Going through some stories and themes so far in 2026 … :
TEAM DEAL OWNERS/PLAYERS NOTICED: We’ve heard it for some time: Baseball teams are undervalued! That’s why management and players were pleased to see the San Diego Padres sold at a $3.9 billion valuation, an MLB record. It showed MLB teams getting more respect as an investment at a growing revenue multiple. The union touted the deal as proof that other owners should do what Padres ownership has done: Spend on players and player development.
OWNERSHIP GROUP I’M ASKED ABOUT: Haslam Sports Group. There is a lot of intrigue around it, and here is why: Jimmy Haslam has an incredible curiosity and focus on sports business; he’s playing a key role in the search for the next MLS commissioner, and he and his wife, Dee, see sports as a family business with their children involved. They continue to build out their sports assets, as evidenced by paying a $205 million franchise fee for the NWSL team in Columbus, and are making smart hires, like bringing on Tim Bezbatchenko to run their soccer operations.
A SYSTEM FANS REALLY LIKE: Automated Ball-Strike System. It’s easy to understand, quick, visually compelling and largely seems to work. Umpires chafe at it, but fans, viewers, players and teams all seem to support it. It took a few years, but chalk up another win for MLB being willing to improve its product.
THE STORY WITH THE MOST WHAT-IFS: Sources can’t stop talking about the NBA’s plans for a European division, and despite questions around the near term — the relationship with the Euro League, the real value of the franchises and the European media market — most are bullish about the long-term vision. It’s not just Europe; bankers and lawyers see the NBA’s exploration of expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas, with a $7 billion to $10 billion franchise fee, as a significant test for any credible investor and the overall marketplace.
THE RETURN EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT: Tim Leiweke. The first step was investing more than $117 million with his daughter, Francesca, in the promoted Serie A club Venezia. There will be more to come, as he has capital, a deep network and is said to be eagerly looking to capitalize on the building needs across Europe.
THE BIGGEST RELIEF: New CBA for the WNBA. There were many angles to these negotiations. As with other CBA deals, this one had public acrimony, criticism of leadership and the belief that both sides were overplaying their hand. But management and players deserve credit; I’ve rarely seen a group of players so aligned and willing to put in the hours to get a positive result. Good work by all involved.
THE NEWEST LEADER WITH THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE: Tony Clark’s unceremonious exit from the MLBPA ushered in the Bruce Meyer era, and this longtime labor lawyer gets his chance at leading the membership into what will likely be the most important negotiation in three decades. Meyer is smart, experienced and steadfast in his advocacy for players. He will be a formidable negotiator.
THE MOST THANKLESS JOB: College Sports Commission CEO Bryan Seeley must wonder every day what he signed up for. Conferences and schools agreed to the House settlement, yet almost daily you’re seeing the schools not wanting to play by the rules they agreed to, challenging the CSC’s authority and questioning the enforcement from the organization they established. Give Seeley credit for his optimism, as he said, “We want to enforce the rules that people want enforced. … People should not give up hope.”
THE QUOTE TO REMEMBER: Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard, on the Big Ten and SEC possibly breaking away: “The four commissioners spent a lot of money creating the CSC. Then to have two of the conferences not want to adhere to it is perplexing to me, because then why did we spend the money? If you didn’t want rules, then why did you create this entity? Let them go, but they have to go in all their sports and see how fun it is to play baseball and softball and track when it’s just the 20 of you.”
THE EVENT THAT SURPRISED EVERYONE: This year’s World Baseball Classic had a legitimate breakthrough, with records in viewership, attendance, sponsorships and more. It’s not perfect, but the WBC is an increasingly intriguing global asset for MLB and the players, and will likely get a regular slot on the league’s schedule.
THE LEAGUE WITH A QUIETLY STRONG FIRST HALF: IndyCar has had a sneaky good start to its season. It held a successful joint-racing weekend with NASCAR; partnered with the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers for a smart street race in Arlington, Texas; the Indy 500 drew a record crowd; Fox’s investment is paying off; and viewership is up more than 30% compared to last season. The series needs more stars, but it’s been a strong start to the year.
Abraham Madkour can be reached at amadkour@sportsbusinessjournal.com.
