Bundesliga, Versant ink five-year deal, putting games on USA Network, Fandango
The Bundesliga is linking up with Versant starting with the 2026-27 season after signing a five-year deal for English-language rights in the U.S. and ending a six-year run with ESPN. Sources told SBJ the deal is worth a total of $100M ($20M AAV).
PSL credits could cost Charlotte FC $8.25M in season-ticket revenue
Charlotte FC expects to forgo approximately $8.25M in season-ticket revenue over the next three MLS seasons by providing credits tied to around 15,000 seats following the club’s decision to end the sale of personal seat licenses (PSLs), according to Tepper Sports & Entertainment CRO Eric Sudol. ...
Minnesota United taps former Target exec Christina Hennington as incoming CEO
Minnesota United has hired former Target chief strategy and growth officer CHRISTINA HENNINGTON as its new CEO to succeed 2025 MLS Executive of the Year SHARI BALLARD. Ballard will work alongside Hennington through the remainder of the 2026 MLS season before retiring.
FloSports nabs U.S. rights for IIHF Men’s World Championship
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 ...
This Week at the World Cup: A sneak peek at the private-suite menu for soccer’s Super Bowl
In an early-access story for the July 13 edition of SBJ, I looked ahead to the Super Bowl-level business and buzz expected next week in N.Y. around the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium. A big part of the story focuses on the high-end clientele that will be in attendance and how hospitality provide...
‘Bigger than a Super Bowl’: World Cup final expected to bring unprecedented business and buzz to the New York metro area
Seeking to explain the scale of the World Cup to Americans, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has repeatedly characterized the tournament as “104 Super Bowls.” But if that’s the case, how should the World Cup final itself be understood?
MLS downplays Messi, Son in All-Star roster announcement
MLS on Wednesday unveiled its full roster for the upcoming All-Star Game on July 29 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, a group that features 13 players named to 2026 World Cup rosters. The MLS players will compete against a team of All-Stars from Mexico’s Liga MX for the fifth time in six edit...
This Week at the World Cup: Inside the U.S. government’s tournament command center
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- At the halfway point of the World Cup, Fox released data showing that D.C. ranked ninth among local markets for tournament viewership. While the nation’s capital trailed markets such as K.C., Boston and Austin, fans elsewhere were unlikely to be watching quite as closely as some ...
Federation-linked World Cup tickets surface on resale sites
World Cup tickets originally allocated to or purchased by national soccer federations are appearing on resale marketplaces, in many cases selling for well above face value. FIFA says federation-held tickets are subject to restrictions on resale, raising questions about how the tickets reached the se...