Box to Box).


Around the World….

Manchester City has been “warned by lawyers that changes to their season ticket policy being introduced for next season may be unlawful” (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 6/12).

Everton confirmed that new club CEO Angus Kinnear has “taken a seat” on the club’s board (LIVERPOOL ECHO, 6/12).

League of Ireland Premier Division club Drogheda United are “appealing their expulsion” from the UEFA Conference League to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (IRISH TIMES, 6/12).

BMW Korea announced that it has signed an extension with the LPGA Tour to “run a tournament in South Korea” until 2029 (YONHAP NEWS AGENCY, 6/12).

A “group of successful Melbourne-based businessmen have made a bid for a percentage share” of NBL club South East Melbourne Phoenix. It’s understood the group have “already raised millions” (MELBOURNE HERALD SUN, 6/12).


Quick Hits….

“I played in Atlanta. It wasn’t very good. There weren’t a lot of fans. It wasn’t very successful. It didn’t feel like an NHL town in that moment. But a different rink and a different ownership group in a different part of town, maybe it works” – Former NHLer Mike Johnson, on the potential of the NHL returning to the Atlanta area (“NHL Morning Skate,” NHL Network Radio, 6/12).


Social Scoop….


Daily Download….

Volkswagen of America announced the addition of five U.S. Soccer athletes — Christian Pulisic, Naomi Girma, Raul Silva, Sandro Canale and Emily Spreeman — to its roster and unveiled a new creative campaign, “Welcome To Our Turf.”


Daily Digit….

50,000 — Amount of hot dogs Aramark expects to sell during the week at this week’s U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club (Josh Carpenter, SBJ)

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Oregon State charts a new NIL course with general manager, changes at collective

Oregon State athletics is overhauling its structural approach to managing Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals for student-athletes. The Beavers announced the hiring of Kyle Bjornstad — a former basketball player and administrator at OSU who founded the Dam Nation collective in 2022 — as the athletic department’s new general manager on Wednesday. Additionally, OSU […]

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Oregon State athletics is overhauling its structural approach to managing Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals for student-athletes.

The Beavers announced the hiring of Kyle Bjornstad — a former basketball player and administrator at OSU who founded the Dam Nation collective in 2022 — as the athletic department’s new general manager on Wednesday.

Additionally, OSU announced a multi-year deal with marketing agency Blueprint Sports, which will take over operations of Dam Nation moving forward.

Blueprint works with more than 70 athletic departments across the country, having secured and paid out more than $100 million in NIL deals according to its website.

“Blueprint Sports will only increase the impact of Dam Nation as we continue to grow and support NIL opportunities for our student-athletes,” OSU athletic director Scott Barnes said in a release. “For our fans, this partnership will bring new opportunities, events and benefits that we anticipate being a leap forward in their overall experience.”

As GM, Bjornstad will oversee NIL operations for all of OSU’s sports teams, working side-by-side with on-site executives from Blueprint. Justin Johnson from Beaver Sports Properties will take on the role of NIL Business Manager for OSU.

“I think it’s important in this landscape to have fewer cooks in the kitchen,” Bjornstad told The Oregonian/OregonLive in an exclusive interview. “A person in a role like that needs to know every conversation that’s been had with the administration, coaches and the student-athletes along with their representatives. I will take the lead on those conversations.”

The Beavers spent a reported $1.5 million on Duke transfer quarterback Maalik Murphy this past offseason, and have been ramping up their NIL efforts in the wake of the House settlement. That includes “chipping away” at a $20.5 million NIL salary cap outlined in the settlement, Barnes told The Oregonian/OregonLive, but the school has yet to release its official numbers and isn’t expected to come close to college sports’ big spenders.

“I think (the House settlement) provides a school like Oregon State even more solid ground to stand on,” Bjornstad said. “We’ve had tremendous success just running it through the collective, even if a couple years ago we knew it was going to be rough when the Pac-12 did what it did. Some of the kids were leaving. But now, our retention is off the charts across the board. I think it’s a cultural thing. We shoot straight.”

Dam Nation will focus primarily on corporate deals and individual memberships, while Bjornstad’s role includes managing revenue share through OSU’s in-house NIL, built on money from solicited donors.

While the landscape remains unsettled across college sports with various legal challenges and constantly moving goalposts, the foundation of more universally accepted NIL standards should make it easier for schools like Oregon State to compete in the marketplace, Bjornstad said.

“I am beyond optimistic,” Bjornstad said. “Look at the situation we’re in with a sport like baseball. Given everything that has happened, look where we still are. Right where we want to be in Omaha. The football build back after the Pac-12 collapsed and our head coach leaving, now Trent Bray is right there. This (football) roster is going to be really fun and I think we’re going to win a lot of games. And if you look at other sports, like what coach (Scott) Rueck was able to rebuild, and Wayne (Tinkle) wins 20-plus games.

“We’re going to keep doing what we’ve always done: keep grinding and keep growing. And I think our fans should be excited about the future, but I think they should be beyond proud of the storm we’ve been able to weather together.”

Oregon State (0-0) vs. California (0-0)

  • When: Saturday, Aug. 30
  • Time: 7:30 p.m. PT
  • Where: Reser Stadium, Corvallis
  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Stream: DirecTV (free trial) or Fubo (promotional offers). Streaming broadcasts for this game will be available on these streaming services locally in Oregon and Washington, but may not be available outside of the Pacific Northwest, depending on your location.
  • Oregon State football 2025 season schedule, scores

Ryan Clarke covers the Oregon State Beavers for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at RClarke@Oregonian.com or on Twitter/X: @RyanTClarke. Find him on Bluesky: @ryantclarke.bsky.social.2

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Mountaineers Host Manhattan to Open 2025 Campaign

Story Links MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 16 West Virginia University men’s soccer team opens its 65th season on Thursday, Aug. 21, as it hosts Manhattan at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.   Nick Farrell and Adam Zundell have the call of Thursday’s contest on ESPN+. The […]

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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 16 West Virginia University men’s soccer team opens its 65th season on Thursday, Aug. 21, as it hosts Manhattan at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
 
Nick Farrell and Adam Zundell have the call of Thursday’s contest on ESPN+. The game also can be heard on 91.7 FM (WWVU) in Morgantown, and live stats are available at WVUsports.com.
 
Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance by visiting WVUGAME.com or calling 1-800-WVU GAME. Tickets for Thursday’s game will be $1 in advance or at the gate. Tickets for WVU students are free with a valid student ID.
 

MSOC25 Season Tickets on Sale - 1920x300

 
Before the gates open, Mountaineer Maniacs have a chance to socialize with games, food and music, and it is the first chance to pick up their Mountaineer Maniac shirt at halftime. Fans are also encouraged to wear white to the game.

The Mountaineers are coming off a 13-2-7 season and won the Sun Belt regular season championship with a 5-0-4 mark before claiming the double with the Sun Belt Tournament title, the first time in program history that WVU has won both in the same season.

 

Senior Marcus Caldeira returns to the Mountaineers and was named the 2025 Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. In his career, he has 28 goals and eight assists for a total of 64 points. Graduate defender Carlos Hernando and sophomore midfielder Isaac Scheer joined Caldeira on the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team.

 

West Virginia returns 13 players from last year’s squad, including five players – Caldeira, Scheer, Hernando, defender Tristan Pusztahegyi, and goalkeeper Marc Bonnaire – who started at least 10 games. Caldeira and Bonnaire were both named All-Southeast Region second team by United Soccer Coaches in 2024.

 

Fifteen newcomers join the fold this season with eight freshman and seven transfers as the Mountaineers had to replace 17 members from last season’s squad.

 

Manhattan is led by 1st-year head coach Tom Giovatto after serving one season as the LIU women’s head coach and 16 years as the men’s coach at St. Francis Brooklyn. The Jaspers were picked 7th in the 2025 Preseason Coaches poll after going 5-8-3 in 2024 and 3-3-2 in the MAAC.

 

Ziv Dahan, Henry Hamilton, and Nassim Akki were all named to the Preseason All-MAAC team. Dahan led the Jaspers last season with seven goals. Ludvig Målberg returns to man the goal for Manhattan after starting all 16 matches a season ago.

 

For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

 





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Memphis athletics, FedEx agree to new on-field sponsorship deal

The University of Memphis has agreed to a new sponsorship deal with FedEx that will include FedEx branding within the end zones − a move believed to be unprecedented in college football and the NFL − at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Financial terms were not disclosed, but the increase in annual money is expected to […]

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The University of Memphis has agreed to a new sponsorship deal with FedEx that will include FedEx branding within the end zones − a move believed to be unprecedented in college football and the NFL − at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but the increase in annual money is expected to be substantial, multiple sources told The Commercial Appeal. The sources requested anonymity because financial details were not released.

“The University of Memphis has a deep appreciation for FedEx and its longstanding commitment to our institution and community,” University of Memphis president Bill Hardgrave said in a press release. “FedEx continues to further establish itself as a leading brand in the future of collegiate athletics. We look forward to seeing one of the world’s most iconic logos in our end zones this fall.”

FedEx signage has appeared inside Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium for years, although never on the field itself. But in June 2024, the NCAA approved a rule change to allow on-field commercial sponsor advertisements for regular-season games. Several schools took advantage during the 2024 season, including DirecTV signage appearing along the end zone out-of-bounds lines at Southern Cal games at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

But it’s believed that no schools have incorporated ad space inside the end zones. That will change beginning with the Tigers’ 2025 season, which begins Aug. 30 (3:30 p.m. CT, ESPN+), when they host Chattanooga.

Memphis’ new arrangement with the Memphis-based logistics giant replaces the previous five-year, $25 million name, image and likeness (NIL) setup that was announced in April 2024.

By shifting the framework of the initial agreement with FedEx, the money Memphis receives from the sponsorship will go toward funding revenue sharing − and will not be subject to review by NIL Go, the NCAA’s new NIL clearinghouse.

“This strategic shift positions Tiger Nation for long-term success in the ever-changing college athletics landscape,” Memphis athletic director Ed Scott said in a press release.

Schools are permitted to share up to $20.5 million in revenue directly with athletes thanks to the House v. NCAA settlement, which passed in June. Without providing specific figures, Scott said previously Memphis will not meet that number for the upcoming athletic season, although it will be at or near the top of the Group of Five and will be “competitive” with Power Four schools.

The new deal with FedEx is only expected to bring the Tigers closer to the $20.5 million mark.

“My goal is to get as close to $20.5 (million) as we can,” Memphis athletic director Ed Scott told The Commercial Appeal during a recent exclusive interview. “I don’t know that we need exactly $20.5 (million) in the American (Conference) to do what we’re trying to do. So, it gives us more time to ramp up.

“We’re not at $20.5 (million) now, but we’re closer to that than we are to not being. We’re in really good shape.”

Work on the restructured deal began prior to FedEx founder Fred Smith’s death on June 21. Its completion reaffirms the company and the Smith family’s commitment to the university.

“We will lose Fred’s ability to call anyone in the world and get them on the phone immediately,” Scott said. “But what we’re not losing the support of the Smith family and of FedEx for the university and for the athletic department. (Smith’s children) Richard (Smith) and Cannon (Smith) and Samantha (Atkinson) and Brad Martin (FedEx chairman of the board) have made that clear. So, as the athletic director at the University of Memphis, I feel we still have a wonderful partnership with them.

“We’re going to miss Fred the person, but we’re going to be able to keep the relationship.”

Scott added Memphis will provide some level of revenue sharing to 15 of the Tigers’ 18 athletic programs. He declined to specify which three will not receive revenue sharing in 2025-26. But he said the football program receives the most, while men’s basketball is second and women’s basketball is third.

“I’m trying to build a comprehensive department and the only way to do that is to invest,” Scott said. “If I’m gonna ask them to win, I’ve got to give them the resources.”

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com, follow him @munzly on X.



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Oregon State charts a new NIL course with general manager, changes at collective

Oregon State athletics is overhauling its structural approach to managing Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals for student-athletes. The Beavers announced the hiring of Kyle Bjornstad — a former basketball player and administrator at OSU who founded the Dam Nation collective in 2022 — as the athletic department’s new general manager on Wednesday. Additionally, OSU […]

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Oregon State charts a new NIL course with general manager, changes at collective

Oregon State athletics is overhauling its structural approach to managing Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals for student-athletes.

The Beavers announced the hiring of Kyle Bjornstad — a former basketball player and administrator at OSU who founded the Dam Nation collective in 2022 — as the athletic department’s new general manager on Wednesday.

Additionally, OSU announced a multi-year deal with marketing agency Blueprint Sports, which will take over operations of Dam Nation moving forward.

Blueprint works with more than 70 athletic departments across the country, having secured and paid out more than $100 million in NIL deals according to its website.

“Blueprint Sports will only increase the impact of Dam Nation as we continue to grow and support NIL opportunities for our student-athletes,” OSU athletic director Scott Barnes said in a release. “For our fans, this partnership will bring new opportunities, events and benefits that we anticipate being a leap forward in their overall experience.”

As GM, Bjornstad will oversee NIL operations for all of OSU’s sports teams, working side-by-side with on-site executives from Blueprint. Justin Johnson from Beaver Sports Properties will take on the role of NIL Business Manager for OSU.

“I think it’s important in this landscape to have fewer cooks in the kitchen,” Bjornstad told The Oregonian/OregonLive in an exclusive interview. “A person in a role like that needs to know every conversation that’s been had with the administration, coaches and the student-athletes along with their representatives. I will take the lead on those conversations.”

The Beavers spent a reported $1.5 million on Duke transfer quarterback Maalik Murphy this past offseason, and have been ramping up their NIL efforts in the wake of the House settlement. That includes “chipping away” at a $20.5 million NIL salary cap outlined in the settlement, Barnes told The Oregonian/OregonLive, but the school has yet to release its official numbers and isn’t expected to come close to college sports’ big spenders.

“I think (the House settlement) provides a school like Oregon State even more solid ground to stand on,” Bjornstad said. “We’ve had tremendous success just running it through the collective, even if a couple years ago we knew it was going to be rough when the Pac-12 did what it did. Some of the kids were leaving. But now, our retention is off the charts across the board. I think it’s a cultural thing. We shoot straight.”

Dam Nation will focus primarily on corporate deals and individual memberships, while Bjornstad’s role includes managing revenue share through OSU’s in-house NIL, built on money from solicited donors.

While the landscape remains unsettled across college sports with various legal challenges and constantly moving goalposts, the foundation of more universally accepted NIL standards should make it easier for schools like Oregon State to compete in the marketplace, Bjornstad said.

“I am beyond optimistic,” Bjornstad said. “Look at the situation we’re in with a sport like baseball. Given everything that has happened, look where we still are. Right where we want to be in Omaha. The football build back after the Pac-12 collapsed and our head coach leaving, now Trent Bray is right there. This (football) roster is going to be really fun and I think we’re going to win a lot of games. And if you look at other sports, like what coach (Scott) Rueck was able to rebuild, and Wayne (Tinkle) wins 20-plus games.

“We’re going to keep doing what we’ve always done: keep grinding and keep growing. And I think our fans should be excited about the future, but I think they should be beyond proud of the storm we’ve been able to weather together.”

Oregon State (0-0) vs. California (0-0)

  • When: Saturday, Aug. 30
  • Time: 7:30 p.m. PT
  • Where: Reser Stadium, Corvallis
  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Stream: DirecTV (free trial) or Fubo (promotional offers). Streaming broadcasts for this game will be available on these streaming services locally in Oregon and Washington, but may not be available outside of the Pacific Northwest, depending on your location.
  • Oregon State football 2025 season schedule, scores

Ryan Clarke covers the Oregon State Beavers for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at RClarke@Oregonian.com or on Twitter/X: @RyanTClarke. Find him on Bluesky: @ryantclarke.bsky.social.2

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Why Mark Pope is embracing what others fear

A tale of two philosophies: How coaches are reacting to the NIL and Transfer Portal era College basketball has changed. Anyone who has followed the sport for more than a decade can see it—the transfer portal spins faster than ever, NIL deals are everywhere, and the traditional idea of the student-athlete has shifted into something […]

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A tale of two philosophies: How coaches are reacting to the NIL and Transfer Portal era

College basketball has changed. Anyone who has followed the sport for more than a decade can see it—the transfer portal spins faster than ever, NIL deals are everywhere, and the traditional idea of the student-athlete has shifted into something new. Coaches across the country are adjusting, sometimes reluctantly, to an era where rosters are built overnight and agents play as big a role as assistant coaches.

But while many legends of the game are airing their grievances, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope is embracing the challenge head-on. He isn’t crying about the new world of college basketball—he’s leaning into it.

“I believe it’s the greatest time to be a college coach,” Pope said recently. “It’s the most challenging, but also the most rewarding. … The players need us more than ever before.”

That single line defines Pope’s approach. While others see chaos, he sees opportunity. While some call it the end of college hoops as we knew it, Pope calls it the beginning of something greater.

A new era, a divided response

The landscape is undeniably different. In 2025 alone, over 2,600 players entered the college basketball transfer portal—a record number that underscores how fluid rosters have become. For context, that’s more than seven full rosters’ worth of talent hitting the open market. On top of that, NIL collectives and third-party handlers now operate as a major factor in recruiting and roster management.

This isn’t the world John Wooden coached in. And for many veteran coaches, it’s not a world they particularly like.

Michigan State’s Tom Izzo is one of the most respected voices in the game, but he hasn’t hidden his frustration with the system.

Tom Izzo

Michigan State v Auburn | Kevin C. Cox/GettyImages

“I’m still fist-fighting the fight,” Izzo recently said to Yahoo. “I still want to help kids live their dream… All the right reasons.”

Yet Izzo didn’t mince words when it came to the direction of the sport. “It was set up poorly by the people in charge,” he said, specifically pointing at the NCAA’s lack of leadership that allowed outside influence to take over.

His biggest concern? The “middlemen” now surrounding players, often more interested in short-term paydays than long-term development. For Izzo, who has led Michigan State to 25 straight NCAA tournaments, the frustration isn’t about athletes making money—it’s about losing the purity of what he believes college basketball should stand for. Many fans would agree.

Nick Saban’s warning shot

It’s not just basketball voices weighing in. Nick Saban, who retired from Alabama after rewriting the record books in college football, offered a stark perspective before stepping away.

“All the things that I believed in for all these years, 50 years of coaching, no longer exist in college athletics,” Saban said. “It was always about developing players. It was always about helping people be more successful in life.”

Nick Saban

President Trump Addresses University Of Alabama Graduating Class | Anna Moneymaker/GettyImages

Saban, who built Alabama into the gold standard of college football, expressed frustration with what he sees as a pay-for-play model replacing the old system. “It’s whoever wants to pay the most money, raise the most money, buy the most players is going to have the best opportunity to win,” he said. “I don’t think that’s the spirit of college athletics.”

His wife, Terry, even noticed the cultural shift at their famous Sunday breakfasts with recruits. “All they care about is how much you’re going to pay them,” she told him. For Saban, that was the red alert: the game was no longer about development, and that stung.

Steve Alford: “It’s ridiculous”

Steve Alford

Nevada v New Mexico | Sam Wasson/GettyImages

Meanwhile, Nevada head coach Steve Alford has voiced his own dismay.

“Five years ago, I wasn’t in conversation saying, ‘How much do you want to be paid?’” Alford said. “I never thought that would happen in college basketball. … The way it is now is ridiculous. It’s utterly ridiculous. And it’s changed our game.”

Alford admitted coaches have no choice but to adapt, but he emphasized the chaos: “You’re going to have to replace eight, nine guys to a roster every year. The travel time that is across the country in these leagues, it makes no sense for that to be our model. But that is our model.”

He isn’t wrong—college basketball today looks a lot more like junior college turnover, with rosters being reassembled each spring and summer. He also brought up APR (Academic Progress Report) and how education is now a backseat to how much NIL players can get. Are colleges now just vehicles for money? When so few athletes go pro, are we failing the kids in not educating them?

Pope’s perspective: A different lens

This is where Pope stands apart. Instead of joining the chorus of complaints, he is taking the opposite stance.

Yes, the game is changing. Yes, it’s harder to build continuity, to teach four-year systems, to know what your roster will look like six months from now. But Pope refuses to let those challenges steal the joy of coaching.

Trent Noah

Tennessee v Kentucky | Andy Lyons/GettyImages

“I think our players need us now more than ever,” Pope emphasized. Players are navigating things that none of us navigated at their age. And if we can be there to help them grow, both on and off the court, then this can be the most rewarding era of coaching we’ve ever seen. Just look at Trent Noah and how much he has developed.

This outlook isn’t just about optimism—it’s about strategy. By embracing the realities of NIL and the portal, Pope is positioning Kentucky to thrive in the modern era rather than fall behind.

Kentucky’s advantage: Tradition meets modern

Kentucky basketball is no stranger to reinventing itself. Under John Calipari, the Wildcats became the poster child for the “one-and-done” era, sending lottery picks to the NBA year after year. Calipari leaned into the changing recruiting environment and made it work, winning the 2012 national championship and reaching four Final Fours.

Now, Pope is tasked with leading Kentucky through the next era of upheaval. And much like Calipari did in 2009, he seems ready to make Kentucky a trendsetter once again.

John Calipari

Campbellsville v Kentucky | Andy Lyons/GettyImages

The Wildcats remain one of the biggest brands in sports. NIL collectives are strong, the fan base is unmatched, and the program’s prestige means players can build their personal brand in Lexington like nowhere else. Pope’s refusal to resist change plays directly into those strengths.

Why attitude matters

In coaching, attitude trickles down. A coach who views NIL and the portal as a burden communicates that frustration to his staff, his players, and even his recruits. But a coach who embraces it creates an atmosphere of growth and adaptability.

Consider the numbers:

  • Over 2,600 players in the 2025 portal.
  • Nearly 20% of all Division I scholarship players changed schools last offseason.
  • NIL valuations for top college stars now reach into the seven figures, according to On3’s NIL database.

That isn’t going away. The portal isn’t closing. NIL isn’t shrinking. The coaches who survive and thrive are those who can adapt and build within the system rather than fight against it.

Pope is proving that mindset matters as much as system. And in a sport as passionate and volatile as college basketball, that could make all the difference.

A glimpse at the future

So what does the future of college hoops look like? Probably more chaotic before it becomes stable. Lawsuits are ongoing about athlete employment status. Revenue-sharing models are being debated. And with every year, more and more players test the portal waters.

But Pope’s stance offers a lesson: the future isn’t to be feared, it’s to be shaped.

He may not have the Hall of Fame résumé of Izzo or the national titles of Saban, but Pope has something just as valuable in this moment—vision. He sees the mess and refuses to complain. He sees the challenge and refuses to back down.

Or, as Tom Petty might say: he won’t back down.

Conclusion

In this new world of college basketball, many coaches are asking what the game has lost. Mark Pope is asking what it can still become.

As Izzo, Saban, Alford, and others raise their concerns, Pope is building a blueprint for the next decade of coaching—one rooted in adaptability, opportunity, and belief in the players he leads.

And at Kentucky, that might be the edge the Wildcats need to stay on top of a sport that refuses to stop evolving.

Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time, he spends time with his family, and watching Premiere League soccer.



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Georgia Bulldogs RB Nate Frazier inks new NIL deal

Beats by Dre has announced their third class of “Beats Elite”, the company selects a handful of college football players to represent their branding. One of the athletes featured in this year’s class is Georgia Bulldogs star sophomore running running back Nate Frazier. Frazier is one of nine players to be included in the company’s […]

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Beats by Dre has announced their third class of “Beats Elite”, the company selects a handful of college football players to represent their branding. One of the athletes featured in this year’s class is Georgia Bulldogs star sophomore running running back Nate Frazier.

Frazier is one of nine players to be included in the company’s promotion this year and was recently featured on the company’s Instagram with headphones that are Georgia themed. Frazier signed a names, image and likeness deal with Beats. He is also a native of Compton, California, the same city where Beats founder Dr. Dre is from.

No financial details of Frazier’s NIL deal are known at the time. Interestingly, Georgia football’s official social media account promoted Frazier’s deal.

Fans and many analyst have high expectations for Frazier, who is a third-team All-SEC selection. He was an important part of the Georgia offense last year and his role has grown after the departure of Trevor Etienne. Frazier scored a touchdown when he touched the football 10 or more times every time last season except for once. Hopefully Frazier’s production stays the same and he improves his ball security issues.

The other Beats athletes

  • Alabama WR Ryan Williams
  • Ohio State S Caleb Downs
  • Michigan QB Bryce Underwood
  • Texas DL Collin Simmons
  • Oregon QB Dante Moore
  • Florida QB D.J. Lagway
  • Oklahoma QB John Mateer
  • South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers

Follow UGAWire on Instagram or Threads for more Georgia football coverage!





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