Ahead of the Game: Illegal Usyk vs Fury streams dealt heavy blow December 23, 2024 Illegal streaming services appear to be in retreat judging by the collapse of viewing figures for last weekend’s Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury rematch compared to the original world heavyweight title fight between the pair in May. Analysis conducted for Morning Wire by online intelligence platform Yield Sec identified a peak audience of 3.2m illegal [...]
Dolphins and Bills private equity deals underline value to NFL December 23, 2024 In a historic first for the National Football League (NFL), the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins have become the first teams to shake hands with private equity. These investments follow the update in August to the NFL’s investment and ownership rules allowing private equity minority ownership. Ares Management Corp. is reported to be acquiring [...]
The top five trends emerging in sports marketing in 2025 December 22, 2024 Sports marketing continues to play a diverse and increasingly important role in the marketing mix for brands. And for many reasons. It serves as a launchpad for brands seeking to enter new markets by capitalising on major events across the globe that command mass audiences. It’s a signal of a brand’s stature and prominence re-enforcing [...]
Hit or miss? The best and worst football club Christmas adverts December 22, 2024 Creative type Steve Howell casts his critical eye over Christmas adverts produced by Chelsea, Liverpool, West Ham and Celtic. Think of a Christmas advert and your mind may conjure memories of “A dog is for life…” or any number of classic John Lewis commercials that have become synonymous with this time of year. Whatever brand [...]
What to expect from sports law in 2025: Man City, Saudi and the ‘unlikely MVP’ December 21, 2024 What will the big talking points be in sports law in 2025? We asked the experts at one of the industry’s top firms. This year will be remembered as one in which key sporting decisions were made in the courtroom rather than the boardroom. With the Football Governance Bill, ongoing financial regulatory disputes, and the [...]
Everton takeover confirmed but Friedkin Group has warning for fans December 19, 2024 Everton’s new owner, the Friedkin Group, has warned “it will take time” to make them successful again after completing their long-awaited takeover. The deal will bring stability to the nine-time English champions following years of financial distress, new executive chairman Marc Watts said. But he added that turning Everton from relegation-threatened strugglers back into a [...]
Ed Warner: Why the anti-doping fight desperately needs a shot in the arm December 19, 2024 Confirmation that Mykhailo Mudryk has failed a routine anti-doping test must rightly trigger the usual essential caveats. Chelsea’s Ukrainian winger has only been provisionally suspended. This is simply the start of a process with the facts to be established and the outcome far from certain. What is clear is that Mudryk’s case will be another [...]
Fifa president branded ‘a chancer’ over £1,750 Club World Cup tickets December 18, 2024 Fifa has been slammed by football fans after the first ticket prices for next year’s Club World Cup were published, with the cheapest seats available for the final costing £700 ($890). The prices, listed on Bayern Munich’s website, go up to £1,755 ($2,230) for lower-tier seats at the final, which will be played at the [...]
Former NBA owner invests in $100m women’s football multi-club group December 18, 2024 The move will see World Cup and Olympic gold winning former US women’s international Lauren Holiday join the board of Mercury/13.
BBC Match of the Day decision to cost bookies a triple payout December 18, 2024 The BBC will bash the bookmakers if, as expected, it names Kelly Cates, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman as the successors to Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker. Multiple betting firms offered markets on which host would replace Lineker when he vacates the hotseat after a quarter of a century in the job at [...]