Latest news with #SaudiArabiaPublicInvestmentFund
CNBC
05-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
14. Newcastle United
Revenue and EBITDA figures are for the 2023-24 season, except for Major League Soccer teams, whose figures are for the 2024 Revenue and EBITDA figures have been converted to U.S. dollars based on the average exchange rate during the season (1 euro = $1.0816; 1 pound = $1.2608), and team values and debt figures have been converted using the exchange rate as of March 27, 2025 (1 euro = 1.0788; 1 pound = $1.2938). Total revenue: $400 millionEBITDA: $39 millionDebt as a percentage of value: 5% Match day: $63 millionCommercial: $105 millionBroadcasting: $232 million Country: EnglandLeague: Premier LeagueLeague championships: 4Owner(s): Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, RB Sports & MediaStadium: St. James' Park – 52,257 seating capacity
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PGA Tour: No news on reunification with LIV, but pace-of-play changes are coming
For just a moment on Tuesday, hope flickered in the fragmented world of men's professional golf. For a moment, it seemed golf fans would have some actual news of reunification, a pathway for the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to gather once again. But then the moment passed, and it's clear the world of golf remains just where it's been the last three-plus years — divided and weaker, regardless of how much spin its proponents can put on the ball. PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan held one of his annual press conferences Tuesday in advance of The Players Championship, and his initial remarks seemed promising. Monahan began by praising President Trump's role in golf's reunification — 'talks have been significantly bolstered by President Trump's willingness to serve as a facilitator … He believes strongly in the game's power and potential and he has been exceedingly generous with his time and influence to help bring a deal together.' And then the slightest hint of hope. Monahan praised Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund which oversees LIV, adding that 'we can see a future where we welcome him onto our board and work together to move the global game forward.' Monahan noted that 'we believe there's room to integrate important aspects of LIV Golf into the PGA Tour platform.' Complimenting Al-Rumayyan, opening the door for LIV Golf — that's progress! Yes, it was very calculated progress — Monahan very clearly, and surely deliberately, placed both Al-Rumayyan and LIV in a PGA Tour-centric context — but any progress is welcome at this point. Sadly for golf fans, that was as far as Monahan got in nodding toward any actual specifics of a reunification. He deflected question after followup question about golf's split with some variant of a reaffirmation to his commitment to reunification and hope for a brighter future for the game. 'We're committed to these negotiations and to doing everything that we can to drive to reunification for our fans,' he said. 'That said, we're not going to do anything that diminishes the strength of our platform or that momentum that we have with our fans and partners.' The other newsworthy — and potentially more impactful, in the short run — item from Monahan's press conference concerned pace of play. The slog of tournament rounds slows golf to a crawl. In an on-demand, always-on world, a player who takes several minutes to reach, address and swing at his ball — despite rules meant to keep him from doing so — is a numbing drag on the sport. Later this year, the Tour will begin publishing statistics related to pace of play. And starting next month, the Tour will implement a new policy on the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Americas designed to pick up the pace of play … with actual penalty strokes assessed for slowpokes. Monahan did not indicate whether names would be named — whether the Tour would say that Player X is the slowest player on Tour, for instance. And announcing penalty strokes is one step; actually implementing and enforcing them is another matter entirely. For many golf viewers (and, for that matter, players) fed up with slow play, the Tour will need to put teeth into its declarations to make them worthwhile. 'It's easy to identify the problem,' Monahan said. 'It's a little bit harder to find the solution just given the depth and breadth of everything that goes into pace of play, but we are committed to finding the right solutions and making progress on that front.' The Tour has much to take pride in this week, from improving TV ratings to the rollout of new initiatives like TGL to a new Fan Forward outreach plan that makes the game more compelling to a new audience. The Players Championship is the PGA Tour's marquee event, and the de facto start of golf's big-tournament season. With Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and most of the rest of the Tour's stars in attendance, the event ought to be its usual spectacular production. Perhaps LIV stars like Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau could be in attendance next year. But if not, no matter how the tournament plays out, there will still be something missing, just as there has been for the last three years.
The Independent
21-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Donald Trump insists Tiger Woods can still win ‘a couple more majors' after talks to end golf's civil war
Donald Trump has backed Tiger Woods to win 'a couple' more majors as the US president continues to seek a resolution that will reunite golf. Trump has been asked to help negotiations between the PGA Tour and the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series in an attempt to end the sport's schism. A number of top golfers, including Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, gave up their PGA Tour membership to take up lucrative offers in the breakaway series. A framework agreement between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) was announced in June 2023 but little progress has been made towards closer ties since. But there is optimism that may be changing after Trump this week met with PIF bosses as well as representatives of the PGA Tour, including Woods. "We have just concluded a constructive working session at the White House with President Trump and his excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan," a statement from PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, player director Adam Scott and Woods said. "Thanks to the leadership of President Trump, we have initiated a discussion about the reunification of golf. We are committed to moving as quickly as possible and will share additional details as appropriate. "We share a passion for the game and the importance of reunification. Most importantly, we all want the best players in the world playing together more often and are committed to doing all we can to deliver that outcome for our fans." Woods has remained a key figure for the PGA Tour even with the veteran playing sparingly over the last few years as he battles injuries. The 49-year-old remarkably secured a 15th major at The Masters in 2019 more than a decade after securing his 14th, but has not since finished in the top 30 at one of golf's biggest events since. Trump is confident, though, that Woods could yet climb closer to Jack Nicklaus's record tally of 18 major crowns. 'I was playing with him last week,' the president said. 'I think he's got a couple of majors left…. maybe more than that.'
The Independent
05-02-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Tom McKibbin explains why he ignored Rory McIlroy advice to join LIV Golf
Tom McKibbin has explained that the opportunity to learn from 'some of the best players in the world' convinced him to ignore Rory McIlroy 's advice and join LIV Golf. McKibbin had earned his PGA Tour card last year but elected not to take it up, instead joining Jon Rahm 's team on the breakaway Saudi-backed series. The talented Northern Irishman, 22, was reared at the same Hollywood Golf Club as McIlroy, who he contacted on receipt of the offer. The four-time major winner advised the youngster to turn down the offer and instead prioritise playing in golf's biggest events and Ryder Cup. But McKibbin was unconvinced, believing the chance to play alongside Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and some of the sport's other high-profile rebels as reason enough to pursue the deal. 'It was definitely in my mind but to me I wasn't in any of [the majors or Ryder Cup] anyway,' McKibbin said of McIlroy's advice. 'The opportunity to play with these guys out here more often and more consistently was definitely a huge factor. I'm not in those majors anyway at the minute so that really didn't bother me too much. 'Being young and 22 I've watched this last couple years since [LIV Golf] started. It's something I really like to watch. Something very different. It appeals to more people my age. 'The opportunity to learn from some of the best players in the world week in, week out is something that appealed very nicely to me. I liked the whole concept of everything.' Negotiations continue between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) over a deal that may bring golf back together and re-unify a fractured calendar. McKibbin will be unable to play on the PGA Tour having joined LIV, though will initially retain membership of the DP World Tour and in theory qualify for the Ryder Cup.
