Eben Novy-Williams
@ebennovywilliams.bsky.social
deputy editor @Sportico. join our club! ---> https://club.sportico.com/
Larry Berg is 60. That's older than any other major U.S. commissioner was at the start of his or her tenure... Bettman (NHL) - 40 Garber (MLS) - 41 Goodell (NFL) - 47 Silver (NBA) - 51 Manfred (MLB) - 56 📈: @levakabas.bsky.social, @sportico.bsky.social
Eben Novy-Williams@ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · 2d agoSCOOP: Larry Berg will be the next MLS commissioner. More coming at @sportico.bsky.social via me and Scott Soshnick 👇
Berg will have to sell his equity in LAFC as part of his taking this job. There's likely no immediate timetable for that, and the team has a huge, ever-shifting cap table. Berg is one of three rotating "control" owners...
Eben Novy-Williams@ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · 2d agoSCOOP: Larry Berg will be the next MLS commissioner. More coming at @sportico.bsky.social via me and Scott Soshnick 👇
SCOOP: Larry Berg will be the next MLS commissioner. More coming at @sportico.bsky.social via me and Scott Soshnick 👇
Monday's Club Sportico Pick 6 is in: 📺Free streaming in sports? 🏀WNBA proxy wars 🙍♀️Humanoid mascots! 🎾Alex Eala ⚖️NCAA legal confusion 🎽JJ Watt club.sportico.com/p/sports-str...
Free Streaming Is Taking Over TV—Except in Sports
Plus: The WNBA's Endless Feedback Loop and College Sports' Latest Big Deal(s)
club.sportico.com
This chart perfectly explains Gianni Infantino's gambit... - If he gets only the vote of nations that have never played a men's World Cup, it passes overwhelmingly - Put another way, all he needs is the vote of every country smaller than Kyrgyzstan
FIFA was criticized most during the World Cup for 1) emphasizing profit over all else, and 2) its cozy relationship with the Trump Administration. Now the org appears to be doubling down on both in a plan to raise $4.2 billion � www.sportico.com/business/fin...
FIFA’s $4.2B Stake Sale Doubles Down on 2 Major Criticisms
FIFA plans to sell investment into a $20 billion entity that houses its commercial rights, including ticket sales and sponsorship to World Cup.
sportico.com
Like most sports leagues around this time, Club Sportico is taking its mid-summer break. Which means @levakabas.bsky.social took the reins for a Christopher Nolan takeover! The data viz you didn't know you needed this week 👇
UPDATE: Now there are two. 49ers exec Paraag Marathe has removed his name from consideration for the new MLS commissioner role, Sportico has learned. That leaves LAFC owner Larry Berg and longtime media exec David Nathanson. More 👇 www.sportico.com/leagues/socc...
49ers Exec Marathe Removes Name From MLS Commissioner Search
San Francisco 49ers exec Paraag Marathe removed his name from consideration in the search for a new MLS commissioner. He was one of three finalists.
sportico.com
This World Cup had 104 games. Would anyone complain if it was 103 instead? club.sportico.com/p/world-cup-...
World Cup Third-Place Game Has Overstayed Its Welcome
$2 million in prize money and 90 years of history isn't enough to justify FIFA's World Cup bronze medal match.
club.sportico.com
SCOOP: The search for the next MLS commissioner is down to three finalists - LAFC co-owner Larry Berg - 49ers president (and Leeds chairman) Paraag Marathe - Longtime media exec David Nathanson More in @sportico.bsky.social with Kurt Badenhausen👇 www.sportico.com/personalitie...
MLS Taps 3 Commissioner Finalists: Berg, Marathe, Nathanson
Larry Berg, Paraag Marathe and David Nathanson all have direct soccer ownership ties, but also have distinct skill sets for the MLS commissioner role.
sportico.com
What in the world?
Michael McCann@mccannsportslaw.bsky.social · 3w ago“There is no material dispute that Tom Brady is the GOAT” is quite a way for a judge to begin an opinion. That has now happened as a judge mostly sides with Under Armour in a case about bioceramic powder, which TB12 backed & supposedly helps with sleep. I write about it for @sportico.bsky.social:
Nationals prospect Ronny Cruz is the latest MLB hopeful to securitize his future for public investors. Daniel Libit and I wrote about Agentiq, its $1.2M deal with Cruz, and how it fits into the largely mysterious world of young athlete staking 👇 www.sportico.com/business/fin...
Nationals Prospect Anchors Latest Push to Securitize Athlete Pay
Nationals prospect Ronny Cruz is the first athlete to sign with Agentiq, a group offering fans an opportunity to share in athlete on-field earnings.
sportico.com
When Vinod Kohsla's Seahawks deal was announced, both he and the team told curious fans to go read his Wikipedia. One day prior, a number of edits were made to the page, including the removal of a sentence identifying him as a Democrat. That editor has only edited Vinod's page...
Eben Novy-Williams@ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · 3w agoSome next day thoughts on the $9.6B Seahawks sale: 💰 Modern sports deals syndicate *after* signing 👩 Gender barrier broken 🗣️ Vinod Khosla has said things no other NFL owner would say publicly 🖊️ Wiki edits 📈 Does the NFL actually care about price? & more 👇 www.sportico.com/business/tea...
Some next day thoughts on the $9.6B Seahawks sale: 💰 Modern sports deals syndicate *after* signing 👩 Gender barrier broken 🗣️ Vinod Khosla has said things no other NFL owner would say publicly 🖊️ Wiki edits 📈 Does the NFL actually care about price? & more 👇 www.sportico.com/business/tea...
Khoslas’ $9.6B Seahawks Deal Breaks New Ground for NFL: Takeaways
Seattle Seahawks buyers Vinod and Neeru Khosla are new types of NFL owners. Here are six takeaways from the most expensive team sale in NFL history.
sportico.com
UPDATE: Khosla's wife, Neeru Khosla, will serve as the team's control owner, per an NFL memo. Their son, Neal Khosla, will also have a leadership role with the team.
Eben Novy-Williams@ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · 4w agoSCOOP: The Seahawks have been sold. Billionaire Vinod Khosla has reached a deal to buy the Super Bowl champs for $9.6 billion, per sources. One of the highest prices ever paid for a sports team. More at @sportico.bsky.social 👇 www.sportico.com/business/tea...
- David Tepper (Steelers -> Panthers) - Josh Harris and David Blitzer (Steelers -> Commanders) - Vinod Khosla (49ers -> Seahawks) It's become common for billionaires interested in owning an NFL team to first buy LP stakes.
Eben Novy-Williams@ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · 4w agoSCOOP: The Seahawks have been sold. Billionaire Vinod Khosla has reached a deal to buy the Super Bowl champs for $9.6 billion, per sources. One of the highest prices ever paid for a sports team. More at @sportico.bsky.social 👇 www.sportico.com/business/tea...
BREAKING: $9.6 billion is the highest price ever paid for an NFL team. Close to the $10B Lakers transaction as well.
Eben Novy-Williams@ebennovywilliams.bsky.social · 4w agoSCOOP: The Seahawks have been sold. Billionaire Vinod Khosla has reached a deal to buy the Super Bowl champs for $9.6 billion, per sources. One of the highest prices ever paid for a sports team. More at @sportico.bsky.social 👇 www.sportico.com/business/tea...
SCOOP: The Seahawks have been sold. Billionaire Vinod Khosla has reached a deal to buy the Super Bowl champs for $9.6 billion, per sources. One of the highest prices ever paid for a sports team. More at @sportico.bsky.social 👇 www.sportico.com/business/tea...
Exclusive: Vinod Khosla to Buy Seattle Seahawks for $9.6 Billion
The Seattle Seahawks will be sold to billionaire Vinod Khosla. The Sun Microsystems co-founder will buy the team from Paul Allen's estate.
sportico.com
SCOOP: The Seahawks have been sold. Billionaire Vinod Khosla has reached a deal to buy the Super Bowl champs for $9.6 billion, per sources. One of the highest prices ever paid for a sports team. More at @sportico.bsky.social 👇 www.sportico.com/business/tea...
Exclusive: Vinod Khosla to Buy Seattle Seahawks for $9.6 Billion
The Seattle Seahawks will be sold to billionaire Vinod Khosla. The Sun Microsystems co-founder will buy the team from Paul Allen's estate.
sportico.com
Angelo Pizzo wrote Hoosiers and Rudy. Adam McKay wrote Talladega Nights. Club Sportico asked the two award-winning Hollywood screenwriters how they would script LeBron James' final NBA chapter. Their responses 👇 club.sportico.com/p/lebron-jam...
Analyzing LeBron James' Free Agency with Hollywood Writers
Adam McKay and Angelo Pizzo agree there's a clear choice, story-wise, for LeBron James' final free agency "decision."
club.sportico.com
The Tour de France has two obvious favorites, but the most intriguing rider is a third entrant--a French teenager that is carrying the weight of the nation's 41-year Tour drought. Read more about Paul Seixas is today's Club Sportico essay 👇 club.sportico.com/p/paul-seixa...
How Do You Say ‘Phenom’ In French?
It’s been 41 years since a French rider won the Tour de France. The nation's hopes rest on a teenage wunderkind who is pedaling into the sport’s biggest spotlight.
club.sportico.com
🎾🚨One of tennis's craziest stats could end tomorrow 🚨🎾 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina has won more than $11.7 million in tennis prizes, by far the most ever by a player that hasn't won a single tournament. Tomorrow he plays Ethan Quinn in the Mallorca finals...
Earlier this year Capelli Sport signed a four-year deal to outfit the Cape Verde soccer team. So why is another company also selling Cape Verde jerseys? Everyone's favorite World Cup underdog has berthed a licensing battle. More via Sportico 👇 www.sportico.com/business/com...
Cape Verde’s Cinderella Run Puts Companies at Odds Over Jerseys
Cape Verde has made its World Cup Cinderella run wearing Capelli Sport uniforms. So why is Tempo also selling Blue Sharks jerseys?
sportico.com
This AM we're talking about: - a Knicks/NYC love letter 🏆 - Scottish fans in Boston 🏴 - Two good ads (really) 🏀 - Backyard Baseball's return ⚾️ & more 👇 club.sportico.com/p/knicks-vid...
'So This Is How It Feels'
You can't believe anything you see online, but these are facts: the Knicks are NBA Champs, Scottish fans are having fun in Boston, and Jacob has a hidden talent.
club.sportico.com
I wrote today about why the World Cup's many off-field issues—visas, tickets, transportation, etc.—are only putting more pressure on the USMNT to deliver for soccer in America. More via Club Sportico 👇 club.sportico.com/p/us-soccer-...
The USMNT Hot Seat is Scorching 🔥
For so much of the U.S. soccer industry, there’s millions (maybe billions) riding on the success of America’s inconsistent men’s national team.
club.sportico.com
I wrote today about why the World Cup's many off-field issues—visas, tickets, transportation, etc.—are only putting more pressure on the USMNT to deliver for soccer in America. More via Club Sportico 👇 club.sportico.com/p/us-soccer-...
The USMNT Hot Seat is Scorching 🔥
For so much of the U.S. soccer industry, there’s millions (maybe billions) riding on the success of America’s inconsistent men’s national team.
club.sportico.com
Free ticket giveaways are, of course, a good thing. But does democratizing access have to happen only as a last-minute scramble designed to preserve FIFA's very extractive, money-only ticket approach? My latest @sportico.bsky.social column 👇 www.sportico.com/leagues/socc...
Free Tickets Are Good, but There’s a Better Way Than FIFA’s Strategy
World Cup ticket giveaways like those in Boston, Seattle and New Jersey are a logical endgame for FIFA's unpopular, lucrative ticket pricing strategy.
sportico.com
There are two World Cups happening in North America this summer:
🚨Club Sportico Hang 🚨 On Thursday, we're teaming with substack and Backyard Sports for an NYC gathering, where you can play the new baseball video game When: 6-9P What: Video games, trivia, pizza Where: NYC Who: Club Sportico subscribers. More 👇 club.sportico.com/p/backyard-s...
⚾ Backyard Baseball Is Back 🧢
Join us June 11 in NYC for a night of pizza, contests, and your favorite childhood baseball video game.
club.sportico.com
