Closing Bell

The Chicago-based Hoffmann family, owners of the ECHL’s Florida Everblades, has “emerged as a serious contender to purchase” the Penguins from Fenway Sports Group. Hoffmann Family of Companies founder & Chair David Hoffmann bought the Everblades from former Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos in 2019. He told the Naples Daily News at the time that he had “looked into buying both NHL and NBA teams.” David’s son and Hoffmann Family of Companies co-CEO Geoff Hoffmann is “also expected to be involved in the purchase.” There is “still work to do, so no one should assume this is a done deal.” The sale price, should it close, is “expected to be” in the $1.75B range (SPORTSNET.ca, 8/18).

Texas AD Chris Del Conte is set to receive a “six-year contract extension,” pending approval by the Univ. of Texas System Board of Regents, that would keep Del Conte in Austin “through 2036.” A BOR meeting is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. Del Conte’s current contract runs through the end of the 2030 fiscal year. He is “set to make” $3.15M during that contract’s final year, but this proposed extension “would give him a slight raise for each of the years remaining on that deal.” He would start to make $3.5M “during the 2031 fiscal year and that annual salary would rise to” $4.25M by the end of the contract. The performance incentives for the six years that Texas “is adding to Del Conte’s range from $475,000 during the 2031 fiscal year to $600,000 during the 2036 fiscal year.” Del Conte, the 2024 SBA AD of the Year, has been the Texas AD since December 2017, and his contract was last extended in 2023 (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 8/18).

Raptors GM Bobby Webster will “get the responsibility but not the title” of president as part of an “extension of his contract” to run the organization. Webster worked in lockstep with former Raptors President & Vice Chair Masai Ujiri and has been “central to the rebuilding process the team has undertaken for the last three seasons.” Ujiri left Maple Leaf Sport & Entertainment in June “despite having another year on his contract.” The Raptors said that they will “not appoint a president at this time.” MLSE President Keith Pelley said that there is a path for MLSE to “eventually add a president,” but there is “no time frame” (TORONTO STAR, 8/18). The team “partnered with CAA Executive Search to look for its next leader.” While other candidates, such as former Warriors President & GM Bob Myers, Pacers President Kevin Pritchard and former Raptors coach Dwane Casey “emerged,” Webster was “always the favorite for the job” (THE ATHLETIC, 8/18).

TGL is “taking on the NFL in its season opener for Year 2,” as the tech-infused golf league has scheduled its opening day for 3pm ET on Sunday, Dec. 28, “opposite several NFL games.” The match, held at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, “will be televised by ABC, another first for the league.” The league’s inaugural season started in early January with matches on three consecutive Tuesdays “so it would not go up against the NFL or college football” (PALM BEACH POST, 8/18). The December date is a “soft spot in the college football bowl season,” as there are no bowl games scheduled for that Sunday. But it is “still, of course, an NFL Sunday, with seven games that day” (GOLFWEEK, 8/18).

Versant CEO Mark Lazarus announced in an email to staff that USA Network’s sports content “will merge with Golf Channel as ‘USA Sports,’” among other changes. Lazarus wrote the merger will include “new logos for USA Sports and Golf Channel” that will “aim to honor USA Network’s legacy in sports and entertainment as well as Golf Channel’s 30-plus year history as TV’s home for golf, all with a nod to the future.” Lazarus: “We look forward to unveiling those in the weeks to come.” He also wrote SportsEngine will “redesign its logo without the peacock.” Among other changes include MSNBC rebranding to MS NOW, an acronym that “stands for My Source for News, Opinion and the World” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 8/18).

The Mariners have designed a Homestretch Flex Membership for fans who want to be at T-Mobile Park for the pennant race and postseason. A $500 membership gives fans access to benefits including priority presale for 2025 playoff tickets and flexibility to choose games and seats for the remaining regular-season home games at a 5% discount and no fees. The plan then renews into a 2026 Rookie Flex Membership. The Mariners were the first MLB team to introduce a Flex Membership program in 2019. Seattle ranks 14th in the majors in average attendance at 30,019. The team did establish a season-high with 45,249 fans attending Ichiro Day on Aug. 9. ESPN projects the Mariners have a 92.4% chance of qualifying for the postseason.

Sources said that Univ. of North Carolina men’s basketball F Caleb Wilson has “signed a multiyear, multimillion-dollar shoe endorsement deal with New Balance” (X, 8/18). Despite UNC being a Jordan school, Wilson’s representation, Klutch Sports, has “a partnership with New Balance.” Wilson has been with Klutch for two years and has “now inked what’s considered a long term extension with New Balance from college into the NBA.” A source said the deal “spans four years” and has a “similar structure” to that of Mavericks F Cooper Flagg’s deal with New Balance that he signed one year ago (TARHEEL247, 8/18).

The NFL and footwear company Crocs have signed a multiyear licensing agreement for the NFL x Crocs Collection. The collection will feature team-inspired footwear and Jibbitz charms. The drop will include footwear for 14 teams -- the 49ers, Bears, Bengals, Bills, Broncos, Chiefs, Cowboys, Dolphins, Eagles, Lions, Raiders, Steelers, Texans and Vikings -- with the full 32-team lineup rolling out throughout the collaboration. The classic clogs will be a featured product in the collection, with it eventually expanding to other products including bags. Key figures in getting the deal done were NFL VP/Consumer Products Ryan Samuelson and Crocs VP/Global Marketing Matias Infante (NFL).

Tennis player Naomi Osaka said of her new documentary, “The Second Set,” that “one of my biggest motivators was …for people to, like, understand the story of motherhood." She adds, “But also I kind of wanted a little time capsule for my daughter to watch when she grows up.” When asked if she had an outfit picked out for the U.S. Open, Osaka says, “A lot of people really loved my US Open outfit last year. I think it was a little controversial, but this year is going to be really good too.” Regarding the new mixed doubles format, Osaka says, “I don’t know too much about it, but I do know I’m playing with one of my favorite players in the world. It’s so funny. I used to go watch him as a kid, so to be playing with him now on my side of the net” (“TODAY”, NBC, 8/18).