Closing Bell

Panthers and Charlotte FC owner David Tepper publicly lobbied for FIFA to make Charlotte a host city for the 2031 Women’s World Cup during a 2025 Club World Cup promotional event on Tuesday at Bank of America Stadium. The U.S. is expected to be the primary host of the 2031 women’s tournament, as U.S. Soccer was the only national federation to signal interest in submitting a bid (in conjunction with other unspecified Concacaf members).

“[FIFA is] well aware now -- there’s no mistake that Charlotte is an international soccer city, and particularly one of the major places in the United States that if you’re having a match like that, you have to come to,” Tepper said.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who was also in attendance at Tuesday’s event, acknowledged that the 2031 event will likely be held in the U.S. and called Charlotte a “hot candidate” to serve as a host city. The 2031 Women’s World Cup is expected to feature an expanded 48-team field (up from 32 for the 2023 and 2027), which would likely provide more cities an opportunity to host matches.

While Charlotte will host four matches during the 2025 Club World Cup, including two Round of 16 fixtures, Tepper lamented that the city is not one of the 16 host cities for the 2026 World Cup.

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The ATP Tour and hospitality vendor Quint have signed a multiyear deal that will designate Quint the ATP’s “official experience and travel partner” and include the creation of “ATP Experiences,” a premium hospitality program for select events. The partnership grants Quint exclusive designation at the ATP Tour level, although individual tournaments will maintain the freedom to work with other hospitality vendors (the Cincinnati Open, as one example, has an existing travel partner in Topnotch Tennis Tours).

The program, which is rolling out this year, will offer buyers packages that include tournament tickets, VIP hospitality, hotel accommodations, transportation, merchandise and other perks. Details have not been announced.

The specific events for which packages will be sold -- as well as exact offerings and pricing for each -- are still being negotiated, according to a Quint spokesperson, but the ATP is taking waitlist submissions at a web landing page that went live Tuesday.

Charlotte-based Quint, a Liberty Media subsidiary, has more than 20 property partnerships and says it services more than 90 events per year, including for F1, MotoGP, the NBA, NHL, Kentucky Derby and USGA.

The Ballpark at America First Square hosts its first game today, the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees’ 2025 home opener at their brand-new stadium against the Reno Aces, with Levy playing a central role.

Professional Sports Catering (PSC), a division of Levy that focuses on Minor League Baseball, is handling food and beverage, while Levy’s retail arm Rank + Rally is overseeing the venue’s retail offering.

The stadium includes an Amazon Just Walk Out frictionless checkout-free market on the third base side of the concourse, and Major League-level premium seating options, including field-level suites. Two all-inclusive food and beverage clubs, the Diamond Club and Terrace Club, both of which come with access to private chef’s tables and beverage service, as well as open-air terrace party decks that double as private event spaces.

Rank + Rally will operate the team’s 2,200-square-foot-retail store, which will open in May, in addition to pop-up shops throughout the concourse, and the Bees’ online shop.

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Formal talks between the city of Santa Monica and the 2028 L.A. Games organizing committee about hosting Olympic beach volleyball “have ended.” Santa Monica State Beach was “tabbed to be the L.A. home for Olympic beach volleyball since the organizing committee’s first bid in 2016.” But city officials and LA28 could “not reach an agreement about community benefits, operational details and financial guarantees.” LA28 informed Santa Monica last week that it “will pursue a new venue to host the event.” The committee is expected to “reveal an updated venue proposal” to the IOC tomorrow. Santa Monica could “still be involved” in LA28 by “hosting hospitality houses for visiting countries, broadcast centers, practice venues or watch parties” (L.A. TIMES, 4/8).

A financial analysis commissioned by Santa Monica officials found that “hosting Olympic beach volleyball would bring in” $14.09M but “cost the city” $15.54M (SANTA MONICA DAILY PRESS, 4/8).

The Nuggets “have cleaned house” with three games remaining in the NBA regular season, firing both coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth. Both were informed of the decision by Nuggets President Josh Kroenke on Tuesday morning, according to a source. Booth was in the final year of his contract with the organization and has worked in Denver’s front office since 2017 -- holding the GM title since July 2020. Malone is the winningest coach in franchise history and led the team to an NBA title in 2023. The Nuggets are currently 47-32 and in fourth place in the Western Conference but the team is in the midst of a four-game losing streak “that has jeopardized their chances of making the playoffs for a seventh consecutive year.” The No. 5 through No. 8 seeds in the West are all 46-32 and have an extra game in hand (DENVER POST, 4/8). This is tied for the latest coaching change in NBA history, per ESPN Research, matching Hubie Brown’s firing from the Hawks in 1980-81 (X, 4/8).

Manchester United “will play post-season friendlies in Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong,” which are scheduled for “just days after the conclusion” of the Premier League season. The friendlies will be played against ASEAN All Stars at Bukit Jalil Stadium on May 28 and against Hong Kong, China at Hong Kong Stadium on May 30. It is understood the postseason trip “will generate roughly” $12.7M. ManU will also play a friendly in Sweden this summer, as well as participate in the Premier League Summer Series -- with friendlies in New Jersey, Chicago and Atlanta (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 4/8).

The Hong Kong friendly falls a day before its FA Cup final, but a source said that the final, which is taking place at Mong Kok Stadium, “would not be rescheduled.” The game is “guaranteed to feature Tai Po or Eastern,” who meet in one of the semifinals and “could each normally be expected to provide a number of Hong Kong squad members.” ManU will be making its first appearance in Hong Kong since 2013 (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 4/8).

LG Electronics USA and the Red Sox have reached a multiyear partnership that makes LG the “Official TV Partner” of the team. This is the first fully integrated marketing partnership between LG and the Red Sox, leveraging LG’s commercial and consumer display technologies to enhance the Fenway Park experience for fans. The deal further strengthens LG’s presence through a premier sponsorship package with the team and new LG LED signage integrations. Beyond LED digital signage, the agreement establishes a multiyear marketing platform that opens the door for future LG product integrations, including the placement of LG TVs in premium areas of Fenway Park. ANC, which recently teamed with LG to drive revenue and innovation for North American sports and entertainment venues, played a key role in structuring and negotiating the partnership (LG Electronics USA).

German tile installation company Schluter Systems is returning to motorsports organization Rick Ware Racing this season alongside longtime endorser Corey LaJoie, and the company will get advertising assets across the team this year instead of just in NASCAR. Schluter, which has its U.S. operations based in N.Y. state, is working with LaJoie, the NASCAR Cup Series driver, for a ninth year. LaJoie is running a partial season with RWR, and Schluter will serve as primary sponsor of his No. 01 Ford this weekend at Bristol and at Atlanta in June. It will also serve as a primary sponsor of RWR driver Cody Ware at the NASCAR-All Star Race in May and as a primary partner of RWR’s Top Fuel dragster driven by Clay Millican at the NHRA New England Nationals in late May. The company will also serve as an associate sponsor of all RWR teams this year including its outfit in the American Flat Track series owned by Jim France.