Front Office Sports Today

Latest Episodes:

Is Formula 1 a Fad or Here to Stay? Mar 12, 2024

Show notes

Formula 1 has surged into the American consciousness over the last four years, but now it faces the challenge of maintaining interest amid a season that may be uncompetitive from the start. Wall Street Journal sports editor and co-author of The Formula Jon Clegg joins the show to discuss how F1 got as big as it has and whether it can sustain that success.

Plus, the Bears are staying in Chicago after all, Deadspin has been sold and its entire editorial staff laid off, and North Carolinians are seeing sports betting ads everywhere they look.

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Val Ackerman on College Athlete Employment: ‘Nobody's Ready’ Mar 11, 2024

Show notes

Big East commissioner Val Ackerman is wary of the major changes coming to college sports, including the possibility of athletes becoming unionized employees. She joins the show to discuss how the overlapping web of school, conference, state, and federal rules and bylaws create a sea of confusion regarding the future of college sports.

Plus, a potential betting scandal encircles Temple University, a new college basketball tournament shows what is possible in the NIL era, and Roger Clemens comes out of retirement …. for the Savannah Bananas.

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Lawmakers Strike Back Against Arena Funding Mar 08, 2024

Show notes

A planned $2 billion development, centered around a new arena for the Washington Wizards and Capitals, appears to be dead, after Virginia lawmakers killed a budget item that would have provided funding. The move could signal a turning point in the attitude toward public funding for sports venues.

Plus, Netflix will show a live fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul … as long as it can avoid potential legal issues, the PWHL altered its jerseys to better accommodate women, and we explore the evolution of sports talk shows with New York Times Magazine writer Jonathan Mahler.

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Love the NFL? This Rugby League Wants a Word With You Mar 07, 2024

Show notes

The National Rugby League of Australia is looking to harness football’s massive popularity in the US by promoting its similar sport. The NRL hosted games at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas last weekend as part of a long-term push to grow a US audience.

Plus, Jason Kelce is in high demand among media companies, Bill Belichick could be as well, we have another sign that women’s sports are on the rise, and we asked the Las Vegas mayor what she thinks about the new renderings from the Oakland A’s.

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With Dartmouth Vote, Is NCAA Amateurism Over? Mar 06, 2024

Show notes

Dartmouth basketball players voted to unionize, setting up a precedent that, if upheld, will spell the end of the NCAA’s amateurism model. Front Office Sports reporter Amanda Christovich joins to sort through the implications of the industry-shaking vote.

Plus, the Oakland A’s finally produced renderings of their planned Las Vegas stadium and we get the live reaction from Gensler architect Ryan Sickman. Sickman also provides a deep dive into the world of stadium and arena design, including the latest trends in team training facilities.

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Coaching Coco Gauff … and Zendaya Mar 05, 2024

Show notes

Brad Gilbert is an ESPN analyst and coach of rising tennis star Coco Gauff, and recently he picked up another client: Zendaya. The movie star turned to Gilbert to learn the game for her upcoming film Challengers. Gilbert joins the show to discuss the parallels he sees between Gauff and Zendaya, the state of tennis in the post “Big Three” era, and how Netflix is changing tennis media.

Plus, MLS is in a precarious position with extra attention on their replacement referees, Jason Kelce retired from the NFL and could have a new job before long, and more than 10,000 college football players have accepted an NIL deal with EA Sports.

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Clark Breaks NCAA Record, Dartmouth Players May Break NCAA Mar 04, 2024

Show notes

As Caitlin Clark broke the record for points scored in a Division I college basketball career, Dartmouth basketball players prepared to hold a vote on whether to unionize. Any vote to unionize is sure to be challenged in court, but could ultimately lead to athletes at private schools being declared employees.

Plus, freshly retired World Series champion Eric Hosmer and Anthony Seratelli join to discuss their just-launched production company Moonball Media, and why amid a surge in athlete-led media companies, very few focus on baseball.

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Jenny Cavnar is Breaking Barriers During Oakland's Strange Season Mar 01, 2024

Show notes

Jenny Cavnar will be the first female lead play-by-play announcer for an MLB team, following her hire to call games for the Oakland A’s by NBC Sports. She joins the podcast to talk about her approach to the job, breaking barriers, and narrating a singular season in Oakland while the team has one foot out the door.

Plus, Caitlin Clark declares for the WNBA draft, another presumptive number one pick, Caleb Williams, has already made an estimated $10 million in NIL contracts, and we look into the world of collectibles and life as the most-hyped rookie through the market for Victor Wembanyama’s rookie card.

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MLB’s Media Mess Feb 29, 2024

Show notes

Spring training is a time when many MLB players say they are in the best shape of their lives, but how about the league itself? We explore the state of the game, and much more, with Jason Kelly of Bloomberg, who is launching a new show with Alex Rodriguez.

Plus, Stephen A. Smith could be eyeing a late night gig (amid other intrigue at ESPN), leagues aren’t happy about the coming joint venture between ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery, the ATP Tour strikes a deal with Saudi Arabia, and NFL players grade their teams.

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How the Caitlin Clark Economy Works Feb 28, 2024

Show notes

The Caitlin Clark phenomenon has turned into a major opportunity for the business world around her, particularly broadcasters Fox and Comcast. The two media giants are opting for very different approaches when it comes to how to leverage the hype around Iowa’s superstar.

Plus, we speak with NFL journalism legend Peter King who just announced he's hanging up his lanyard, Illinois governor JB Pritzker is skeptical of providing public money for a new White Sox stadium and every NWSL team released brand new kits.

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