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Future of ESPN’s MLB Rights

Morning Edition June 5, 2025 Rob Manfred told reporters, including FOS, that MLB hopes to decide on a new rights partner for rights currently held by ESPN before the All-Star Game. Here’s what we know. —Eric Fisher, David Rumsey, and Colin Salao Mark J. Rebilas-Imgan Images MLB is approaching an endgame on reselling national media […]

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3 weeks ago

June 5, 2025

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Front Office Sports - The Memo

Morning Edition

June 5, 2025

Rob Manfred told reporters, including FOS, that MLB hopes to decide on a new rights partner for rights currently held by ESPN before the All-Star Game. Here’s what we know.

—Eric Fisher, David Rumsey, and Colin Salao

Mark J. Rebilas-Imgan Images

MLB is approaching an endgame on reselling national media rights being abandoned by ESPN after this season, with a decision anticipated before next month’s All-Star Game.

As team owners meet this week in New York, league commissioner Rob Manfred said discussions are ongoing with three bidders to cover the 2026–28 seasons. Two are known, with NBC potentially returning to baseball to expand its sports hold on Sunday nights, Apple TV+ looking to expand its presence beyond its current Friday night package, and a third suitor that Manfred declined to name. MLB could potentially break the ESPN rights into multiple parts.

“I’m hopeful that in the next few weeks, prior to the All-Star Game, we get something done,” Manfred said. “But when you’re having three different sets of conversations, it’s a lot. Each set of conversations involves a different group of content. We’re talking to three people about different packages.”

The rights deals would be interim ones to bridge to 2028, when MLB’s other national rights deals expire, and when Manfred is looking to repackage the sport’s national and local rights in a more centralized strategy. Because of that shorter time frame, the commissioner said he will look to prioritize reach over gaining maximum dollars. But he also acknowledged that the mutual opt-out with ESPN exercised earlier this year has created something of an awkward situation.

“We agreed to the opt-out as a set of compromises that got us to the deal we had. We liked the deal we had,” Manfred said of ESPN. “Looking backwards, do I wish I wasn’t in a position to sell three years so we can line our rights up in 2028? The answer to that is yes.”

Next Steps in Tampa?

Manfred said progress is continuing on repairing hurricane-damaged Tropicana Field so the Rays can return there at or near Opening Day in 2026. The team’s long-term future, however, remains decidedly uncertain.

His comments follow the team’s decision in March to walk away from a deal with St. Petersburg, Fla., and Pinellas County to build a $1.3 billion stadium. The Rays are currently playing to sharply decreased and league-low attendance in the Yankees’ spring training facility, George M. Steinbrenner Field.

“The big contingency [for next year] is what happens with the [2025] hurricane season. There’s not much you can do about that besides keep your fingers crossed,” Manfred said. “Long-term, they’re going to honor their lease [at Tropicana Field] through 2028, but I don’t really have anything to add beyond that.”

More Business

In other matters that Manfred addressed:

Manfred said there is a “really positive” mood among owners as the league enjoys solid increases in both attendance and national TV viewership so far in the 2025 season. Other factors, such as the continued success of the pitch clock and popular stars such as the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and the Yankees’ Aaron Judge are having significant impacts, too. “The product we’re putting on the field is better than it was five years ago,” Manfred said.
There is still no deal for MLB to be part of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. But as negotiating progresses with LA28 organizers, parallel talks are also happening with other league business partners. “We have some other partners that we need to talk to about changes that would need to be made to accommodate the Olympics,” Manfred said.
The commissioner cited strong buzz among owners about the league’s recent investment in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League. “They think we found a good organization and are excited to get going with that,” he said.
Manfred said the sentiments of U.S. President Donald Trump were among many inputs in his recent decision to reinstate the late Pete Rose.

“I have respect for the office and paid attention to the advice that he gave,” he said. “But I had a lot of other people that we were weighing in on the topic as well.”

Nov 3, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) walks off before a game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.

Almost a month removed from announcing his surprise retirement from the NFL, former Saints and Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is content with his decision to end his playing career—and walk away from another huge paycheck.

“That part was tough because I didn’t want to have surgery and just sit there and—it sounds crazy but—just take the Saints money,” Carr told Front Office Sports.

Carr, 34, retired with roughly $195.7 million in career earnings. With two seasons remaining on the four-year, $150 million contract he signed in 2023, Carr gave up the $30 million salary he was set to earn in 2025, but he kept a $10 million roster bonus that hit in March.

The four-time Pro Bowler sustained a severe shoulder injury last season that jeopardized his future. “I wouldn’t have been able to play if I had the surgery,” Carr said. “And then if I tried to play with it, I wasn’t near 100%, and so that doesn’t help them, either. I just felt like it was the right thing to do for myself and for the team.”

Carr said the Saints wanted him to try to keep playing, but he couldn’t commit to another season, despite the financial benefit.

“I never played just for the money,” he said. “I had a whole bunch of people tell me how crazy I was, and ‘Man, I would never have done that.’ That’s all cool, but I’ve gained all these things that the world has to offer, and it doesn’t really do anything for your heart. I knew my heart was at peace, and that’s really all that mattered.”

For more on Derek Carr’s post-retirement ventures and future in media, you can read David Rumsey’s full interview with the former NFL star here.

Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

The 2025 NBA Finals series between the Thunder and Pacers is one of the most lopsided in history—at least based on the odds.

Oklahoma City is favored somewhere from -650 to -750, depending on the sportsbook, making the matchup one of the 10 most-lopsided NBA Finals, according to Sports Odds History.

Despite the gap—or perhaps because of it—bettors are putting their money on Indiana.

According to data from DraftKings, 79% of the betting handle, which is the total amount of money wagered, is on the Pacers to upset the Thunder. DraftKings has the Pacers at +500 odds to win the series. The remaining 79% of the handle placed on the series winner belongs to the Thunder at -700, meaning that a bettor would have to place $7 to win $1 back.

DraftKings director of sports operations Johnny Avello tells Front Office Sports that betting trends were similar for previous playoff series, including when the Cavaliers were -425 favorites to beat the Pacers in the second round.

“It’s not that unusual because the bettors are reluctant to lay $7 to win $1,” says Avello.

The same trend can be seen on FanDuel, DraftKings’ biggest competitor, where the Thunder are -750 favorites. The Pacers have 95% of total series bets and 77% of the betting handle.

Most bettors, however, are putting money on OKC to cover the spread in Game 1 (-9), with 57% of the betting handle for Game 1 on OKC to cover. However, 66% of the handle is on the Pacers moneyline (+320), according to DraftKings.

Oklahoma City is also getting a lion’s share of the bets when it comes to the exact outcome of the series.

For bets on “Correct Score,” 64% of the betting handle and 41% of bets placed are on the Thunder to win in five games (+250), the most likely outcome based on the odds. An Oklahoma City sweep (+260) has 18% of the handle and 25% of bets placed. Pacers in six (+1400) has the most bets of any that have Indiana winning the series (5% handle, 9% bets placed).

While the odds show that the Pacers are a long shot to win the title, they have been underdogs throughout the playoffs. They have not been favored to win a series since the first round, and DraftKings gave Indiana 85-to-1 odds to win the title before the playoffs, the longest odds in the sportsbook’s history for any team that has made the Finals.

“No quote, unquote expert or analyst is going to pick us, and that’s O.K. We like it better that way,” Indiana star Tyrese Haliburton said Tuesday.

Susan Mullane-Imagn Images

An American has not won a French Open singles title in more than a decade. Coco Gauff is the country’s last hope of ending the drought this year.

Gauff defeated fellow American Madison Keys in the quarterfinals Wednesday to advance to her second consecutive semifinals at Roland-Garros. She is the last remaining American in the tournament, man or woman, after Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe were knocked out in the men’s quarterfinals Tuesday.

The last American to win the French Open was Serena Williams in 2015, the longest gap among the four Grand Slams. The last American man was Andre Agassi in 1999.

Gauff was the last U.S. player to reach the finals of the lone Grand Slam played on clay back in 2022, the first Grand Slam final of her career. She was 18 years old at the time, and she has since won one Grand Slam (2023 US Open), hit her career-high ranking (No. 2), and amassed more than $24.3 million in career earnings.

Now 21, Gauff will face France’s own Lois Boisson, the biggest Cinderella story of the tournament, who entered the French Open ranked No. 361. Gauff, however, will likely be up against the Paris crowd Thursday—something she said she’s had to deal with before.

“I think there are two ways I have done it in the past. Either, A: just pretend they’re cheering for you, and B: just using it and not letting that get to you,” Gauff told reporters Wednesday.

While Gauff (-500) is the odds-on favorite to beat Boisson, she may not be favored regardless of whoever comes out of the other side of the bracket. Gauff will either face four-time French Open champion Iga Świątek, who has eliminated her from the Grand Slam in three consecutive years, or world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

Trending Up

Even if Gauff is unable to secure a title at Roland-Garros, the tournament was still a massive step in the right direction for U.S. tennis. Eight Americans made the round of 16 this year, the most in the last 40 years.

Five women made it (Amanda Anisimova, Gauff, Keys, Jessica Pegula, Hailey Baptiste), and three men (Paul, Tiafoe, Ben Shelton). Four advanced to the quarterfinals, including Paul and Tiafoe—the first time multiple men have made the final eight at Roland-Garros since 1995.

Clay is historically one of the weaker courts for U.S. players, as hard courts are more common locally while clay courts are common in Europe.

Saquon Barkley had a harness to help replicate his reverse hurdle for the Madden 26 cover shoot. Take a look.
The Blackhawks are expanding their training facility and adding a 2,000-seat arena for USHL’s Chicago Steel. Check out the renderings.
Former Michigan and NFL tight end Jake Butt said most of his friends bet on sports. “It’s probably 10-to-1 of people that bet,” Butt said on Next Up with Adam Breneman. Watch it here.

The balance of power could shift from Canada to U.S. colleges.

A trans athlete won two events at the recent state championships.

Are you less interested in the French Open when there are no American contenders left?

Wednesday’s result: 40% of respondents watched more baseball this year than last season.

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Technology

Paris Saint-Germain, CrowdIQ set out to measure crowd atmosphere with data

Paris Saint-Germain enjoys one of soccer’s best home match atmospheres, but club executives still had questions. Why? And how could it be even better? By collaborating with crowd analytics provider CrowdIQ — who, at PSG’s suggestion, added audio inputs to its AI algorithms — the Ligue 1 power developed a methodology for assessing what factors […]

Published

31 minutes ago

June 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Paris Saint-Germain enjoys one of soccer’s best home match atmospheres, but club executives still had questions. Why? And how could it be even better?

By collaborating with crowd analytics provider CrowdIQ — who, at PSG’s suggestion, added audio inputs to its AI algorithms — the Ligue 1 power developed a methodology for assessing what factors drove lively experiences at Parc des Princes for its men’s and women’s teams. This new Atmosphere Index has helped PSG devise its matchday programming, sponsor activations and more.

“One of the business challenges that’s important for us is to maximize the match day experience for two real factors,” said PSG Chief Innovation & Digital Officer Jerry Newman, a former executive at Meta, Chelsea FC and The FA, the governing body for soccer in England. “The first is that a great experience in the stadium is great from a consumer perspective. And secondly, there’s a few academic papers that say, actually, the fan is the 12th man in many respects within sport, and if you can figure out a way in which you can improve the atmosphere, it could have an impact on the pitch.”

CrowdIQ’s high-resolution cameras, which also power FanCam, feed its computer vision algorithms to estimate not only fan demographics but also behavior, such as when they arrive at their seats and where they are looking. Its attention tracking product takes photos every second to understand if fans are watching the pitch, checking their phones or looking at stadium signage or videoboards.

PSG then exported its CRM and ticketing data. Opta event data was also added to understand the action happening on the field, such as goals, corner kicks or tackles.

Newman summarized the working definition of a good atmosphere as “a combination of attention, noise and time spent in seat.” Among the findings published in the new white paper:

— Fans reported 10% higher satisfaction for UEFA Champions League matches than for domestic Ligue 1 contests. (PSG won its first Champions League title this past year but has won 11 of the past 13 Ligue 1 trophies, including four straight).

— Attendees arrived about 25 minutes earlier for Champions League matches.

— A key emotional spike in fan interest and energy was noted about 15 minutes before kickoff.

— The Atmosphere Index was typically higher when fans arrived earlier.

“It’s been really helpful, from everything to how we present the match, to how we run promotions to get people into the stadiums, how we improve our F&B, how do we improve traffic into the stadium,” Newman said. “All with the ultimate goal of having the best atmosphere.”

Newman noted that driving revenue is not a primary goal of these efforts to further enhance crowd atmosphere, but it has an indirect impact. A better atmosphere might attract more sponsors and new fans, he said, and winning more matches is valuable from a brand and commercial perspective.

“The idea here is taking something subjective to objective, which in turn makes the crowd a better place to be, makes the game a better place to be, could increase team performance, but also could increase fan satisfaction, arrival times, which means more revenue for the team,” said Katherine Rowe, VP/Client Strategy & Insights for CrowdIQ, a 2023 honoree as one of SBJ’s Most Innovative Sports Tech Companies.

PSG pioneered the Atmosphere Index with CrowdIQ, but the AI firm is now working with other partners to modify the models to be applicable for different sports, different geographies, different venues. The Spurs are a longtime CrowdIQ user — and strategic partner of PSG since earlier this year — who have been collaborating on an NBA version of the index. The Titans will begin collecting fan data next season to inform a fan-centric design of their new Nissan Stadium.

“It’s going to be completely unique to every single partner and every single sport,” CrowdIQ CRO Rachel Goodger said. “What creates a good atmosphere in the NBA versus with PSG is very different, and what matters to those clubs is very different.”

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Technology

MyPlay and One2All.tv join forces to redefine the future of sports streaming – Product & technology

Strategic partnership will transform the way live sports are experienced and shared. MyPlay, the all-in-one automatic sports livestreaming platform, and One2All.tv, the interactive social streaming innovator, have revealed details of their new partnership. “At MyPlay, we believe that every game deserves to be seen, analysed and celebrated. Thanks to this new alliance with One2All.tv, clubs, […]

Published

3 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Strategic partnership will
transform the way live sports are experienced and shared.

MyPlay, the all-in-one automatic sports livestreaming platform, and One2All.tv, the interactive social streaming innovator, have revealed details of their new partnership.

“At MyPlay, we believe that every game deserves to be seen, analysed and celebrated. Thanks to this new alliance with One2All.tv, clubs, federations and fans will now gain access to an enriched ecosystem of tools that go beyond simple broadcasting – turning every match into a dynamic, social and connected experience,” said Itai Levy, CEO of MyPlay.

Through this partnership, MyPlay’s automated live sports capture seamlessly integrates with One2All.tv’s Virtual Living Room, enabling fans to invite friends, chat and interact as if they were sitting together in the stands – no matter where they are.

“Our mission has always been clear: democratise access to live sports and empower every club to grow,” explained Levy. “This partnership is a natural extension of that vision – providing our clients with more tools to connect with their audiences, attract new fans and open the door to new markets.”

“This partnership is a game changer,” said Eyal Natan, CEO, and Maarten van Oeveren, CP&CO, of One2all.tv. “We’re not just delivering sports – we’re building communities around them. Whether it’s youth football or local basketball, fans can now gather online like they would in the stands.

This collaboration also opens the door for iGaming operators as well as advertisers to tap into highly engaged micro-communities. With shared revenues flowing back to sports associations, everyone wins – from players and fans to platforms and federations.

With MyPlay’s leading-edge capture technology and One2All.tv’s community-driven platform, this partnership reinforces both companies’ shared values: innovation, accessibility, community, performance and growth.

The future of live sports isn’t just streaming – it’s social. And it starts now.

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AOC celebrates G2 Esports’ 10th anniversary by teasing “two new esports monitors” ahead of IEM Cologne

PC Guide is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read More Just over a month ago, AGON by AOC retained its title as the number one gaming monitor brand in the world for the sixth year in a row, based on figures from the IDC Worldwide […]

Published

3 hours ago

June 24, 2025

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PC Guide is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read More

Just over a month ago, AGON by AOC retained its title as the number one gaming monitor brand in the world for the sixth year in a row, based on figures from the IDC Worldwide Quarterly Gaming Tracker. And now, the manufacturer is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the renowned Esports organization G2. The brand has been an official sponsor for the team since 2018, but G2 Esports’ history goes back even further than that.

AOC has been busy releasing plenty of new gaming monitors lately, including three new budget models and the AOC GAMING U27G4R, which becomes the brand’s first model with ‘Dual-Frame’ technology to boost your refresh rate at a lower resolution. And at upcoming IEM Cologne 2025, it will reveal two new esports monitors; the exact details remain to be seen.

✓ A brief history of G2 Esports

G2 was originally formed by Carlos “ocelote” Rodríguez in November 2013 and was known as Gamers2
On October 15th, 2015, it was rebranded to G2 Esports
The organization is active in a number of esports titles and will compete at IEM Cologne for Counter-Strike 2
AOC will be announcing “two new esports monitors” at IEM Cologne next month, which kicks off on July 23rd

Full press release

Amsterdam, 24 June 2025 – AGON by AOC – the world’s leading gaming monitor brand, proudly celebrates the 10^th anniversary of G2 Esports, marking seven years as the esports organisation’s official monitor partner in their rise to becoming one of Europe’s most successful esports teams.

Supporting a decade of dominance

Since the launch of G2 Esports in October 2015, the organisation has grown from ambitious newcomers to global esports titans. AGON by AOC joined this journey in January 2018, equipping G2’s Berlin training facility with cutting-edge AGON AG251FZ monitors featuring 240 Hz refresh rates – beginning a partnership that would help shape the future of competitive gaming displays.

“Throughout G2’s incredible decade, we’ve been privileged to support them for over seven years of that journey,” says César Acosta, Gaming Product Manager at AGON by AOC. “From their historic Mid-Season Invitational 2019 victory to their recent qualification for Mid-Season Invitational 2025 in Vancouver, we’ve witnessed their evolution from challengers to champions. Our partnership exemplifies our commitment to supporting gamers at every level – from beginners taking their first steps to elite athletes like G2 competing on the world stage.”

Milestones in partnership

The collaboration has produced memorable moments, including the November 2018 launch of the G2590PX/G2 Esports Signature Edition monitor – bringing G2’s iconic samurai aesthetics and professional-grade 144 Hz performance to esports fans worldwide at an affordable price. During these years, through direct feedback from G2’s players, AGON by AOC has developed displays like the AGON PRO AG254FG with a 360 Hz refresh rate and Nvidia Reflex Latency Analyzer, or recent models such as the AGON PRO AG246FK with an impressive 540 Hz refresh rate, continuously pushing the boundaries of competitive gaming technology. This journey of innovation continues with the AGON PRO AG276UZD, which brings QD-OLED technology with 240 Hz refresh rate and 0.03 ms GtG response time at 4K resolution, offering gamers who wish to combine exceptional performance with ultra-high resolution.

Looking forward

As G2 Esports enters their second decade, AGON by AOC continues to stand by their side. César Acosta adds: “We’re excited to see G2 at IEM Cologne this year, where we’ll be unveiling two new esports monitors featuring exceptional speed and clarity that will set new standards for competitive gaming. As G2 celebrates 10 years, we’re preparing to launch technology that will define the next decade of esports.”

To commemorate G2’s 10th anniversary and the partnership with AGON by AOC, a special video celebrating the partnership is released, showcasing the evolution of gaming witnessed by the G2 Esports team.

With G2 Esports preparing to compete at Mid-Season Invitational 2025 in Vancouver (for League of Legends) from 27 June to 12 July, both organisations look forward to continuing their successful partnership into the next decade of competitive gaming.

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Technology

Jonathan Mariner Unpacks Rising Team Valuations

This week’s Portfolio Players features Jonathan Mariner, former Chief Financial Officer of Major League Baseball and one of the most influential financial voices in sports. In Episode 9 of Portfolio Players, presented by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, Mariner unpacks how rising valuations are reshaping franchise ownership, why the media landscape could destabilize future team revenue, […]

Published

3 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

This week’s Portfolio Players features Jonathan Mariner, former Chief Financial Officer of Major League Baseball and one of the most influential financial voices in sports.

In Episode 9 of Portfolio Players, presented by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, Mariner unpacks how rising valuations are reshaping franchise ownership, why the media landscape could destabilize future team revenue, and how corporations are exerting greater influence inside front offices. He also explores the fractured state of college sports—from NIL uncertainty to conference realignment—and the mounting pressure to create a more unified governance model.

From Wall Street-backed team buys to long-term threats in college athletics, this episode examines how media, money, and management are shaping the next era of sports business.

Portfolio Players is Front Office Sports’s original series diving into the deals, capital, and power players redefining the business of sports. Subscribe now for insights from the decision-makers building the future of the game.

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Technology

Smart textiles for personalized sports and healthcare: A comprehensive review

image: This review provides comprehensive structural design strategies for the manufacturing of smart textiles, covering fibers, yarns, and fabrics and offers professional guidance for product development in this field. The fundamental performance criteria for sports-oriented smart textiles have been provided, highlighting the key attributes required for their optimal functionality in athletic applications. This review systematically […]

Published

4 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation