There are strong numbers coming out of the Jake Paul- Mike Tyson fight on Friday, as Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions said 60 million households streamed the event in what could be the most-watched boxing event of all time but one that also had widely reported streaming issues. Meanwhile, ticket revenue was slightly more than $18M, doubling the $9M gate from a Canelo Alvarez bout against Billy Joe Saunders at AT&T Stadium in a 2021 fight. The event drew 72,300 and is being reported as the highest-grossing combat sports gate in Texas state history and easily the biggest boxing gate outside of Las Vegas in U.S. history.

Organizers are reporting figures that could break a host of viewership records across combat sports, underscoring that Paul, the YouTuber who took up pro boxing, has brought renewed energy to the sport even while some rail against his choice of opponents. Meanwhile, the 58-year-old Tyson avoided any serious injuries during the fight, and posted on social media Saturday that he had eight blood transfusions this summer, adding: “I’m grateful for last night. No regrets to get in ring one last time. ... To have my children see me stand toe to toe and finish 8 rounds with a talented fighter half my age in front of a packed Dallas Cowboy stadium is an experience that no man has the right to ask for.”  

Netflix’s proprietary overnight data stated the main event peaked at 65 million concurrent streams. The biggest PPV fight of all time is regarded as Floyd Mayweather Jr. versus Manny Pacquiao in 2015, when 4.6 million PPV units were sold for that bout. On Friday, nearly 50 million households streamed the co-main event, a re-match between Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor, according to Netflix, in what could become the most watched women’s boxing fight of all time. Netflix said that additional data including a total viewership stat will be released this upcoming week. It did not use Nielsen to measure viewership for the event, but it has struck a deal with Nielsen for its upcoming Christmas NFL games. Joe Hand Promotions, which distributed the fight for MVP at restaurants and bars, deployed the fight to over 6,000 places, which it said was a record setter for the company.

But Netflix’s production has plenty of issues, and DownDetector.com tracked more than 89,000 reports of outages. On its X account, Netflix only addressed the buffering issues by saying that the event “even had our buffering systems on the ropes.” But Bloomberg reported Saturday that Netflix CTO Elizabeth Stone addressed the situation in an internal message, writing: “This unprecedented scale created many technical challenges, which the launch team tackled brilliantly by prioritizing stability of the stream for the majority of viewers. I'm sure many of you have seen the chatter in the press and on social media about the quality issues. We don't want to dismiss the poor experience of some members, and know we have room for improvement, but still consider this event a huge success.”

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Mike Mulvihill, Fox Sports’ president of insights and analytics, is among those questioning Netflix’s reporting of 60 million global households watching Friday’s Jake Paul- Mike Tyson main event.

“Nielsen is fully capable of producing a U.S.-only viewership number for Netflix on a next day basis, but they can’t do it if Netflix doesn’t ask for it,” he wrote on X on Saturday night. “And why would NFLX ask for it when the entire internet runs with their worldwide number no questions asked?”

Netflix said, based on overnight internal data from around the globe, that the fight was a record-breaking audience figure for the streaming platform, which has not done much with live events before Friday night.

The data from Netflix (not verified by any third party) said the co-main event of Katie Taylor- Amanda Serrano, with 50 million households, could be the most-watched pro women's sporting event in U.S. history (likely excluding events such as the Olympics or NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship).

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Netflix’s first attempt at handling a live sports event did "not receive a passing grade" (AP, 11/16). Multiple users "expressed frustration over various issues plaguing the broadcast," including "buffering, screen quality concerns and audio issues" (USA TODAY, 11/16). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio wrote it was “fitting” that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was “touting the future of Netflix and the NFL into a microphone that wasn’t working.” Florio: "It was bad. Very bad. Buffering. Grainy images” (PRO FOOTBALL TALK, 11/16). Netflix “has about six weeks to figure it out” before it streams an NFL doubleheader on Christmas Day (N.Y. POST, 11/16).

The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Jason Gay wrote, "If you tried to watch it, and you weren’t able to, because of technical chaos and buffering standstills with the Netflix stream—instead of writing an angry letter to the clearly overburdened IT department, you might want to thank them for sparing your eyeballs, and perhaps, your soul" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/16). The “technical hiccups” left "many viewers frustrated." Streaming "snafus marred the late-night face-off especially during the undercard matches." Disgruntled fans “roasted Netflix on X and other platforms for its slow loading speed and sometimes pixelated presentation” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/16). THE ATHLETIC's Richard Deitsch wrote the Paul-Tyson bout “was horrible, and so was the streaming experience for many viewers.” Friday night “spooked” NFL officials “a bit” (THE ATHLETIC, 11/16).

In Dallas, Calvin Watkins wrote it is “too bad all of the attention” around Jake Paul-Mike Tyson "didn't match the fight itself.” The “lackluster bout” at AT&T Stadium had fans "booing in the middle rounds” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/15). In D.C., Sally Jenkins wrote the fight was a “sad, silly spectacle” (WASHINGTON POST, 11/16). ESPN.com's Andreas Hale wrote, "Truthfully, nobody should want to see anything like this again, because it is impossible to live up to the expectations.” However, the "excitement the fight brought to our imaginations is addicting and will lead to imitations down the line.” There is “just too much money to be made” (ESPN.com, 11/16). In Las Vegas, Adam Hill wrote if there is a “silver lining from all this mess,” it is boxers Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor “getting the spotlight they earned” in their co-main event. Hill: “Plenty of people need to be embarrassed, and the viewers are first on that list” (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 11/16).

Watkins wrote a separate piece on the fight under the header: "Why Jake Paul should be embraced by boxing purists after fight vs. Mike Tyson" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/16). In Houston, Matt Young wrote under the header, "Jake Paul beat Mike Tyson, so who's next? Canelo Alvarez? Conor McGregor? He may be thinking bigger." Whether one thinks Paul "can box or not, the man can draw money” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/16).

Warner Bros. Discovery has settled its matching rights lawsuit against the NBA, sources confirmed Saturday night, with a wide-ranging multiyear agreement that allows ESPN to periodically license TNT’s revered studio show “Inside the NBA," grants Turner valuable NBA IP for free and pays the network $350M over the first five years for continuing its digital partnership with the league related to services, promotion, programming and marketing.

Although the NBA had previously asked New York Supreme Court Judge Joel Cohen to dismiss the lawsuit in the discovery stage, sources said lawyers for the league and WBD began zeroing in on a settlement over the last week or so. At that time, ESPN/ABC became a third party to discussions, agreeing to license the Atlanta-based “Inside the NBA" on select dates such as Opening Week, Christmas Day, before and after key ABC games in the second half of the season and playoff games, including the NBA Finals. In exchange, ESPN granted Turner the rights to broadcast Big 12 football and men’s basketball games.

The layered multiyear deal that begins next season keeps the “Inside The NBA" talent -- Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal -- as full-time TNT employees. On the dates the show airs on ESPN (which will only be for those tentpole games and not on a weekly basis), the program will still originate from Atlanta and be fully produced by Turner, which will also maintain complete editorial control. That means the program’s patented banter between Barkley, Smith and O’Neal will not be censored.

In addition, the league has given WBD a global content license over 11 years that will allow Turner to stream NBA highlights (not live, but shortly after live) on Bleacher Report and House of Highlights at no cost. While “Inside the NBA" will no longer air on Turner (only on ESPN), the network can use that NBA IP to develop a new NBA or non-NBA focused talk show with the same cast of Barkley, Johnson, Smith and O’Neal, as well as highlight-driven NBA shows, NBA documentaries or docuseries.

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It "appears likely that a historic deal” to build a new $1.3B ballpark for the Rays at the Tropicana Field site is "all but dead,” according to John Romano of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. While “nothing is official,” the Pinellas County Commission has “already postponed one vote on bonds that would go toward the financing of the ballpark and appears poised to delay it again Tuesday." The setback has “already disrupted a series of deadlines that have halted construction plans and would likely cause a significant increase in the cost of the project.” An increase, under the terms of the deal, “would be entirely the team’s responsibility.” While the stadium deal “might be dead because the county stalled the bond vote,” the rest of the proposed $6.5B redevelopment deal “might still be under the Rays control with their partner Hines.” There is a “decent chance that situation will end up in court,” but the Rays “could reap millions from redeveloping the Trop land while moving the team and building a stadium elsewhere.” There is “growing concern that planned repairs of Tropicana Field’s roof will greatly exceed an initial” $56M estimate. If the St. Petersburg City Council is “reluctant to pay for repairs” beyond their $25M insurance policy, the Rays “would essentially become free to consider the possibility of a permanent relocation away from Tampa Bay as soon as 2026.” Rays owner Stuart Sternberg said, "Last month, the County Commission upended our ballpark agreement by not approving their bonds, as they promised to do. That action sent a clear message that we had lost the county as a partner." Sternberg: "The future of baseball in Tampa Bay became less certain after that vote” (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 11/16).

MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME: In Tampa, Marc Topkin reported a few days after the Yankees Game 5 loss to the Dodgers on Oct. 30, Sternberg reached out to Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner and “asked about using their spring park for the 2025 season.” Rays President Matt Silverman said, "We're going to see some things that we never anticipated, which is outdoor baseball in Tampa. I think many of our fans will enjoy it, and we expect the team is going to be an incredibly compelling one as well.” Topkin noted Steinbrenner Field has a capacity of 11,026. It will “stay around that,” as there are “no plans to add any temporary bleacher-type seating.” The Rays will have the opportunity to “make Steinbrenner Field look as much like a Rays home game as they can.” That means their “logos, promotional materials, signs for advertisers and sponsors (allowing then to recoup some revenues), and scoreboard graphics can be displayed.” Merchandising and concessions will be run by Legends Hospitality, which is the Yankees' company, though it is "possible the Rays could get space for some of their specialty vendors” (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 11/16).

The projected cost of the Bills’ new stadium has “ballooned” to what team officials indicate is “north of” $2.1B, with team owners Terry and Kim Pegula “responsible for picking up the more than” $560M in overruns, according to John Wawrow of the AP. Bills President Pete Guelli said the Pegulas “will not deviate from building a best-in-class stadium in Buffalo.” Guelli added that the “increased costs will not impact the timetable for completion.” Wawrow noted the stadium is being built across the street from the Bills’ current home and is "on track to open by June 2026.” The Bills are funding their share through an NFL loan program “as well as raising money through a first-time seat licensing fee for season-ticket holders.” Pegula is also “raising money by seeking to sell off a minority share -- no more than 25% -- of the franchise.” However, Guelli said that the “reasons behind the move are not connected to increased construction costs.” Bills VP/Stadium Development John Polka said that inflation “played a significant role in the price jump by pushing up material construction costs.” Polka noted that two more contributing factors were “increasing labor costs and design features that were added after the Bills completed their agreement with the state and county” (AP, 11/15).

PRICE JUMP: In Buffalo, Michael Petro noted the new price for the Bills stadium is "about a 25% increase in the most recent estimated" $1.7B stadium cost -- a number the Bills “never confirmed -- and an approximately 50% increase from the original estimated cost for the stadium” of $1.35B. This "may not be the last time that the stadium cost increases, with only about 35% of the project done.” The Bills “could raise at least” $300M to $400M on PSLs (BUFFALO NEWS, 11/15).

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports "will race in 2025" despite their ongoing lawsuit against NASCAR, according to Jeff Gluck of THE ATHLETIC. The teams on Saturday said that NASCAR “modified the 2025 ‘open’ agreement for all teams by removing a clause preventing them from bringing legal action.” Though the teams continue to "seek a court order to race as 'charter' teams," the new development means 23XI and Front Row will “at a minimum be allowed to show up for each race.” Racing as “open” teams "does come with competitive risk," as if more than 40 cars show up for an event such as the Daytona 500, the drivers would "have to qualify their way into the field" (THE ATHLETIC, 11/16). Being open teams would require them to “show up each week and qualify their cars for every race.” Open teams also do "not receive the same benefits as chartered teams, including a fair cut from the financial purses” (ESPN.com, 11/16). 

President-elect Donald Trump and some of his cabinet picks "made a surprise appearance" at UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. While attending UFC fights is "nothing new for Trump," having gone to several in the past, Saturday’s visit marked his "first appearance since becoming president-elect." Just before 10pm ET, Trump walked out into the arena, alongside UFC CEO Dana White, Following behind were Elon Musk, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his son Donald Trump Jr. and singer Kid Rock (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 11/16). LIV Golf Chair Yasir Al-Rumayyan was also spotted sitting with Trump at MSG for UFC 309.

Trump walked out to a "raucous applause from the crowd" (MMAJUNKIE, 11/116). The winner of the main event, heavyweight Jon Jones, "shouted out Trump in his victory speech" (N.Y. POST, 11/16).

UFC said UFC 309 drew a crowd of 20,200 to MSG, with a gate of $16,673,954. It is the second-highest grossing event in MSG history. UFC Now holds the Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 9 highest grossing events of all time at MSG (SBJ).

The WNBA Seattle Storm coaching staff is “under investigation for alleged player mistreatment,” according to Annie Costabile of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. A source said that a law firm hired by the team is “looking into accusations of alleged harassment and bullying by the coaching staff tied to on-court performance” during the 2024 season. The allegations “stem from incidents that happened at practice and during games.” An email from the law firm showed the investigation has been active “for at least two weeks.” A source said that the investigation was “sparked by multiple players’ experiences. Noelle Quinn was promoted to head coach in 2021 after longtime coach Dan Hughes retired. She served as an assistant on Hughes’ staff for two seasons. Assistant coach Perry Huang has been on with Quinn since 2021, while assistant coach Ebony Hoffman has been with the team since 2022 (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 11/15).

With All-Star balloting set for next month, the NBA is contemplating a tournament-style format that would include three teams of eight-players with a fourth team coming from winner of that weekend’s Rising Stars Challenge.

The idea was under discussion by the league’s competition committee this week, but it has reportedly not yet been ratified — with a source saying, “Right now, it’s probably just the best idea they have.”

In the days following last February’s All-Star game in Indianapolis— with a 211-186 final score that bothered the league office — sources said Commissioner Adam Silver challenged his staff to brainstorm a creative way to entice All-Stars to play with more purpose. The ideas ranged from a U.S. All-Stars vs. International All-Stars; a reality show-type competition with a game and skills competition tied together; a 1-on-1 tournament; and a 3-on-3 tournament.

The league purportedly has since zeroed in on this four-team tournament, first reported by ESPN, modeled after the current Rising Star competition that’s gained popularity with fans. Under that format, four squads of rookies, second-year players and several G League players play tournament games to a target score of 40. This new proposal would similarly have untimed games to a target score, forcing players to play stouter defense.

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The Orlando Pride are taking on the K.C. Current in the NSWL semifinal today at 3pm ET, with the winner set to take on the Washington Spirit next week for the NSWL Championship. Former NBAer Grant Hill, who is part of the Pride ownership group, said, “We've passed that inflection point where people are starting to look at women’s sports, in particular the NSWL and obviously the WNBA, as businesses that are profitable or will be profitable.” Hill said, “Women’s sports are on this incredible trajectory.” He added, “You’re seeing it in owners who have operated professional teams at the highest level starting to believe in the product. You’re seeing it in the television ratings and media partners who are starting to understand that people are watching and paying attention. It’s refreshing, it’s encouraging and, really, it’s about damn time” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 11/16).

WASHINGTON POST columnist Barry Svrulga wrote that on Saturday afternoon, the Spirit “appeared to be a beacon of a league that is booming.” It is “unlikely any of the 19,365 who filled Audi Field on a glorious fall afternoon will forget" the semifinal against Gotham FC. The "positive stuff was everywhere Saturday." The Spirit sold out last weekend’s quarterfinal at Audi Field and Spirit owner Y. Michele Kang’s response was to "challenge her business-side team to sell out the semifinal -- in 72 hours." NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman said, “There was a time where that just wouldn’t even be within the realm of possibility.” Kang’s stewardship “all but ensures the Spirit will be a force in years to come" and her presence “means the Spirit will have the resources to acquire talent.” Berman said, “She has a very clear vision to be a positive disrupter in creating an investment model that allows for these athletes to be able to be thriving and be supported and to invest in the business” (WASHINGTON POST, 11/16).

The CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts will face off in the 111th Grey Cup today in Vancouver. Fans have “taken in activities” at the Grey Cup Festival, including “concerts, parties, a drone show and a zip line that runs down the harbour.” British Columbia’s tourism ministry said that it expects the festivities to “bring in 30,000 out-of-province fans and drive an economic boost of” $125M (CBC NEWS, 11/17).

The TORONTO STAR's Bruce Arthur wrote the Argonauts will be “competing with Taylor Swift Eras Tour madness” in Toronto and a Bills-Chiefs "NFL game-of-the-year candidate” that will still be going on when the Grey Cup kicks off. The Grey Cup “could still do the same numbers” as the Oilers in the Stanley Cup final, but it is “not the show, which has almost become this league’s unspoken motto.” Grey Cup ratings “haven’t gone over four million since 2017.” The CFL and the Grey Cup are "not what they once were, because they can’t be” (TORONTO STAR, 11/17). Arthur in a separate piece wrote the fan base at the Grey Cup “remains disproportionately white-haired.” The CFL “lives a fair bit off its past, and the living is good. It still needs to find its future” (TORONTO STAR, 11/16). 

Bela Karolyi, the “charismatic if polarizing gymnastics coach who turned young women into champions" and the U.S. into an "international power in the sport,” has died at 82. No cause of death was given. Karolyi’s “strident methods sometimes came under fire, most pointedly during the height of the Larry Nassar scandal.” Over a dozen former gymnasts came forward saying Karolyi and his wife Martha were “part of a system that created an oppressive culture that allowed Nassar’s behavior to run unchecked for years.” USA Gymnastics eventually “exited an agreement to continue to train at the Karolyi Ranch” north of Houston, though “only after American star Simone Biles took the organization to task for having them train at a site where many experienced sexual abuse.” The Karolyis “faded from prominence in the aftermath after spending 30-plus years as a guiding force in American gymnastics, often basking in success while brushing with controversy in equal measure” (AP, 11/16).

MLS Season Pass commentator Taylor Twellman has been "cleared to resume calling games" after MLS' internal investigation "cleared him of allegations that he was involved in a physical altercation with an audio technician late last month" (THE ATHLETIC, 11/15).

"I don't know what they're looking for. I really don't. I wish they could really define the criteria" -- Georgia football coach Kirby Smart, on the CFP selection committee (ESPN.com, 11/16). Georgia AD Josh Brooks also was critical of the CFP committee: "I would question the inconsistency of their ranking process" (ON3, 11/15).

The N.Y. TIMES goes with, "Why 2 Big-League Teams Will Squeeze Into Small Homes in 2025." MLB teams "generally fill mighty, 40,000- to 50,000-seat stadiums at premium prices dozens of nights each year." But next season, the Rays will play at 11,000-seat George M. Steinbrenner Field and the A's will play at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, Calif., which seats about 10,000. The Rays home, Tropicana Field, was "shredded by Hurricane Milton last month." The A's are playing in Sacramento while they "wait for a stadium to be built for them in Las Vegas, their new permanent home." MLB teams have "occasionally dropped in at smaller parks over the years, either voluntarily or otherwise."

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• Time to appreciate all Clare Duwelius, Katie Smith and Dave St. Peter gave to Twin Cities sports

• Will NBA expansion bring the SuperSonics back to Seattle? ‘There’s just too much karma’