Latest news with #FrontOfficeSports
New York Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
NCAA looking to expand March Madness as soon as next season in shocker
March Madness might be getting even bigger. NCAA president Charlie Baker said during this week's Big 12 Spring Meetings in Orlando that the college basketball tournament could expand as soon as 2026. 'That would be the goal, to try and do this for next year,' Baker told Front Office Sports. '…We've been talking about 72 and 76.' Kansas' Bill Self said his most of his Big 12 colleagues are also in favor of the expansion. '[Self] said the league's coaches would be in favor of expanding the NCAA Tournament,' The Lawrence Journal-World's Henry Greenstein wrote on X. 3 NCAA President Charlie Baker speaks during the organizations Division I Business Session at their annual convention Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. AP The men's tournament last expanded from 64 to 68 games in 2011. Before then, the format had been unchanged since the first NCAA Tournament in 1985. During the meetings, Baker said the governing body and its television partners are currently going over logistics of the change. 3 A potential move to over 70 teams would be the tournament's first expansion since 2011. Getty Images 'We've had good conversations with CBS and [Warner Bros. Discovery],' Baker said, per ESPN. 'Our goal here is to try to sort of get to either yes or no sometime in the next few months because there's a lot of logistical work that would be associated with doing this. If we were to go down this road, you just think about the opening weekends, who has to travel the longest, it gets complicated.' Baker added that a bigger field could make sure fewer worthy teams aren't left out of the tournament. 'If you have a tournament that's got 64 or 68 teams in it, you're going to have a bunch of teams that are probably among what most people would consider to be the best 68 or 70 teams in the country that aren't going to make the tournament, period,' Baker said. 3 Florida Gators center Rueben Chinyelu (9) holds the trophy after winning the national championship game of the Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect 'The point behind going from 68 to 72 or 76 is to basically give some of those schools that were probably among the 72, 76, 68, 64 best teams in the country a way into the tournament.'
Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Ticket prices plunge minus Caitlin Clark for Fever road games
May 29 - The WNBA and several of its teams and broadcast partners are about to feel the impact of Caitlin Clark not being on the floor. Clark is expected to miss at least four games with a left quadriceps strain. The news comes on the heels of 2.22 million viewers tuning in to see Clark's Indiana Fever take on the defending champion New York Liberty on Saturday -- the second-highest ratings in history for a WNBA game on CBS. The game peaked at 3.24 million viewers. No. 1 on the list? The Fever's win over the Chicago Sky and Clark rival Angel Reese last June that drew 2.25 million viewers. The top two WNBA game ratings of all time on any network have also involved Clark -- 2.7 million on ABC for the Fever's home game against the Sky on May 17 and 2.3 million for the Fever at Sky on June 23, 2024. The league's broadcast partners will no doubt feel a hit without Clark. Over the next four games, Indiana will be featured twice on NBA TV, once on CBS and once on Ion. The massive impact at the gate is already being felt. Tickets for the Fever's game against the Washington Mystics on Wednesday were down 47 percent since the announcement of Clark's injury, according to TickPick as reported by Front Office Sports. That contest was moved from the Mystics' usual home venue, 4,200-seat CareFirst Arena in Washington, to 11,614-seat CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore to accommodate the interest in an expected visit by Clark. The get-in price for Indiana's trip to the Sky on June 7 fell 71 percent. That game was moved from 10,387-seat Wintrust Arena to 20,917-seat United Center in anticipation of Clark's participation. The Fever are more concerned about Clark's long-term health than they are about television ratings and road attendance. "For me, it's maintaining perspective," Indiana coach Stephanie White said. "It's making sure that we address this in a way that doesn't affect long-term. That we take care of it, don't over-push, don't over-exert. Making sure that we take the long-game approach to this so that we're not having lingering issues throughout the course of the season." Clark is averaging 19 points, 9.3 assists and six rebounds per game across four outings this season. The injury occurred sometime during the 90-88 home loss to the Liberty and will lead to the first non-exhibition games Clark has ever missed in the WNBA or in college. The initial timeframe for Clark's injury could see her return in time for Indiana's game at Atlanta on June 10 or against New York on June 14, which is slated to be televised on ABC. The Fever's game against Las Vegas on June 22 will be on ESPN. --Field Level Media
New York Post
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Stan Verrett explains stunning ESPN split after 25 years
The journalism industry looks nothing like it did when Stan Verrett joined ESPN some 25 years ago. Seeing that evolution in the industry factored into why the longtime 'SportsCenter' host is saying goodbye to the World Wide Leader. 'Our business has changed greatly since I got in. It's time that I changed along with it,' Verrett posted on X on Tuesday night. 'Fortunately, there are some tremendous opportunities to do that, while remaining in my adopted hometown, Los Angeles, which I love. Stay tuned.' 3 Stan Verrett during the 2017 Peach Bowl. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Verrett and ESPN are splitting ways after a strong run together, with Front Office Sports reporting that the network is not renewing his contract when it expires this summer. The 59-year-old began with ESPN and has served as a late-night host for the popular 'SportsCenter' program, which has also changed over the two-plus decades he has been with the network. He's been in the 1 a.m. slot since 2009 and primarily worked with Neil Everett before he left the network in 2023. It seems one factor in the decision comes from him being located in Los Angeles while the network is planning to stop hosting a 'SportsCenter' show in Los Angeles and instead center in Bristol, Conn. 3 Verrett worked for ESPN since 200. @wavy/YouTube 'My life is in Los Angeles is now,' Verrett posted on X on Wednesday after the report emerged. 'Nothing but gratitude for 25 years of living a dream at ESPN. I'm not retiring. Really excited about the future and some incredible opportunities. Stay tuned.' 3 Verrett at the ESPYs in 2015. WireImage Verrett indicated he's received positive feedback about his pending departure. 'I am overwhelmed by all of your comments. It's really touching,' he wrote on X. 'Working in a studio doesn't allow for interaction with viewers. But I'm flattered to know so many of you tuned in and enjoyed my work. That's why I did it. Sincerely, thank you all. ESPN praised Verrett for his contributions. 'We're grateful for Stan's many contributions and all he has brought to SportsCenter over the years,' ESPN EVP and executive editor or sports news and entertainment Dave Roberts told Front Office Sports in a statement. 'We thank him and wish him continued success.'
Newsweek
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Nike's Perfect Scottie Scheffler Ad Has Fans on the Floor Laughing
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. If Scottie Scheffler won the PGA Championship, his main sponsor, Nike, won (again) in its promotional image of the event. The company, which sponsored Tiger Woods for more than 25 years and currently has Rory McIlroy and Nelly Korda, among others, in its catalog, did not disappoint in congratulating Scheffler. The image posted by Nike on all of its social media profiles shows the World No. 1 executing a driver swing with his famous "Scheffler Shuffle". But the real gem that has fans cracking up is the caption that goes with it. "Best player in the world? Guilty," it reads. The verdict is in. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is the PGA Champion. — Nike (@Nike) May 18, 2025 The reference is, of course, to Scheffler's arrest almost exactly a year ago. It is both obvious and amusing. As you may recall, the now three-time major winner was arrested outside Valhalla on his way to play in the second round of the 2024 PGA Championship. In that bizarre incident, Scheffler spent several hours in jail and was released on charges of allegedly assaulting a police officer. The charges were dropped almost as fast as they were filed. A year later, it's not just Nike that has joined the trend of joking about it. Scheffler himself wore orange several times during the week at Quail Hollow, referencing the infamous uniform he wore during his time in prison. Many fans joined in the fun and made fun of the trend in social media: Scottie Scheffler is such a great story. Got out of jail, turned his life around and hasn't reoffended. The system works. — Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) May 18, 2025 One year ago, Scottie Scheffler was sitting in a Kentucky jail cell. Today he won the PGA Championship. What a redemption story. Shows you can always turn your life around. Congrats, champ. — ahoy_there (@ahoy_there_) May 18, 2025 Nike has made an art out of congratulating the players in its catalog for their successes in professional golf: Nike says goodbye to Tiger Woods after a 27-year partnership. — Front Office Sports (@FOS) January 8, 2024 Four majors made @McIlroyRory great. Completing a career Grand Slam, legendary. — Nike (@Nike) April 13, 2025 Nike's ad for Nelly Korda—who just won a record-tying FIFTH tournament in a row on the LPGA Tour 🏆 — Front Office Sports (@FOS) April 21, 2024 Scottie Scheffler has been sponsored by Nike since 2022 and is one of the main faces of the brand, especially after the exit of Tiger Woods. Other players joining him in the catalog are Rory McIlroy, Nelly Korda, Brooks Koepka and Tommy Fleetwood. The World No. 1 won the PGA Championship at 11-under par, five shots ahead of Bryson DeChambeau, Harris English and Davis Riley. Scheffler shot rounds of 69, 68, 65 and 71 to win the Wanamaker Trophy for the first time in his career. Scottie Scheffler of the United States celebrates with the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 18, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Scottie Scheffler of the United States celebrates with the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 18, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Getty Images/Jared C. Tilton It was his 15th PGA Tour victory and third major championship title. Scheffler now has five top-10 finishes in six career starts at the PGA Championship. More Golf: Bryson DeChambeau's 7-Words for Scottie Scheffler at PGA Championship
CNBC
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNBC
YouTube will stream NFL Week 1 game in Brazil for free
YouTube will stream the NFL's week one game on Sept. 5 for free — the first time the dominant streaming platform has ever broadcast a live NFL game in its entirety. The game, which Front Office Sports first reported will be between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers, will take place in São Paulo, Brazil. "Last year, people spent over 350 million hours watching official NFL content on YouTube, so it's both fitting and thrilling to continue to build our relationship with our partners at the NFL," YouTube Chief Business Officer Mary Ellen Coe said in a statement. "Streaming the Friday night game to fans for free around the world will mark YouTube's first time as a live NFL broadcaster – and we'll do it in a way that only YouTube can, with an interactive viewing experience and creators right at the center of the experience." The game will be available to all YouTube and YouTube TV users globally, except in Canada and certain other countries, and locally on broadcast television in the media markets of the participating teams, YouTube said in a statement. YouTube is the most-watched streaming platform in the U.S., consisting of 12% of all viewership for March, according to Nielsen. The NFL has an existing deal with YouTube TV for Sunday Ticket, the league's out-of-market package of games. Those games require a subscription — either $480 per year without YouTube TV or $378 per year for YouTube TV subscribers. YouTube TV is a collection of linear TV networks that approximates a standard cable bundle. The full 2025 NFL schedule will be released at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday.
