Good afternoon, here’s what we’re following at SBJ today:
- How FIFA is seeking to minimize U.S. tax burden for World Cup teams — and itself
- Ted Turner dies at 87
- Sources: F1 exploring season launch event for 2027, with Milan among options for host sites
- Plus: Disney/ESPN yet to engage NFL on “Monday Night Football” talks; MLS opens new Manhattan HQ; Harvey AI sponsors three pro basketball teams; and more.
Start your morning with Buzzcast with Austin Karp: The NBA and NHL put up massive first-round playoff viewership numbers; LIV Golf brings on more help to try and navigate the future; tennis players take aim the majors over pay; and the Carolina Hurricanes sell out of beer skates. Listen >>
THE BIG STORY
Opens in new windowHow FIFA is seeking to minimize U.S. tax burden for World Cup teams — and itself
Ahead of its annual congress last week in Vancouver, the FIFA Council approved a 15% increase in financial distributions to teams participating in this summer’s World Cup, SBJ’s Alex Silverman writes. The bump ensures that each of the 48 participating member associations will receive a minimum of $12.5 million in preparation and qualification money. Teams that advance beyond the group stage will receive additional prize money.
The increase, which brings total distributions to $871 million, comes after federations expressed concern that the initial distributions could fail to even cover the costs of participating in the competition, particularly given the significant tax exposure associated with playing in the U.S.
But increasing distributions isn’t the only way FIFA is seeking to mitigate the impact of the U.S. tax burden on both its members and itself. The governing body is engaged in a formal effort to seek tax-exempt status for as many of the member associations as possible ahead of the competition.
5 STORIES WE’RE WATCHING
1. Ted Turner, whose reach impacted sports in numerous ways, dies at 87: The media icon who “revolutionized American cable television” with the creation of CNN, TBS and TNT, died on Wednesday at the age of 87.
2. Sources: F1 exploring season launch event for 2027, with Milan among options for host sites: F1 has started exploring another preseason launch event next year with potential host cities including Milan, according to people familiar with the matter, after holding a first-of-its kind showcase last year in London, SBJ’s Adam Stern reports.
3. Disney/ESPN yet to engage NFL on early media rights renewal: Disney CFO Hugh Johnston on a call with Wall Street investors Wednesday morning said that ESPN and Disney “haven’t yet engaged” with the NFL on early renewal conversations surrounding ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” deal.
4. MLS unveils new Manhattan headquarters: MLS will officially unveil its new office at 2 Penn Plaza in Manhattan with an invite-only press event this afternoon. The league moved into the two-floor, 126,000-square-foot space last month.
5. Harvey AI to sponsor Valkyries, Warriors, Liberty: Artificial intelligence-powered legal services platform Harvey AI continued its recent spree of sports sponsorship deals by signing the Golden State Valkyries and Warriors and N.Y. Liberty to multiyear pacts.
ON THE MOVE
- Oak View Group promoted Katie Harel to managing dir/OVG Hospitality. Harel will continue working from the London office and will report to OVG Hospitality President Kenneth Gaber. Harel has served as VP/Marketing at OVG International since 2024 (Oak View Group).
- Publicis Groupe named Brooke Faw SVP/strategic alliances and partnerships for Publicis Sports. Faw, a 2025 SBJ Game Changers honoree, spent nearly 12 years with Bespoke Sports & Entertainment, most recently as VP/Client Experiences (SBJ).
- Canucks President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford revealed in a “surprise announcement” Tuesday that he will “step down from his role” following next month’s NHL Draft (CP).
NAMES IN THE NEWS
- Former NFLer Ezekiel Elliott filed a lawsuit against the NCAA and the Big Ten Conference, “accusing both of continuing to cash in on his name, image and likeness without compensation.” Elliott’s lawsuit numerous highlights from Elliott’s time as a star at Ohio State from 2013-2015 that allegedly “continue to be used on various NCAA-associated platforms” (California Post).
- NFL free agent Stefon Diggs was “found not guilty of felony strangulation and not guilty of misdemeanor assault and battery” in connection with an alleged dispute with his private chef over money she said that he owed her for her services (L.A. Times).
- The Truist Championship announced Tuesday that former Charlotte Observer columnists Ron Green Sr. and son Ron Green Jr. “will be honored with an annual $10,000 scholarship.” The scholarship will be awarded to one undergraduate student at the Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill each year who is “enrolled in the Hussman School of Journalism and Media and has a demonstrated interest in sports communications” (Charlotte Observer).
HOT READS
The SEATTLE TIMES went with the header, “How Russell Wilson might fare if he joins CBS’ NFL pregame show.” The concept of Wilson as a broadcaster seems “neither unthinkable nor inevitable.” There’s “no doubt that there’s a presence on camera.” He is “confident, put together, and as annoying as it might be to some -- almost incessantly positive.”
Also:
- Will L.A.’s 2028 Olympic Games protect human rights?
- LIV Golf had a blank canvas. The PGA Tour could use one as it tries to solve a packed schedule.
- Can the New York Liberty be champions again? The pressure is on for new head coach Chris DeMarco.