Closing Bell

Representatives from the commissioner’s office at MLB and their counterparts at the MLBPA met Tuesday in NYC to start what is “expected to be a lengthy negotiation process en route to a new labor deal,” according to a source cited by The Athletic. This first meeting was “not for formal proposals,” but rather “opening presentations.” The players and owners were “expected to lay out their view of the sport’s current operation.” In subsequent meetings, the parties will “make formal proposals on economics and other issues.” The league is “expected to propose a salary cap and salary floor,” which players in the past have “vehemently fought against.” The current CBA expires at 11:59pm ET on Dec. 1, and if a new deal is not in place by then, owners are “likely to lock out the players,” just as they did five years ago. But the likelihood of a deal by December “seems low.” The more “salient question is whether a contract will be reached in time to preserve a full season in 2027.” March is “likely the final month a deal could be reached without shortening or significantly pushing back that year’s competition schedule.” Talks “are expected to take place throughout the summer,” but movement “might not be significant until the winter” (THE ATHLETIC, 5/12).

The PWHL is “headed for Las Vegas” with the city set to host the league’s 10th team, according to a source cited by THE ATHLETIC. The PWHL is expected to make the announcement on “Wednesday afternoon,” according to an invitation from Golden Knights owner Foley Entertainment Group. Las Vegas will be the “second of what could be four expansion teams for the 2026-27 season,” after PWHL Detroit was announced last week. A PWHL team in Vegas would “likely play at T-Mobile Arena,” which has a capacity of 17,500 for hockey. There is also Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, home to the AHL Henderson Silver Knights, though a 5,567-seat arena is “likely too small for the PWHL.” The league averaged 9,304 fans per game during its record-breaking 2025-26 regular season (THE ATHLETIC, 5/12).

Hamilton, Ont., also is “getting a PWHL” team, according to sources cited by the HAMILTON SPECTATOR. Sources added that a “deal is done to bring an expansion franchise” to the recently renovated TD Coliseum. An official announcement is “expected to be made” Thursday morning. The team is expected to practice and train at the Morgan Firestone Arena in Ancaster, Ont. (HAMILTON SPECTATOR, 5/12).

The Sacramento Kings have made Sutter Health their jersey patch sponsor with a wide-ranging deal that also installs Sutter Health physicians and orthopedists as the franchise’s team doctors.

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Through the multiyear arrangement, Sutter Health replaces Kaiser Permanente as the team’s official healthcare provider -- ending Kaiser’s 13-year deal with the franchise and putting Sutter doctors in charge of player wellness. Entering the 2026-27 season, Sutter Health will also join the Kings in health-centric initiatives for children and families across the greater Sacramento and Central Valley neighborhoods. That will include collaborating on the Jr. Kings platform and providing equipment to local schools and nonprofits. Negotiations were handled in house.

The Sutter Health logo will be displayed on all Kings jerseys, and the provider will serve as presenting sponsor of the team’s practice facility, fanfest, training camp and Kings dancers. Sutter Health will also be the jersey patch sponsor and official healthcare sponsor for the franchise’s G-League Stockton Kings.

The female-owned personal injury firm Phoong Law had been the Kings’ most recent jersey patch sponsor in 2025-26.

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said while broadcasters express concerns to the FCC over more streamers taking on live sports, leagues “have got to be continuing to reinvent and they’ve got to continue to invest as well and find new partners who can take them” to the “next generation of fans.” Sarandos, appearing on Fox Business, said viewers are moving a “little bit from linear more and more into streaming and on-demand,” so “if the games aren’t there, it seems kind of ridiculous.” Sarandos: “You don’t run in the opposite direction of the American consumer.” But while Sarandos said the company is “leaning into live events, which include live sports,” he reiterated they are “not bidding on whole seasons of sports, including the NFL.” He noted that when it comes to the NFL, who has been a “great partner,” Netflix is “built to expand the audience,” as its audience is “more international, and it’s also much younger.” Sarandos: “If you add value to the consumer, they will pay you back and show up” (“Mornings with Maria,” Fox Business, 5/12).

Incoming Univ. of Wisconsin interim Chancellor Eric Wilcots on Tuesday named a “nine-member search committee” led by faculty athletics representative Lauren Bishop as UW expects to have a new AD “begin work this summer.” The school also brought on CSA Search and Consulting to “assist with the process.” The search comes 29 days after AD Chris McIntosh left to join the Big Ten. The committee consists of:

• Colts GM Chris Ballard
• Devils Dir/Player Development Meghan Duggan
• Mavericks interim GM & VP/Player Personnel Michael Finley
• East Lake Management & Development Corp. President Elzie Higginbottom
• UW Senior Associate AD/Sports Administration Marija Pientka
• UW men’s soccer D William Smith
• UW Vice Chancellor/Finance & Administration Rob Cramer
• KSL Capital Partners co-founder and former Chair & CEO Michael Shannon

UW named Marcus Sedberry interim AD, though the school did not immediately indicate how long Sedberry, who had been Deputy AD, COO and football GM, will spend in the interim role. Sedberry did not “tip his hand on whether he wanted to be considered for the full-time job” (WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL, 5/12).

The Washington, D.C., Metro is “not recommending the construction of a new Metrorail station” at the Commanders’ upcoming home at the RFK Stadium site. The transit agency “instead recommended the creation of a rapid bus line called the Gold Line that would connect to Metrorail and buses at Union Station.” Metro projected that building a new rail station would cost about $1B and would “not be complete by the time the stadium is set to open in 2030″ (NBCWASHINGTON.com, 5/12).

SBJ’s Women’s Sports newsletter celebrated a full year on Tuesday. There has been a constant flow of news in the sector, with innovative properties, athletes and brands trying new things and still more to come in the industry. There will be plenty more to expect from the newsletter as it embarks on its second year.

Check out the latest issue of the newsletter here.