Morning Buzz

The Philadelphia host committee for this summer’s World Cup has “secured an agreement for fans to receive free travel when leaving Lincoln Financial Field via the city’s transit system.” That system, SEPTA, last week revealed that it “would be keeping fares consistent with ordinary prices during the World Cup,” meaning passengers “will be asked to pay $2.90.” Organizers say “complimentary rides home from NRG Station will begin at half-time and continue for two hours following the end of each match.” Lincoln Financial Field will host five group-stage games and a July 4 Round of 16 game. Headlines over the past fortnight “have been dominated by comparatively sky-high prices for transit to and from World Cup games” in Foxborough and New Jersey. Philadelphia Soccer 2026 CEO Meg Kane said that free travel on egress from the stadium “has been made possible due to funding provided by Airbnb,” a FIFA sponsor which is providing an additional $5M “worth of funding for initiatives to support the tournament across host cities” (THE ATHLETIC, 4/20).

Boston Marathon organizers this year “turned to an expert in crowd science to help them manage the field of more than 32,000” as it travels the 26.2 miles through eight Massachusetts cities and towns on Monday for the event’s 130th running. The “most noticeable difference” this year will be that the runners are “starting in six waves -- groups organized by qualifying time -- instead of four.” The waves, which were first used in Boston in 2011, “help spread things out so that runners don’t have to walk after the start.” Other, “less obvious changes” involve the “unloading of the buses at the start, the placement of the water and aid stations, and the finish line chutes, where runners get their medals, perhaps a mylar blanket or a banana, and any medical treatment they might need.” The BAA will “look at the feedback over the next three years before deciding about expansion or other changes” (AP, 4/19).

Defending women’s champion Sharon Lokedi will “again” lace up Under Armour’s Velociti Elite 3 running shoe. At “Lokedi’s request” last year, Under Armour “tweaked and customized a pair of Elite 3s.” She then ran the fastest course time ever by 2 minutes, 37 seconds. On Monday morning, Under Armour employees will “gather in communal spaces to watch Lokedi seek to repeat in Boston.” The company is “seeking to appeal to athletes, especially youth, across sports” (BALTIMORE BANNER, 4/18).

David Manica, known for designing high-end sports venue experiences, and mixed-use entertainment developer and operator The Cordish Companies will unveil Monday The Residence, a 4,000-square-foot high-end bar in the heart of K.C.’s Power & Light District.

The 12-block neighborhood that opened in 2007, includes the T-Mobile Center, No Other Pub (owned by Sporting KC), and PBR Big Sky Cowboy Bar and four towers that are home to more than 2,000 residents.

Guests at The Residence will enter a circular foyer lined with cabinets and sculptures, with black-and-white marble floors and a central table beneath a chandelier. At the heart of the venue is the Great Room, with soaring ceilings, built-in bookshelves, a marble fireplace, and tall draped windows. The Solarium is wrapped in glass and lush planting, while the Private Room offers a quieter setting anchored by a European-style bar and more intimate seating. A discreet valet drop-off and rear entry ensure convenient and secure arrival, allowing guests immediate and seamless access to the lounge.

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Manica said he was describing the concept -- this fourth bar, all in the K.C. market -- at home to his family recently and his 15-year-old son said, ”Dad, you said you weren’t going to do any more bars.”

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Sabres fans waited 5,472 days for their first playoff game since 2010-11, and before Sunday night’s Game 1 against the Bruins they “swelled outside, working themselves into a frenzy” prior to the team’s 4-3 come-from-behind win. There were 19,070 fans attending the game (DAILY FACEOFF, 4/20). In addition to those inside, there were “hundreds -- maybe thousands -- of fans” celebrating with a “daylong outdoor playoff party” -- Pregame in the Plaza -- in weather that was 40 degrees, windy and snowing (BUFFALO NEWS, 4/19).

The “citizenry was as good as we expected it to be.” Sabres D Rasmus Dahlin said that he could not “hear anything on the bench.” Sabres G Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen said that when D Mattias Samuelsson scored, it was “the loudest building he had ever heard.” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff added that the place “was shaking.” Ruff: “The atmosphere was unbelievable. It was great to give our fans that third period.” According to OptaStats, the Sabres became the “first team in NHL postseason history to win in regulation when facing a multiple-goal shutout deficit in the final eight minutes.” The “legendary voice” of late Sabres play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret also “got plenty of attention,” with signs that read “Do it for RJ” and “RJ’s House.” The Sabres “unveiled his framed sweater outside the broadcast booth,” and his wife Sandra “was the pregame drum-banger in answer to a question that had been all over social media for weeks” (BUFFALO NEWS, 4/19).

Announced attendance for Night 2 of WrestleMania 42 was 55,255 for a two-day total at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas of 106,072. Night 2 last year drew 60,103 for a two-day total of 118,641 at the same venue. WWE did not announce the gate, although it was expected to be among the most in company history. Among the celebrities at Night 2: musician Joe Jonas, music producer Rick Rubin, rapper Lil Yachty, Mexican recording star JOP, UFC legend Daniel Cormier and former NFLer Rob Gronkowski. A number of stars attended both nights of the event, including 49ers TE George Kittle, Lions RB Jamyr Gibbs, Pacers G Tyrese Haliburton and comedian Tony Hinchcliffe (SBJ).

It was “another successful major event in Las Vegas, depending on the measure.” WrestleMania 42 “on its own could have probably been seen as an unmitigated success,” drawing well over 50,000 fans each night to Allegiant Stadium. But in the “inevitable comparison to last year’s” record gate and more than 120,000 spectators over two days, it “becomes a more complicated evaluation.” The action “may have been better this year, particularly on the second night,” but attendance was down and live gate “figures to be, as well.” It “was, without a doubt, a successful event.” But it “was always going to be difficult to reach the business standard that was achieved last year.” WrestleMania “may just be one of those things that should be in town once every five, or 10 years, as opposed to every year” (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/19).

Some aspects of the event were not picked up on the TV broadcast, including the “boos when the entrances for Sunday’s six-man ladder match, which aired on ESPN, were interrupted by a Snickers commercial.” This came after fans “took to social media to complain about the near-hour of commercials during Saturday’s show.” Those breaks were “in addition [to] the ads on the ring mat, the turnbuckle covers, the ring posts, the ring apron and the barricades, as well as the match sponsorships and the Slim Jim branding on the tables the wrestlers drive each other through” (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/19).

LIV Golf has announced it “will return” to Club de Golf Chapultepec for LIV Golf Mexico City in 2027 “despite ongoing uncertainty around the circuit’s future.” Should the event go ahead next year, it “would be the third year in a row that Club de Golf Chapultepec has hosted.” Meanwhile, LIV Golf Hong Kong “has been earmarked for February next year” while tournaments in Riyadh, Adelaide and South Africa “are all due to follow later in the season” (GOLF MONTHLY, 4/19).

What’s on Rashid Ghazi’s mind? Paragon Marketing Group’s president shares how media valuation has evolved from TV-first to digital-first, creating new opportunities for brands to drive smarter and more measurable growth.

In this week’s issue:

• Pistons owner Tom Gores turned to Melanie Harris to help guide a rebuild that led to the NBA playoffs this season. SBJ’s Irving Mejia-Hilario examines how it all came together. Meanwhile, in Washington, the Wizards are still early days into a revamp for a team that had the league’s worst record this season. SBJ’s Tom Friend reveals why a turnaround is all in the details.
• The CAA World Congress of Sports wrapped up in L.A. last week with business leaders having their eye set on global opportunities. Recap some of the key moments and images from the event.
• Streaming youth sports competitions has become big business. How big? How about a $10B market. SBJ’s Joe Lemire reports on the key players behind the growth.
• With Pittsburgh set to host this year’s NFL Draft, SBJ’s Ben Fischer spoke with local leaders about how they will use the event to go beyond football legacy to tout more about what the city has to offer.

3M Open is looking for a Tournament Dir. The Blaine-based position is responsible for executing and generating increase tournament net revenue, charity, and reserve levels through sales and marketing strategies (3M Open).

The Wild is looking for a Dir/Content. The St. Paul-based position is responsible for overseeing real-time and long-form content, leading a team of social and video professionals while setting the creative and strategic direction for the organization’s content ecosystem (Wild).

Inter Miami are looking for a Manager/Licensing. The Miami-based position is responsible for owning the licensing business strategy, P&L performance and external partner relationships, with a focus on revenue growth, fan engagement and brand relevance (Inter Miami).

MetLife Stadium is looking for an Assistant Dir/Network Operations. The East Rutherford-based position is responsible for the strategy, architecture and operations of network environment serving live sporting events, concerts, broadcast operations, and core business systems at the venue (MetLife Stadium).

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“The name of this opera means ‘Faithful’; it’s used as an alias by a character who implores a prisoner not to lose faith.”