Morning Buzz

St. Louis Cardinals RF Jordan Walker on Monday night hit four consecutive home runs “to not just tie” Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber but “overtake” him to become the first Cardinals player ever to win a Home Run Derby. Walker’s four homers “when he faced elimination on any one of those swings” put him ahead of Schwarber, 12-11. Walker took home the trophy and a $1M prize. Walker hit eight home runs in his first 14 swings “to put himself right on the precipice of elimination and the Citizens Bank Park crowd on the verge of jubilee.” With “every pitch he was booed by the sellout crowd eager to see their slugger win the trophy.” But “that was when Walker settled,” and then he “kept crushing baseballs into the left field seats to win” (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 7/13).

Schwarber and the Citizens Bank Park crowd “sprang to life and stole the show late, making it an incredibly fun night” before Walker “made an unlikely late surge to win it” (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/13). Walker “put on one of the greatest clutch displays ever” in this Derby, and it “salvaged what was a generally underwhelming” event. The format change -- a limited amount of swings instead of batting against a clock -- “had its upside, but also drained the tension from most of the competition.” Had Schwarber and Phillies 1B Bryce Harper “both bowed out in the semifinals ... this would have been a disaster, a finals playing out while most of the 43,000 fans filed out disgruntled” (USA TODAY, 7/13).

Famed ring announcer Michael Buffer “started the show by bellowing his catchphrase -- ‘Let’s get ready to rumble!’ -- and introducing the Derby contestants, who met in a wrestling ring behind second base.” Harper “took it from there,” as he “raised both arms to salute the crowd.” Upon reaching the ring, he “climbed up, shook the ropes, and shouted, ‘Let’s go!’” (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 7/13).

Schwarber and Harper “received roaring ovations” when Buffer introduced them ahead of the competition. As for the other six sluggers in the field, all “were about booed out of the ballpark, with the loudest jeers saved for” Yankees 1B Ben Rice (AP, 7/13). The crowd “provided an all-time Derby environment.” The Philadelphia fans “became part of the show,” and “it was great theater.” The crowd “provided the perfect backdrop.” The crowd “heavily booed” Red Sox 1B Willson Contreras in the semifinals against Schwarber, “cheering only when the batting-practice pitcher slipped a pitch that nearly hit Contreras.” They “erupted when his final swing fell short, allowing Schwarber to advance to the final” against Walker. The boos were then “even louder for Walker, who was jeered before each swing and cheered when he made an out” (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 7/14).

Home Run Derby ticket prices saw a massive spike in the final hours before the event Monday night in Philadelphia to a $1,541 get-in cost, according to TicketData.com. That represented a 176% increase over the last three days, with most of the bump coming Monday afternoon. That dwarfs the get-in for the previous three editions -- $184 for Atlanta last year, $119 in Texas in 2024 and $365 in Seattle in 2023.

The All-Star Game is seeing a similar surge in the final days, with get-in price at $1,199 and rising as of Monday night. Game-day get-in prices for the previous three All-Star Games were $223 in Atlanta last year, $268 in Texas in 2024 and $367 in Seattle in 2023 (SBJ).

The final World Cup match in Texas is set for 3pm ET Tuesday in Arlington with France and Spain set to face off in the semifinal round, and “while it isn’t the finale of the tournament, there should be a finale-like atmosphere.” France enters as the No. 1-ranked team in the world in FIFA’s rankings, while Spain is ranked third. The winner will face either Argentina or England on Sunday at N.Y. N.J. Stadium, and the losing teams will play a match at Miami Stadium for third place on Saturday. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones “will be in attendance to watch the game,” along with “his family, corporate partners and others.” Jones “should be far from the only high-profile visitor” Tuesday. The venue “has already drawn celebrities over the course of the eight previous games” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/13).

Along with “allowing FIFA to temporarily rename Jones’ cherished venue Dallas Stadium and play the games on natural grass instead of synthetic turf,” fans and reporters have noted that FIFA also “has done some interior decorating of the infamous windows above the West end zone.” Specifically, “tinting has been added to greatly soften the afternoon glare -- and curtains that have been used for concerts and other non-Cowboys events have been installed.” It also “doesn’t sound like the effectiveness of the tint and curtains have caused the Cowboys to rethink about keeping them for games.” Soon after Tuesday match, workers “will begin the process of stripping the Colorado-grown, Kentucky bluegrass and ryegrass blend” that FIFA pitch officials and AT&T Stadium GM Tod Martin have “painstakingly maintained the past six weeks.” Cowboys EVP/Business Operations Chad Estis said that “no decision has been made whether to donate the grass for use elsewhere” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/13).

There are tickets still available for France-Spain, though they will cost over $1,300 to get in the door. Get-in prices for the World Cup semifinal in Dallas Stadium sit at $1,328 as of Tuesday morning, with 128 tickets available, according to TicketData.com. That price is down 15% over the past three days, 48% over the past seven days and 48% since the start of the tournament. SBJ has partnered with TicketData.com to track get-in prices and trends for upcoming games. For additional information on games, visit the World Cup page at TicketData.com.

Louis Vuitton has been named the Official Supplier and Branded Licensee of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, presenting the official bespoke trophy trunk of the tournament’s trophy. The trophy trunk will be part of the music, entertainment and ceremonies program and will be brought onto the pitch during the World Cup final on Sunday, guided by a Louis Vuitton ambassador and a FIFA legend, continuing a protocol that has been in place since 2010. For this occasion, Louis Vuitton has also unveiled an exclusive limited-edition collection of three trunks inspired by the trophy trunk (FIFA).

Klutch Sports has signed its first-ever soccer client in USMNT and Ligue 1 club Monaco F Folarin Balogun, who has signed with the agency for off-the-field representation.

Balogun’s work with Klutch will run through multiple arms of the company, including Klutch Marketing, with a group handling his portfolio instead of one lead agent. The agreement follows the firm’s push into global soccer that began with its acquisition of Berlin-based agency ROOF two years ago.

The 25-year-old striker scored three goals during the tournament and helped push the USMNT into the Round of 16, elevating his profile with both fans and brands. However, Balogun also found himself in the headlines when President Trump contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino seeking a review of Balogun’s red card during the game against Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was ultimately cleared to play in the Round of 16 match against Belgium.

Klutch, whose client list features stars such as LeBron James and Rams DE Myles Garrett, is expected to lean on its experience in endorsements and entertainment projects as Balogun’s visibility grows.

Read More >>>

Cleveland-based KeyBank has emerged as the founding partner of the city’s impending WNBA franchise, with a long-coveted multiyear deal two years ahead of the team’s first game. As a longtime partner of Rock Entertainment Group -- and a previous sponsor of the Fever before the Caitlin Clark era -- KeyBank had its Chief Brand Officer Patty Jurca reach out to the team following SBJ’s report in February 2025 that Cleveland would likely become the WNBA’s 16th franchise in 2028.

“When we heard they were in the running to bring the WNBA back to Cleveland … we were so excited and kept asking them for updates even though they couldn’t share," Jurca said. “…We would say, ‘Come on, you know something.’ So we were eagerly anticipating this to come so that we could start to have this conversation of what role is it going to play in our community.”

Once Cleveland was awarded a team in June 2025, talks began to evolve in-house. “I think it was an email from me to Patty or maybe I was answering Patty’s email -- ‘When are we going to be able to get together and really talk about this?’” said team President of Business Operations Allison Howard.

As part of the arrangement, KeyBank will offer exclusive benefits and seating to fans who have placed initial $28 deposits to become ticket members for the yet-to-be-named Cleveland franchise -- plus early access to the team’s merchandise once the name and branding are revealed later this summer. Howard said the front office has received roughly 9,000 deposits, some as high as $100 from fans who are anxious to sit courtside. She said 70% of those ticket members do not have ticket arrangements with the NBA’s Cavaliers or the G League’s Cleveland Charge.

Read More >>>

LA28 has long been on the clock to deliver its Games, and now it has just two years to go. The organizing committee tasked with hosting the first domestic Olympics and Paralympics in a generation marked the milestone by opening registration for its volunteer program. With just 731 days to go, here are where things stand on the business side:

Sponsorship: The joint venture between LA28 and the USOPC, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Properties, has already crossed $2B in sponsorship sales. Since it took the handoff from Paris in 2024, it has announced nearly two dozen deals, including adding Honda, Starbucks, Google, Intuit, Korn Ferry and JPMorgan Chase at its highest level of sponsorship. There’s reason to be optimistic about what’s ahead as several categories -- including consumer packaged goods, retail, energy and logistics -- remain open. With a $2.5B target to help fund its current $7.1B budget, LA28 can sell venue naming rights -- something no organizing committee has done before. That pilot program approved by the IOC has already helped LA28 sign its deals with Honda and Intuit, which will retain their names on their arenas during Games time.

Ticketing: Organizers sold nearly 4 million tickets in its first release and will see a second drop this summer. Visa cardholders have a presale window later this month before the larger release in early August.

More to come: With the clock ticking, news will continue to roll out over these next 24 months. LA28 organizers anticipate they will need up to 60,000 volunteers to pull off the Games. Within the next year, they are expected to reveal the torch relay -- which LA28 has already committed to touring all 50 states -- and mascots.

The NHL’s annual Club Business Meetings presented by Ticketmaster opened Monday in Denver with a record attendance of more than 1,300 representatives from all 32 clubs and the league office, marking the largest gathering in the event’s more than 30-year history. Hosted by the Avalanche, the July 13-16 meetings feature more than 35% first-time attendees and focus on sharing best practices and innovations aimed at driving fan engagement and business growth across the league.

The agenda spans business functions including ticketing, sponsorship, marketing, communications, analytics, technology, venue operations, finance and community relations. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment Owner/Chairman Stan Kroenke will headline the event with a leadership-focused fireside chat on Wednesday.

Ticketmaster, the NHL’s official ticketing partner, is marking its 10th year as presenting sponsor of the meetings, which also include networking events and wellness activities for attendees (SBJ).

The private equity owner of Rawlings Sporting Goods Co. is “exploring the sale of its stake” in the company “in an effort to tap booming investor demand for sports-related investments.” Seidler Equity Partners, which co-owns Rawlings alongside MLB, is “working with advisers to solicit interest in the 139-year-old company” -- which “could be valued at” $2B, including debt. L.A.-based Seidler was co-founded by late Padres owner Peter Seidler. Seidler’s deliberations are “ongoing and there’s no certainty they’ll result in a deal for its Rawlings stake” (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 7/13).

Volleyball World, the 2027 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Cup organizing committee and Scripps Sports have signed an exclusive U.S. domestic broadcast rights agreement to televise all 64 games of the 2027 Women’s Volleyball World Cup on ION and Scripps Sports platforms in both English and Spanish. The deal was facilitated by Horizon Sports & Experiences, the exclusive sponsorship and media rights sales agency for the 2027 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Cup. The tournament will occur in the U.S. and Canada in August and September 2027 and will also serve as an Olympic Qualifier, with the top three national teams who have not yet qualified earning their spot at the 2028 L.A. Games. The tournament adds to Scripps’ growing portfolio of women’s sports rights, including the WNBA, NWSL, PWHL and Premier Women’s Rodeo (Volleyball World).

The International Ice Hockey Federation has signed a four-year U.S. media-rights deal making FloSports the exclusive home of the IIHF Men’s World Championship beginning in 2027. NHL Network and ESPN+ previously shared U.S. coverage of the competition, which is typically held in May during the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Under the agreement, FloSports will stream every World Championship match, as well as the Division IA and Division IB World Championships. FloSports’ hockey vertical, FloHockey, will also provide original video, editorial and social content around the competition.

The four editions covered by the agreement are slated to be held in Düsseldorf and Mannheim, Germany (2027); Paris and Lyon, France (2028); Bratislava and Košice, Slovakia (2029); and Helsinki, Finland, and Riga, Latvia (2030).

Swiss agency Infront represented the IIHF in negotiations with FloSports.

In this episode of On Stage, Jess Smith, President of the Golden State Valkyries, joins Jenn Azara, Director of Tech & Women’s Sports Content at Sports Business Journal, for a conversation about launching one of the most successful expansion franchises in professional sports.

Recorded at SBJ’s Tech Week in New York City in May 2026, the discussion explores how the Valkyries have blended technology, innovation, and fan-first thinking to build momentum from day one. Fresh off a historic inaugural season that included record attendance, a playoff appearance, and one of the highest franchise valuations in women’s sports, Smith shares the philosophy behind building a modern organization from the ground up.

Key themes include:

• Launching with Purpose: How the Valkyries approached expansion differently to establish a strong identity from day one.  
• Technology as a Competitive Advantage: Using data, AI, and digital tools to enhance business operations and the fan experience.  
• Designing Around the Fan: Why every decision begins with understanding what today’s sports fans value most.
• The Growth of Women’s Sports: What the Valkyries’ early success says about the future of the WNBA and the broader marketplace.  
• Building for the Long Term: Lessons in culture, innovation, and leadership while creating a franchise designed to thrive for decades.  

It’s an inspiring look at how one of sports’ newest teams became one of its most talked-about success stories.

“Two of the bestselling books ever based on true crime are 1974’s ‘Helter Skelter’ and this one from about 10 years before.”