Morning Buzz

Basketball HOFer Michael Jordan has become a “legacy partner” with Upper Deck, “granting the company the exclusive rights to continue producing his authenticated autographed collectibles” and continuing a relationship that has been in place since 1991. Jordan will also now “be more involved in his product selection and creation.” Specifics surrounding the terms of the new deal “weren’t made public,” nor was the “mechanics of what comes of being a ‘legacy partner.’” But it “sounds like this will be a forever relationship between the two.” To mark the extension, Upper Deck is “introducing two new programs for collectors” of Jordan autographed items:

• Twenty three factory-sealed packs from the iconic 1986-87 Fleer Basketball set, which includes Jordan’s most famous rookie card, have been acquired through a buyback program.
• Upper Deck is also collaborating with eBay to auction a one-of-a-kind Jordan autographed 1986-87 Fleer Basketball sealed box that is inscribed “Rookie Card Box.”

Upper Deck will also sell “several new prints and memorabilia pieces to celebrate the extended collaboration” (THE ATHLETIC, 7/8).

Dozens of European lawmakers are “gathering support to launch an investigation in the European Parliament” of FIFA President Gianni Infantino over his “involvement in the decision to permit” USMNT F Folarin Balogun to play despite a red card. FIFA lifted Balogun’s suspension after President Trump “intervened with Infantino on behalf” of Balogun. European Parliament lawmakers Barry Andrews, Lara Wolters and Niels Fuglsang said in a joint statement the decision by FIFA to “change the rule on red card suspensions mid-tournament is a disgrace and a perversion of justice.” They are asking the national football associations of European Union countries to “spur the FIFA Ethics Committee to investigate Infantino and whether pressure from the Trump administration was a factor in the lifting of the suspension, as well as ‘other potential breaches of political neutrality’ like awarding Trump the FIFA Peace Prize” (AP, 7/8).

England’s Football Association “intended to back” Infantino’s attempts to stay in power “before his World Cup integrity row erupted.” FIFA is “understood to have discreetly asked all the leading nations to formally back Infantino’s candidacy for re-election in 2027.” The FA is “said to have agreed to comply in recent months and was poised to send a letter of support once the World Cup kicked off” (London TELEGRAPH, 7/8).

Meanwhile, columnists in the U.S. continued to criticize Trump’s involvement in having the red card suspended:

• Sacramento Bee’s LeBron Antonio Hill: Trump’s World Cup favor sets a dangerous precedent in U.S. sports.
• Denver Post’s Bennett Durando: USMNT lost its World Cup karma with Trump’s intervention in red card reversal for Balogun.
• K.C. Star’s Dion Lefler: Red card? Donald Trump deserves one for interference in the World Cup.
• K.C. Star’s Vahe Gregorian: Trump’s shameless meddling in World Cup is reminder of why sportsmanship matters.
• Indianapolis Star’s Gregg Doyel: Worst 24 hours in USMNT history starts with President Trump call, ends in World Cup loss.

USMNT team manager Sam Zapatka and USSF VP/Security Frank Pannell were “suspended by FIFA from Monday’s round of 16 game against Belgium.” Neither FIFA nor the U.S. Soccer Federation gave an explanation. USSF said that it was “not related to the successful effort to have” USMNT F Folarin Balogun’s red-card suspension lifted (AP, 7/7).

The Univ. of Kansas is dipping into uncharted territory -- at least by college sports sponsorship standards. The school is slated to announce a five-year deal with digital finance company Ripple that will feature the cryptocurrency XRP on jersey patches across all Kansas athletics uniforms, Sports Business Journal has learned. Those involved with the agreement declined to share specific financial terms, but sources suggest it’s among the most lucrative jersey patch-centric deals in college sports to date.

“We felt better about something that would encompass all of our programs, and then something that would transcend just a jersey patch,” Kansas AD Travis Goff told SBJ. “It’s one thing to put a logo on jerseys. It’s a whole other opportunity to bring to life the story of what that business, that company, that entity represents and what they do in the marketplace.”

The deal -- which was brokered by Learfield’s KU arm, Jayhawk Sports Properties -- came together functionally through Goff’s relationship with Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, a Kansas grad and Topeka native. Garlinghouse, who served as KU’s student body president during his undergrad years, eventually passed the discussion onto his marketing team, where talks progressed with the school and its Learfield team.

“We’re at a stage where you have a pioneering industry in crypto and blockchain meeting a pioneering time and place around collegiate athletic programs,” Garlinghouse told SBJ. “That is an opportunity to jointly innovate and to jointly try new things.”

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DePaul is slated to announce a new 10-year multimedia rights agreement with Playfly Sports that runs through 2036, those involved with the deal tell Sports Business Journal. Exact financial terms of the agreement were not immediately available, while an official announcement is expected on Wednesday.

The deal will see Playfly spearhead sponsorship revenue across the school’s 15 programs through website monetization, radio broadcast production for men’s basketball, brand activations and sponsorship sales of assets like in-stadium signage at Wintrust Arena. Playfly will also be responsible for selling the naming rights for DePaul’s new basketball practice facility, which will break ground this September and open in fall 2027.

DePaul becomes the 31st school in Playfly’s college multimedia rights portfolio, which includes fellow conference members Butler, Villanova and the Big East office itself.

Building on its title sponsorship of the WNBA All-Star Game, AT&T is planning fan activations throughout the weekend in Chicago. AT&T will create a fan experience at Pioneer Court on Michigan Avenue, with the outdoor area offering the opportunity for fans to play on the court, meet WNBA stars and customize a tote bag. A WNBA Changemaker since 2020, AT&T is using the weekend to invest in the local community.

Running July 23-25, the activation includes a “Get Buckets for Small Biz” challenge that will allow fans to make baskets to power donations up to $150,000 for three Chicago businesses and for participants to receive 50% off accessories. Other activations during the weekend include providing 200 devices to local youth to ensure connectivity for the school year.

The company will offer Turbo Live by AT&T, allowing fans at the game -- regardless of their plan provider -- to purchase a priority data boost, helping them stream and upload content.

The company’s sponsorship has included unique activations in the past, including a nail salon to give fans WNBA-related art.

The Spurs have “secured approval needed to extend the number of home games they can now move out of Frost Bank Center and San Antonio.” Bexar County Commissioners approved an amendment to the existing non-relocation agreement with the Spurs, allowing the team to play “as many as four home games in each of the next two regular seasons outside of Frost Bank Center -- or San Antonio.” The previous non-relocation agreement allowed the Spurs to move three regular-season games. The Spurs moved a pair of home games to Austin’s Moody Center this past season, as team ownership has been “working to develop wider regional support in Texas.” The Spurs also are scheduled to play regular-season games in France and England next season. The approval comes as the team “continues negotiations with public officials and private partners regarding the development of a new downtown arena” (SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/8).

The world’s top two golfers are confirmed to return to the Optum Golf Channel Games later this year, with both Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy set to compete in the team event in its second year.

Scheffler and McIlroy headlined the inaugural event last December with a group of other players that included Ryder Cup captains Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald and Shane Lowry, Haotong Li, Luke Clanton and Sam Burns. Scheffler and McIlroy are the only two confirmed players to date for this year’s made-for-TV competition, which will be contested on Wednesday, Dec. 16 and air on both Golf Channel and USA Sports, two Versant properties.

Mark Loomis is also expected to return to produce the games, which may see a small tweak to its format after debuting last year with a handful of different challenge-style competitions. Loomis will produce the event alongside Chris Maguire, both of whom worked the inaugural games with PGA Tour Studios, EverWonder Studio and Bryan Zuriff.

Octagon also is expected to return and assist with the operation of this year’s event.

Rogers Sports & Media is “cutting 230 positions across the division as it announces it’s shuttering six radio stations.” The stations, which went off the air Tuesday, include CISL-AM -- Vancouver’s last remaining sports radio station -- and Calgary’s CFAC-AM, along with four news stations. A Rogers Sports & Media spokesperson said that “those licenses will be returned” to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. Radio production of Canucks games “will move to another Rogers Sports & Media-owned station in the market, while Sportsnet will step away from producing” Flames radio broadcasts. Overall, “about half of the positions impacted are corporate and support roles across sales, marketing, and programming, in addition to primarily production and some on-air roles on the television side.” Some unionized TV newsroom positions in Toronto and Vancouver “are also affected and will begin with a voluntary departure program, set to take effect in August” (BROADCAST DIALOGUE, 7/7).

Nike is looking for a Global Senior Dir/Sports Energy Marketing. The Beaverton-based position is responsible for leading integrated brand, product and marketplace storytelling, ensuring Energy narratives are cohesive, elevated and globally resonant (Nike).

The Rose Bowl is looking for a GM. The Pasadena-based position is responsible for overseeing the strategic coordination, administrative leadership and organizational alignment of stadium, campus, event and business operations associated with the Rose Bowl Operating Company (Rose Bowl).

USHL are looking for a VP/Hockey Development & Player Experience. The remote-based position is responsible for leading initiatives that strengthen player development, player experience, hockey operations, competitive integrity and club support across all USHL member organizations (USHL).

The Charlotte Knights are looking for a VP/Ticket Sales. The Charlotte-based position is responsible for developing a strategic vision for all ticket revenue initiatives driving season premium, season, group and hospitality revenue while investing in the development of the sales team (Knights).

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“The creator of this comic strip said, ‘I show 2 versions of reality, & each makes complete sense to the participant who sees it.’”