Closing Bell

Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) announced a partnership with private investment platform Arctos Sports Partners that includes Arctos’ minority investment across multiple SEG properties. They include the Jazz, pending NBA Board of Governors approval; Real Salt Lake; and Vivint Arena. The extent of the investment was not disclosed. The partnership between Arctos and the company Jazz owner Ryan Smith helms aims to bring a third professional franchise to the state. Sources declined to speculate on the potential sport. But the NWSL is in the process of bringing on two new ownership groups, and demand from potential bidders will far outstrip the supply of teams. One of the two open slots all but certainly will be granted to the owners of MLS’s Real Salt Lake, who have a contractual option to re-establish an NWSL team in Utah. Arctos has invested in more than 20 professional sports groups and franchises. Investments include Fenway Sports Group, the Cubs, Warriors and Dodgers. SEG led the purchase of the Jazz in December 2020 and invested in Real Salt Lake in January 2022.

The 49ers have secured Grupo Formula as their radio partner across 22 cities in Mexico under their new international marketing rights, promising full radio coverage of every 49ers game and exclusive original content. Grupo Formula, the largest radio group in the country, will also use the 49ers as their only NFL partner for a new sports-news platform, Formula Deportes.

49ers CMO Alex Chang said a radio partnership was a top priority for the team once it was allowed to sell local media rights in the NFL’s new international home marketing program because radio is the “most widely accessible form of live entertainment throughout Mexico.”

Games will be called by Jesus Zarate, the 49ers’ longtime Spanish radio voice, and Carlos Yustis, a sports anchor for Telemundo 48 in the Bay Area. The broadcasts begin on Saturday in a preseason game with the Vikings. The 49ers previously struck a deal for preseason television coverage in Mexico with Fox Sports.

Manchester United owner the Glazer family is expected to be "offered a cash lump sum in exchange for a share of future TV income as a way of raising money to pay for the expansion of Old Trafford." The Glazers are understood to be "exploring different ways to raise investment, including a loan or selling a minority stake in the club." The other possible option, which sources say is "certain to be offered by investment firms," would be to follow Barcelona’s example and "do a deal with a finance company for a lump sum in return for a percentage of future TV rights income" (LONDON TIMES, 8/19).

For more on ManU, check out this evening's SBJ Global.

Burton Snowboards on Friday rejected a report from Bloomberg News that the company was for sale, with Burton CEO Donna Carpenter calling the report "100% bullshit." In a tweet posted to the official Burton account, Carpenter said: "Since the beginning of owning this company, there's always been rumors about us selling. A recent report came out that we're for sale. It is 100% bullshit. It was for a nice price, but as I've always said, we are family-owned and will remain family-owned" (TWITTER.com, 8/19).

The original report this week cited sources as saying that Burton was "exploring a sale that could value the family-run business at as much as $800 million." The sources added that Burton was "working with an adviser on the potential sale." They said that the asset was "attracting interest from buyout firms." According to the sources, deliberations were "at an early stage and there’s no certainty they’ll result in a deal" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 8/17).

Dick’s Sporting Goods has "landed a partnership" with the WNBA Chicago Sky. Dick's will "serve as the official sporting goods retailer and marketing partner for the Chicago Sky." It is a multiyear partnership that will "see Dick’s signage placed in the Sky’s arena throughout the WNBA playoffs, as well as programs and involvement in the community." The community initiatives will "include basketball skills clinics, shopping events for charitable and sports organizations and involvement in the Chicago Sky Basketball Academy." DSG has "been the official marketing partner of the WNBA since 2021" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/19).

A documentary on the 2008 U.S. men's basketball team known as the "Redeem Team," with executive producers including LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, will "premiere on Netflix this fall." "The Redeem Team" will debut Oct. 7 on Netflix. The film is Netflix's "first collaboration" with the IOC. With behind-the-scenes footage and interviews from the players and coach Mike Krzyzewski, the documentary "chronicles the 2008 team's bid for gold in the Beijing games after a disappointing bronze finish at the 2004 Olympics in Athens." The series will be directed by Jon Weinbach, who was a producer on the wildly popular series, "The Last Dance" (AP, 8/19).

Youth baseball and softball outfit Perfect Game announced Dick's Sporting Goods as title sponsor of its All-American Classic amateur baseball game, scheduled for Aug. 28 at Chase Field (Perfect Game).

Former Commanders head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion, who has been "under investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency for illegally distributing oxycodone to NFL players, agreed to deferred prosecution and the U.S. Attorney's office statement of facts Friday morning" (ESPN.com, 8/19).

SportTechie offers daily updates and analysis on all the latest happenings that cross over between the sports and technology industries. Here are some of today's top headlines:

• Tennis Players Find Their Match on Break the Love
  

• Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club to Train at TOCA Facility

• Uplift Labs Raises Additional $2.5 million in Seed Round Joined by Seth Curry, David DeCastro

Get an in-depth look at some of the new features for Madden23, which launches on Friday.

11.7 million -- Total followers across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for the current Big Ten football teams, according to data from Zoomph (TWITTER.com, 8/19).