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Indianapolis Star
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Indianapolis Star
Fox's Indy 500 broadcast hit 17-year high. What happens next is important for IndyCar's growth
INDIANAPOLIS — IndyCar's TV ratings smash success for this year's Indianapolis 500, the first time the average audience for a broadcast of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing has topped 7 million since 2008, is premier evidence that a sport that has in many ways been on slow but consistently downward-trending spiral since "the split" 30 years ago can once again rise to national prominence. But the Month of May showed, too, that bold, radical change — not the sport's historically business-savvy, penny-pinching mindset that has helped keep it afloat or riding minuscule single-digit gains of late — are needed to get it there. Michael Andretti, publicly and privately scolded for his bold, on-the-record quotes 15 months ago that the sport needed a $100 million influx in funding to tackle IndyCar's myriad issues, didn't then, and doesn't now, seem so far off. Because after my rewatch this week, Fox's broadcast of the Indy 500 was most successful in its moments where it felt the most different to editions in recent years: the pre-race show. It felt at times as if I had time-traveled to a cool, fall Saturday morning set of ESPN's "College Gameday," featuring multiple intricate sets, a deep cast of knowledgeable on-air talent with diverse backgrounds and specialties, a raucous, sometimes seemingly unending crowd flanking them and sprinkles of both live, in-person interviews and pre-taped feature pieces that ran the gamut of emotions. It was everything Fox's Super Bowl pre-game show was earlier this year, with the benefit of being a reasonable length that someone actually might want to sit all the way through and absorb. It was subtly educational — from features on fans and the blue envelopes to drones flying all over and showing just how stinkin' big the place is — without dumbing down the content. It spoke to and highlighted, either in short live hits, segments of thematic features or full-blown profile segments — well over a dozen drivers, some of them at enough length that had you not known them at all before, you might have reason to root for them now. Was it all a slam dunk? With the over-the-top spots with Gronk, the multiple messed up row-by-row factoids and the unnecessary AI "Michael Strahan the racecar driver" segment, certainly not. But for those not at the track that morning, it made you feel as if you were right in Pagoda Plaza, told stories that kept a variety of levels of race fans engaged and helped build both the tension and the pageantry that showed full and well why the 500 is regarded as the biggest race in the world. It properly set the stage in a way that made someone like me who's so deeply ingrained in the sport that this show was for a sport that for years now has only fielded $20 million to $25 million annually in rights fees and one that through five previous races in 2025 had only two draw average audiences on network TV above 715,000. And with a pre-race audience that neared 3 million, it helped build a base that saw this year's 500 finish with an audience of 7.087 million — one that topped the corresponding year's Daytona 500 (albeit one that featured a rain delay of more than three hours) for just the second time in 30 years and drew the largest U.S. motorsports audience in more than two years. That audience figure, too, represented 40% growth year over year, the type of leap in audience the 500 has seen only two other times in more than 20 years: 2005, for Danica Patrick's rookie race (60% increase, 6.08 million to 9.74 million); and 2021, for the post-COVID-19 race (53% increase, 3.67 million to 5.63 million). And for a race that hadn't sniffed an average of audience above 6 million since 2016 and that saw just an 11% year-over-year audience increase from ABC (2018) to NBC (2019) that delivered a much less-radical broadcast overhaul, Fox's all-out blitz, from its promotional plan that began last fall to its out-of-the-park pre-race show can be the only thing that would reasonably explain such a leap. More 500s like this in the future will undoubtedly represent notable, impactful paydays for IndyCar teams from a sponsorship standpoint. Indy 500 partner programs that might've required budgets from $1.2 million to $1.5 million, or even $2 million for teams not overly looking to run an extra car, could transform over the next few months as budgets are prepared for 2026 and, for the first time in several years, teams might be able to seek higher sponsorship dollars for reasons other than covering steeply rising costs. But until the rest of the calendar and the sport can transform in the ways in which IndyCar seemingly did for more than six hours Sunday, it will continue to fall short of its potential. Outside a home run of a season opener that drew more than 1.4 million viewers across Fox's race broadcast, IndyCar had yet to reach even 920,000 (Barber was second highest at 914,000) until the 500 in a season that, heading into Sunday, was riding a 15% year-over-year boost almost entirely attributed to that big-hit season opener and a Long Beach broadcast that only barely topped a dismal 550,000, but came in the wake of one a year prior broadcast on cable (NBC's USA Network) that only marginally even topped 300,000 and that in 2023 surpassed 1 million on NBC. In short, its gains from one truly notable win, along with another couple marginal wins and notable losses had painted an uncertain picture as to where exactly the sport's momentum was trending. Insider: He played hooky to attend the Indy 500, owns a bar outside IMS and leads Fox's coverage At-race attendance for several years now has been trending upwards at several of the sport's biggest races — indicative of both a growing diehard fanbase as well as more casual fans willing to give IndyCar a shot when it rolls through town — but with average network TV audiences largely stagnant over the course of the NBC-only era, the latter suggested the sport wasn't doing enough to create buzz and give an increasing number of fans a reason to make the sport a weekly priority. If IndyCar was the only thing on, or it was the opener, or a finale, or a race with a great lead-in or the first at a new track, you could count on solid returns. But up against stiff competition and without a pressing reason to tune in — or a marketing campaign that ever really broke into mainstream culture, until this year — there continued to be far too many races that suggested in those instances it was for little more than its aging diehard fanbase. Not that IndyCar need expect any other race to even sniff 500 numbers, but other races making, and holding onto, year over year, similar annual increases is where this sport has an opportunity turn the corner and be one where teams aren't merely grinding to break even. And what does that look like? Fox's game plan of practice and qualifying on cable TV, along with incorporating IndyCar into the core of its news, sports and entertainment programming is a notable start, but it's more than that. Each race needs to feel like an event, like something special. You can't have a 17-race schedule where half of them feel as if they're a Wednesday stop on a concert tour. 'Come on man': Indianapolis 500 viewers aren't happy with the amount of commercials on Fox If you ask me purely as a viewer of both, Formula races continue to pretty consistently out rate IndyCar broadcasts because each and every one feels big and important, from the length of pre-race shows to the grid walks, the storytelling and the extensive post-race broadcast that makes the achievement of the winning team and driver and their podium-mates feel grand. And in between, the broadcasts are proactively finding the battles on track and creating storylines. Not only is the timing and scoring technology a storytelling tool in and of itself, but its … reliable. And elsewhere in The CW's fresh take on the NASCAR Xfinity series and Amazon Prime's debut with the Cup series' Coca-Cola 600, the broadcasts have felt fresh, sleek and grandiose. In IndyCar, this looks like far more tentpole events on the calendar, beyond the addition of next year's Grand Prix of Arlington. It means Mexico City and Denver and perhaps a rethink of IndyCar's stops in central California or the Pacific Northwest. It means a race at a major venue in the northeast. It means more ovals that come with even a quarter of the importance that Sunday's 500 came packaged with. It means nighttime oval races in primetime, like the one we're getting in two weeks at World Wide Technology Raceway, but one that notably wasn't scheduled until it became clear IndyCar was struggling mightily whenever it faced NASCAR competition. It means a wholesale new car completely redesigned with the future in mind, ideally one not only capable of holding onto Honda but attracting a third manufacturer that has visions of longevity in the sport and a history of motorsports success, even if the price tag is high. Together, all of that contributes to a sport that's far more exciting than the current product on track and one that feels important and grandiose off of it, which leads to a growing fan base that triggers increased sponsorship interest and eventually a flywheel that feeds itself. Because even Sunday, as many people clearly felt the Indy 500 was worth tuning into, represented a largely uneventful back half of a race with miniscule amounts of passing up at the front — most notably a lead pack of drivers with the fastest cars in the field underneath them who couldn't pass the 14th- and 15th-place challengers that had qualified 18th and 22nd and survived a race that featured exceedingly high levels of attrition. And so 8.4 million fans, both diehard and exceedingly casual, were drawn to a down-to-the-wire 500 finish that featured as little drama as the race has seen in years, in many ways because of a car that has received piecemeal updates for 14 years. How many of them were so compelled by what they saw that they'll make Sunday's Detroit Grand Prix appointment viewing? Perhaps a better question: How many times, if ever, was the next race on the calendar plugged? I'll be happy to be told I somehow missed several instances, but none immediately come to mind. After all, how successful, ultimately, is a restaurant's highly publicized grand-opening that featured commercials and fliers and social media ads and a live band out front to coronate the occasion, if the food alone isn't good enough to pack the place for weeks to come? Without question, this Indianapolis 500 lived in another stratosphere than it's occupied, outside his 100th running, than any in recent memory. From sold-out trendy, high-quality pieces of merch from mainstream brands to a Carb Day crowd that may never have been so big to the grandstand sellout and the historically high TV numbers, the 109th Indy 500 should be seen as nothing other than evidence IndyCar can go to battle with its rivals. And though it took an ill-timed February storm to do it, the fact more folks made the IndyCar's 500 appointment TV than NASCAR's is something that can't and shouldn't be ignored.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
LeBron James reveals which NFL players resemble him the most: "We have that same stature, as far as the build goes"
Even at 40, LeBron James continues to do things we've never seen before. He just wrapped up his 22nd NBA season, made the All-NBA Second Team, and played 70 games while averaging 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds. In an era where players are sitting out left and right, LeBron keeps moving like he's in his prime. It's his legendary conditioning, discipline, and otherworldly genetics that make it possible — a 6'9", 250-pound train with a 40-inch vertical and the basketball IQ of a savant. Advertisement However, before he became one of the greatest hoops players of all time, "The King" was terrorizing high school football fields in Ohio. In just two years at St. Vincent-St. Mary, LeBron racked up 103 catches for 2,065 yards and 23 touchdowns — numbers that made him an All-State wideout and a walking mismatch every time he lined up. Although we didn't get the pleasure of watching him on the football field, during a candid conversation on the "New Heights" podcast with Travis and Jason Kelce, "The Akron Hammer" broke down the NFL players he sees as closest to his unique athletic profile. "Probably like a mix between, you know, Gronk [Rob Gronkowski] or Randy Moss a little bit. He is a lot smaller than me, but he runs faster, but he is a lot smaller. Like, 'Megatron' [Calvin Johnson], we have that same stature, as far as the build goes or whatever the case may be…" the four-time NBA Champion said. Three players, same beast Rob Gronkowski was a dominant tight end who turned simple plays into bulldozing touchdowns. At 6'6" and 265, Gronk was too big for safeties, too fast for linebackers, and strong enough to carry two defenders on his back. While Moss was a walking highlight reel, just like Bron is on the basketball hardwood. And then there is Calvin Johnson, aka "Megatron," who combined rare size and agility at 6'5 ", 237 pounds, making him a constant deep threat and a nightmare for defenses. Advertisement LeBron's right in the middle of that triangle. Bigger than all of them, faster than most big men, and blessed with hands, hops, and vision. If you handed him a helmet, shoulder pads, and a week of practice, there is no doubt in mind that the 21-time All-Star would not be able to hold his own on the football field. Maybe even dominate in his own right. Related: "I just got tired of hearing it and just thought it was best for me to move on" - Patrick Ewing admits he regrets leaving the Knicks out of spite LeBron almost suited up in the NFL Most NBA players played other sports growing up, but few had the talent to go pro outside basketball. Wilt Chamberlain was once offered a deal by the Kansas City Chiefs, and LBJ nearly did the same during the 2011 NBA lockout. Advertisement By then, James had two MVPs and a move to the Miami Heat under his belt, but with the NBA paused, the best athlete in American sports found himself itching to play football with two teams reportedly ready to make the offer — the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks. "The Chosen One" ultimately stayed on the court, and the league came back before we got to see Bron in the wide receiver or tight end position. But the fact that it was even a real conversation shows just how different he is and what a rare athlete we had the pleasure to witness. Related: Michael Jordan warned the NBA about pushing the "next MJ" narrative: "There's a danger to that, the credibility of the game can take a hit"
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'A f***ing power runner': Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman crown Derrick Henry as modern power running icon in NFL Mount Rushmore debate
In a recent episode of their podcast, Dudes on Dudes with Gronk and Jules, NFL stars Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman took fans on a nostalgic trip through football's most bruising backfields. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The duo discussed who would belong on the 'Mount Rushmore of power runners' and their list spanned legends old and new. From Mike Alstott to Derrick Henry , the podcast duo builds their Mount Rushmore of the NFL's toughest runners For NFL enthusiasts, this wasn't just casual banter. It was a tribute to the game's most physical, relentless runners the ones who didn't just gain yards, but steamrolled through defenders. Gronk's first pick was Mike Alstott, the former Buccaneers fullback known for his punishing runs and sheer strength. With 5,000+ rushing yards and 58 touchdowns, Alstott was one of the most feared short-yardage backs of his time. Edelman countered with John Riggins, the Washington icon who racked up 13,435 total yards and 116 touchdowns. Riggins' powerful running style and Super Bowl XVII MVP performance earned him a rightful place in NFL history. Next came Gronkowski's nod to Larry Csonka, the Miami Dolphins great from the 1970s. Csonka amassed over 8,000 rushing yards and 64 touchdowns during a career that included two Super Bowl titles and a stint with the New York Giants. Edelman followed up with Brandon Jacobs, the two-time Super Bowl champion with the Giants who was known for his size, strength, and ability to bulldoze through defenders. He also gave a shoutout to Peyton Hillis, recalling the running back's breakout 2010 season that led to his appearance on the Madden cover. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The conversation turned reverent as they mentioned , widely regarded as one of the greatest players in NFL history. 'I mean, Jim Brown was a f***ing power runner. If you watch him, like, he was the biggest, fastest man on the goddamn field. I remember him punishing people,' Edelman said, pointing to Brown's 12,312 rushing yards, 126 touchdowns, and lasting legacy as a player and civil rights activist. Rounding out the list was current Ravens star Derrick Henry, whom Gronkowski and Edelman hailed as the modern power running icon. After posting 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns in the 2024 season and securing the largest-ever contract for a running back over 30, Henry's inclusion was both timely and well-earned. Also read: For fans, the list wasn't just a collection of stats it was a celebration of football's raw, physical essence.
Fox Sports
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox Sports
Rob Gronkowski and the Indy 500 Snake Pit was a match made in party heaven
If the Indianapolis 500 is the greatest spectacle in racing, then the Snake Pit is the greatest spectacle in partying — and with a reputation like that, you can bet that Rob Gronkowski is going to be at the center of the action. Gronk made his Snake Pit debut on Sunday and served as the Grand Marshal of the infamous infield. "This is a party, and I've seen every party in the world," Gronk said. "This is the biggest party I've seen since Woodstock in 1969!" Gronk started his day on the small stage in the middle of the crowd of over 30,000 fans, and despite being largely outnumbered in enemy territory, he made sure to give them all a friendly reminder of what he did in Indiana during his playing career. "My favorite part of being here at the Indy 500 is that I feel like I'm at home because I absolutely owned the Indianapolis Colts for eight years straight." Gronk said. "While I was on the Patriots, I never lost to them. I owned them on the field: in the blocking game, in the passing game, so I feel like I'm at home." Gronk eventually made his way to the big stage, where he introduced English DJ Sammy Virji: "All you party people, I wanna hear y,all!" Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! BEST OF FOX SPORTS' INDY 500 COVERAGE: Ranking Indy 500 drivers from 33 to 1: Can anyone unseat Josef Newgarden? Got milk? 33 potential Indy 500 winners pick preferred dairy option Pato O'Ward pens letter to Indy 500: 'Had my heart broken here … but it also fuels me' No oval experience, no problem: Rookie Robert Shwartzman captures Indy 500 pole Rash of Crash: Inside a wild weekend of wrecks during Indy 500 prep From 'magical' to 'legendary': Drivers describe the Indy 500 in one word 2025 Indy 500 liveries: See the designs of all 34 cars on the track at The Brickyard Counting down the 25 most memorable moments in Indy 500 history recommended Get more from NTT INDYCAR SERIES Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Rob Gronkowski clears the air on wild Aaron Hernandez masturbation claims during Patriots meetings
Rob Gronkowski addressed a long-standing, bizarre rumor about Aaron Hernandez allegedly masturbating during Patriots team meetings, calling it 'crazy.' (Getty Images) Rob Gronkowski, known as much for his wild personality as for his dominant career on the football field, is no stranger to shocking stories. But his latest appearance on the Bussin' With the Boys podcast has fans doing a double take. When a long-standing rumor about his late New England Patriots teammate Aaron Hernandez resurfaced, Gronk didn't dodge the question—he danced on the edge of confirmation. Gronk calls out 'crazy' Aaron Hernandez meeting story fans still can't stop talking about During the candid interview, former NFL offensive lineman Taylor Lewan put it bluntly, asking Gronkowski whether it was true that Hernandez had been 'in the team meeting room beating off and doing crazy s***.' Gronk's response was classic Gronkowski—half-joking, half-jaw-dropping: 'That's a possibility, that one,' he said, laughing nervously. 'I may or may not have seen it live. I'm not going to confirm nor deny. ' Instead of expressing shock or disgust, Gronk leaned into the chaotic vibe that fans have come to associate with both him and the controversial Hernandez. 'I love crazy s***, though,' Gronkowski admitted. 'I didn't mind things like that. I was like, 'Wow, that was pretty epic.' I was a wild man myself. Nothing fazed me.' This bizarre anecdote only scratches the surface of what has become one of the most infamous legacies in NFL history. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 42歲女性只吃數個月就判若兩人！用萬寧賣的「這個」超有效 好速纖 HELASLIM 了解更多 Hernandez, who shared the Patriots' tight end room with Gronk from 2010 to 2012, was once viewed as a rising star. Together, they were a nightmare for opposing defenses. But while Gronk's career soared, Hernandez's life spiraled into tragedy. Hernandez was arrested in 2013 for the murder of Odin Lloyd and later convicted of first-degree murder. In 2017, he died by suicide in prison, with posthumous reports revealing that he had been suffering from Stage 3 Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)—a severe brain condition often linked to repeated head trauma. Gronkowski, despite his usually lighthearted demeanor, admitted that the extent of Hernandez's darkness caught him off guard. 'I didn't see it going to the level that it went to,' he said. 'That was a surprise. It was a surprise to everyone because you would never expect anyone, especially in that position, to have it go to the level that it went to.' He further acknowledged that while Hernandez did show signs of unpredictability, the depths of his troubles were largely hidden. 'I didn't know it was that bad. I knew that there was definitely some wild sides to him,' Gronkowski shared. With multiple documentaries, including Netflix's Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez, casting a spotlight on the disgraced star's complex life, Gronkowski reflected on how Hernandez was portrayed. 'With everything coming out, there's some that I would say is true in the documentaries… there's some that's probably exaggerated a little bit. But there's some that's not exaggerated at all, either.' As a four-time Super Bowl champion and one of the NFL's most colorful personalities, Rob Gronkowski continues to captivate both on and off the field. His recollection of Hernandez—part amusement, part sadness—adds yet another layer to a story that continues to haunt the NFL and fascinate fans. Also Read: Donald Trump mocks New York Jets in a subtle way, while praising Tim Tebow's NFL success Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
