Morning Buzz

Populous has been selected from seven competing firms to design the roughly 50-acre mixed-use development that will surround Oklahoma City’s planned new multipurpose stadium.

Developers Echo Investment Capital, Robinson Park and Russell Westbrook Enterprises (RWE) gave Populous a narrow edge over Gensler to win the project. Populous is also designing the stadium that’ll be home to professional men’s and women’s soccer teams when it opens in 2027 and likely cost more than $100M, though the final cost is still being pinned down.

“When you’re planning a 50-acre development surrounding a brand-new multipurpose stadium, you want to make sure the architects and master planners are working hand-in-hand,” said Echo Soccer President Court Jeske. “Selecting Populous for both made that an obvious advantage.”

Echo and Robinson Park have also named Nuggets G Russell Westbrook as the creative director of the proposed district. Westbook is helping Echo with the branding for its as-of-yet unnamed soccer club.

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Scott Havens is stepping down as Mets’ President of Business Operations, the team announced Tuesday night.

Mets owner Steve Cohen cited the two having “differing perspectives on long-term strategy” as part of a statement on the move. Havens had been in the role since 2023.

“Scott has played a key role in driving progress across the Mets organization,” Cohen said. “I’m grateful for the impact he’s had during his time with us. While we ultimately had differing perspectives on long-term strategy, I wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

The team said it plans to announce a replacement, who will work with Havens “to ensure a smooth and collaborative transition,” shortly.

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The PGA Tour on Tuesday approved changes to the Tour Championship, eliminating the much-maligned staggered start format that’s been in place for the last six years. The tournament going forward will be stroke play, and the tour also approved a change to the prize money distribution, which will further reward the winner of the FedExCup. The exact monetary distribution wasn’t immediately clear. The tournament will also remain a 30-player field. The tour’s Policy Board, PGA Tour Enterprises Board and the Player Advisory Council all met on Tuesday.

The Athletic reported in February that the tour was considering a bracket-style event with both stroke play and match play being possible options. The current scoring format debuted in 2019, in which the leader in the FedExCup standings going into the week would start the tournament at 10 under par, a two-stroke advantage over second place. The thought was that it would make it easier for the winner of the tournament to also win the season-long FedExCup.

Along with the format changes, one other shift that’s been discussed at a high level in recent months is the location of the tournament, sources said. The Tour Championship has been held at Atlanta’s East Lake Golf Club every year since 2004 and before that rotated across different venues.

It’s been played at historic courses such as Pinehurst No. 2, Pebble Beach, Olympic Club and Southern Hills in Tulsa. The tournament used to be contested in November, but with the creation of the FedExCup Playoffs in 2007, it moved to September.

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The WNBA says it “cannot substantiate claims that racist fan behavior took place” during a game in Indianapolis between the Sky and Fever earlier this month following an investigation into the matter. The league said its investigation “included gathering information from fans, team and arena staff,” as well as an “audio and video review of the game.” The WNBA was “looking into claims that racist comments were directed toward” Sky F Angel Reese by fans. Reese “brushed aside questions about the investigation” before Tuesday night’s game against the Mercury, saying she was “focused on the game” (AP, 5/27).

Monumental Sports & Entertainment and DXC Technology are extending their six-year-old tech partnership on a multiyear basis and plan to expand its scope in light of MSE’s ongoing, $800M transformation of Capital One Arena.

The expanded partnership will likely touch several of MSE’s business units, but its fan experience applications are top of mind of MSE’s President/Business Operations & CCO Jim Van Stone. Van Stone told SBJ that one area MSE expects to lean on DXC’s digital transformation capabilities in particular is in the development of a new app and app ecosystem.

“We own a variety of teams, both in the NBA [Wizards, Mystics, Capital City Go-Go] and the NHL [Capitals]. We run really big venues [Capital One Arena, District E, CareFirst Arena, EagleBank Arena], some of the busiest buildings in the country. And then the media part of our enterprise is unique in that we own the regional sports network,” Van Stone said. “So, working with best-in-class technology companies to bring all those different facets of who Monumental is together is really important for us.”

DXC President & CEO Raul Fernandez, who has also served as MSE Vice Chairman and Partner since 2000, said DXC and MSE are in the early stages of identifying additional use-cases for DXC’s tech services, with possibilities including cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, enterprise applications and AI.

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WWE is partnering with Rochester, NY-based Seagram’s to launch three canned drinks, marking WWE’s first licensed ready-to-drink alcohol products. As part of the multi-year partnership creating the Seagram’s Escapes Spiked WWE Series, Seagram’s will receive sponsorship on prominent LED signage such as the ring skirt and ring posts, and in-show sponsored graphics during one match at Money In The Bank. Sponsorship integrations are also expected at other shows such as SummerSlam and Survivor Series. The partnership includes the launch of a custom digital content series featuring WWE talent and in-market appearances by talent at Seagram’s-sponsored events.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but no outside agency was involved. TKO EVP/Global Partnerships Grant Norris-Jones and WWE VP/U.S. Business Development & Global Partnerships Jesse Tomares worked on the deal. Other spirit companies that have recently signed deals with WWE include Angry Orchard Hard Cider, Mike’s Harder Beverage Co., Real American Beer and Wheatley Vodka.

The Seagram’s WWE branding for the canned products was created by design studio Sister Mary in partnership with Rochester, N.Y.-based brewing company FIFCO USA. The studio took inspiration from WWE championship belts, with each flavor reimagined as a different “title belt,” wrapping the can in a jewel-encrusted design. WWE isn’t the only giant to enter the ready-to-drink space. The Dodgers and Surfside, UFC and Atomic Brands and many others have all signed their own deals in the booming category.

Henrico County (Va.) issued a request for interest on Tuesday concerning a potential mixed-use development at the 93-acre Best Products site near interstates 95 and 295 north of Richmond.

Master developers, arena operators, and other prospective partners have until Monday, July 28 to respond formally with statements of interest in a potential development. A committee consisting of representatives of the Henrico Economic Development Authority (EDA), the Henrico Sports & Entertainment Authority, and other county offices will review received proposals before forwarding a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.

The Best Products land is available again after the 200-acre, $2.3B GreenCity development stalled; that project team included ASM Global as operators of a 17,000-seat arena that would open in 2026 and anchor the environmentally sustainable development. Green City Partners never began construction; they defaulted on their purchase agreement for the property by failing to make the final installment payment, $5M owed Feb. 28, according to Virginia Public Media (VPM). EDA is enforcing its $1M repurchase option and expects to complete the reacquisition of the site in the coming months. ASM Global also sued GreenCity Partners for $1.5M in loans, interest, and legal fees, according to VPM.

The property’s approved master plan and zoning allow for an arena, 1.9 million square feet of office space, 135,000 square feet of retail space, three hotels with 600 rooms apiece, 2,138 residential units and parks and other green spaces. It’s unlikely future plans would include as much office space square footage. Prospective responders with questions about the RFI are encouraged to contact Purchasing Director Oscar Knott at kno008@henrico.gov.

Connecticut Sports Group (CTSG), the owner of MLS Next Pro expansion club CT United FC, has retained Wasserman as the club’s sales agency of record. Wasserman’s primary remit will be to sell naming rights for the team’s forthcoming waterfront stadium in Bridgeport. Construction on the 10,000-seat stadium is slated to begin this year, and CT United FC is slated to make its MLS Next Pro debut in 2026.

CTSG has also announced plans to pursue expansion teams in the NWSL and MLS. The stadium, which is the anchor for a larger waterfront revitalization project that would include 1,000 new housing units, is designed to be expandable to accommodate up to 22,000 fans.

“In 1847, a decade before making national news, he was the plaintiff in a Missouri case against Irene Emerson.”