The Week In Review - 06/20/2025
Where sports, business, and culture collide - Broken down by: Spotlights / Sports Business / Sports Media, Content & Streaming / Sports & Culture: Brands, Partnerships, Style / International / Extra
A lot went down this week - so apologies in advance for the content overload, but between major moves and cultural happenings, there’s plenty to cover.
The Florida Panthers went back-to-back. The Lakers were sold at a record-shattering valuation (only makes me wonder what MSG Sports is worth). New Balance declared Cooper Flagg Day as he kicks off what many expect to be a Hall of Fame career. Fanatics Fest Year 2 is underway. Content creators are still printing 💰. And Joey Chestnut announced his return 🔥.
I read somewhere that The Stanley Cup is survived, not won. There is no better way to describe the grueling climb to the top of the NHL.
This Week’s 3 Spotlights
Michael Rubin On Building Fanatics Into A Billion-Dollar Empire
In honor of Fanatics Fest this weekend, it’s worth highlight Boardroom’s cover story on Michael Rubin - a tale of hustle, ambition, and reinvention. You’ll hear Rubin repeating “I’m just getting started” - it’s a mindset that powers his mission to build Fanatics into the most influential company in sports.
Growing Fanatics is the only goal on Rubin’s mind, through its three business units: commerce, collectibles, and gaming. But Fanatics is more than just business - it’s a cultural force. It’s where fans meet players, creators, and one-of-a-kind experiences. From Travis Scott designing custom sportswear to Kristen Juszczyk launching a women’s line, Fanatics opens doors that didn’t exist before.
Rubin hires the right people and lets them operate. This enables him to target new businesses to acquire or to build them from scratch as he continues to enrich the sports world.
SportsCenter: 50 States In 50 Days Full Schedule Unveiled
Props to ESPN for giving SportsCenter some much-needed modern TLC. Starting on June 27th, the iconic show is taking on its most ambitious project in decades: 50 States in 50 Days. The seven-week tour brings anchors and on-site storytelling to a new state every day, with stops ranging from: the Home Run Derby, WNBA All-Star Weekend, The ESPYS, and The Little League World Series.
“From iconic athletic venues to hometown hidden gems, each stop will spotlight local rivalries, community traditions, and the many ways sports unite fans across the country.”
The initiative kicks off in Washington, D.C. with Scott Van Pelt and includes appearances from names like Elle Duncan, Kevin Negandhi, Nicole Briscoe, and Hannah Storm. It’s the first cross-country SportsCenter tour in 20 years - reimagined for today’s fans and timed with ESPN’s push toward a direct-to-consumer future.
It’s a strong move to reengage the national audience and spotlight how sports bring local and global communities together.
Devers Stunner Only Part Of Wild Week For Fenway Sports Group
The Red Sox trading Rafael Devers, combined with Fenway Sports Group exploring both a sale of its stake in the Penguins and a potential purchase of La Liga club Getafe, sends a clear message: the Red Sox are no longer the center of the FSG universe.
What once felt like a storied baseball franchise is now a single piece of a broader sports investment portfolio. FSG’s priorities are increasingly about managing global assets, not local legacies - a reality of modern, commercialized sports ownership. When teams become financial instruments, the emotional connection can fade. And for Red Sox fans, this week made that shift feel especially real. Oh, and the Red Sox concession staff is going on strike.
🏟️ Sports Business
FOS
PE-Backed Arcis Has Bought Up 70 Golf Courses
Blake Walker bet on himself and built Arcis Golf into a $2B, 70-course portfolio by reimagining the modern golf club - focusing on accessibility, lifestyle, and overlooked communities, all while operating like a long-term owner, not a quick-flip investor.
PE-Backed Concert Golf Grows Empire With $60M Cape Cod Course
Concert Golf Partners, backed by Clearlake Capital, just made its biggest move yet - a $60M acquisition of Cape Cod’s Club at New Seabury - as it doubles down on its niche as the only pure-play private club operator, prioritizing quality over scale in a booming golf market.
Dana White’s Next Frontier: Making Jiu-Jitsu Mainstream
UFC is launching its first-ever Brazilian jiu-jitsu event on June 25, as Dana White brings the sport that inspired the UFC’s founding into the spotlight - backed by a $10–12M investment and a YouTube series aimed at mainstreaming the discipline as part of a broader TKO combat sports takeover.
Gotham FC Owner Wants To Apply Peloton Instructor Model To NWSL Players
Peloton alum Carolyn Tisch Blodgett is applying her playbook of turning talent into stars to Gotham FC - using media, storytelling, and cultural relevance to grow the NWSL club’s brand by elevating its players into the spotlight.
Embattled Cheerleading Giant Launches First-Ever Pro Cheer League
After years of legal turmoil and $126M in settlements, Varsity Brands - backed by KKR - is launching the world’s first pro cheerleading league in 2026, aiming to legitimize post-collegiate cheer with paid athletes, national events, and a pending media rights deal.
‘Pandemonium’: Putter Maker Sees Sales Surge After JJ Spaun’s U.S. Open Win
J.J. Spaun’s dramatic 64-foot birdie to win the U.S. Open has sparked a sales surge - and potential endorsement deal - for L.A.B. Golf, whose zero torque putter stole the spotlight and put the bootstrapped brand on investors’ radars.
18th-Century Law Fuels Legal Blitz On Sports Prediction Markets
Kalshi, Robinhood, and others are facing five state lawsuits accusing them of offering illegal sports betting disguised as financial products - invoking 18th-century gambling laws to challenge the legality of fast-growing sports prediction markets operating in all 50 states.
Tampa Bay Sun FC Has Proposed A 15,000-Seat Waterfront Soccer Stadium On The City's Ybor Harbor
Sportico
Ted Leonsis Group Invests In Women’s Sports Reporters, ‘The IX’
Ted Leonsis’ Monumental Sports has invested in The IX and The Next, two fast-growing women’s sports media platforms, to boost coverage of women’s sports - while keeping editorial control independent.
San Jose Earthquakes Owner Hires Bank To Sell MLS Club
John Fisher - who also owns MLB’s Oakland A’s - is selling a controlling stake in the San Jose Earthquakes (valued at ~$600 million), hiring Moelis & Co. to run the process. With PayPal Park considered outdated and low attendance plaguing the team, the sale is likely tied to financing the A’s upcoming $1.75 billion Las Vegas ballpark.
MLB’s Rays In Advanced Talks for $1.7B Sale To Florida Home Builder
The Tampa Bay Rays are in exclusive, advanced talks to sell the franchise to a group led by Jacksonville homebuilder Patrick Zalupski, alongside Ken Babby, Bill Cosgrove, and other local investors. The proposed deal values the team at approximately $1.7 billion, with Zalupski having signed a letter of intent.
David Blitzer Joins League One Volleyball As Austin Co-Owner
David Blitzer’s Bolt Ventures has joined forces with Spurs Sports & Entertainment and G9 Ventures to purchase the Austin franchise of League One Volleyball (LOVB), marking the league’s first team owned by individual local investors as it shifts from league-operated models
Fenway Park Concession Workers Approve Strike In 113-Year First
Fenway Park’s concession workers - including cashiers, cooks, and beer vendors - have authorized their first-ever strike after 95% voted in favor. The union, UNITE HERE Local 26, is demanding pay that meets Boston’s $20/hr standard, improved scheduling, and protection from automation. Contracts have been stalled with Aramark since December 2024, and workers warn that automation threatens jobs and the venue’s historic character
Bears’ 2% Stake Sale Will Likely Require Goodell Intervention
A 2% stake in the Chicago Bears, previously held by the late Andrew McKenna, is up for sale, but a dispute over first-refusal rights between the McCaskey family and Pat Ryan has triggered NFL intervention. Commissioner Roger Goodell is now tasked with arbitrating the matter under league rules before the sale can move forward.
NFL Won’t Replace Exec Brian Rolapp After His Departure for PGA Tour
The NFL has opted not to replace Rolapp with a single successor; instead, his extensive portfolio - covering media rights, NFL Films, sponsorships, and investments - will be divided among existing executives
The Athletic
Why Are So Few People Watching The Stanley Cup Final In The U.S.?
Despite Connor McDavid’s brilliance and thrilling games, the 2024–25 Stanley Cup Final drew record-low U.S. TV ratings - down 25% from last year - largely due to its move from broadcast (ABC) to cable (TNT), limiting reach to casual fans. While U.S. interest lags, Canada was fully captivated, with surging viewership and national pride riding on Edmonton’s Cup chase (despite falling short).
PGA Tour leadership: Brian Rolapp Is In; Jay Monahan Will Be Phased Out
Brian Rolapp, the NFL’s former Chief Media & Business Officer, has been named CEO of the PGA Tour and will take over day-to-day responsibilities later this summer, while current commissioner Jay Monahan transitions out by the end of 2026. Important to note: Rolapp and Scott O’Neil, the CEO of LIV Golf, attended HBS together.
SBJ
SBJ Inks Data Partnership With CivicScience Aimed At Analyzing Sports Business World
Sports Business Journal has struck a data partnership with consumer intelligence platform CivicScience, launching a series called Sports Consumer Insights. With access to CivicScience’s real-time data, SBJ will now offer deeper analysis of fan behavior, spending patterns, emerging trends, and tournament-specific sentiment - starting with insights from the World Cup - and providing readers sharper, data-driven sports business coverage.
Teamworks Raises $235M At More Than $1B valuation
Teamworks has raised $235 million in a Series F round, valuing the sports-tech platform at over $1 billion pre-money. Led by Dragoneer Investment Group, the investment will accelerate the development of AI tools, expand its data science team, and enhance its platform, which currently serves more than 6,500 sports teams globally.
SBJ - Forty Under 40: Class Of 2025
Some really cool and driven people honored
📺 Sports Media, Content & Streaming
Forbes
Brands are increasingly collaborating directly with creators and influencers for "next-gen" sports content - favoring unscripted, authentic partnerships (like BodyArmor with Barstool’s “Big Cat”) that boost engagement and virality organically.
Penske Media (Variety + Hollywood Reporter)
In May, U.S. streaming viewership (44.8%) officially surpassed combined broadcast and cable TV (44.2%) for the first time, per Nielsen. YouTube led all platforms with 12.5% of total TV watch time.
Tubi will premiere Zero Star: The Cam Ward Story, a six-part docuseries tracing Ward’s rise from unranked high school recruit to No. 1 NFL Draft pick.
Tubi Acquires Naomi Osaka Tennis Doc ‘The Second Set’
Tubi will debut The Second Set in August, a documentary following Naomi Osaka’s return to tennis and journey into motherhood. Produced by Nike, Hana Kuma, and LeBron James’ SpringHill Company, the film marks the first release in a new athlete-focused partnership between Tubi and Uninterrupted.
Anderson Cooper Taps CAA CEO Bryan Lourd For Representation In Tough Climate For TV Anchors
Anderson Cooper has signed with CAA CEO Bryan Lourd - an unusual move for a TV anchor - as traditional news faces declining economics, network restructurings, and fading cultural influence. With many veteran anchors exiting or being pushed aside, Cooper’s pivot suggests he may be exploring new opportunities beyond CNN, where he’s been since 2001.
YouTube Launches ‘Open Call,’ A New Way For Marketers To Solicit Branded Content From Creators
YouTube has launched Open Call, a new feature that lets brands request sponsored content from YouTube Partner Program creators at scale. Powered by BrandConnect and unveiled at Cannes Lions, the tool allows creators to respond to brand briefs with custom videos, which marketers can promote as ads - streamlining creator-brand collaboration across the platform.
Fox Invests In Lighthouse Creator Studio In Bid To Find New Influencer Talent
Fox has made a strategic investment in The Lighthouse, a creator-focused studio and co-working campus backed by Whalar Group, aiming to incubate new content franchises built around digital talent. The move reflects Fox’s broader shift toward supporting creators at the ground level - part of its growing push into the $250B creator economy.
Stephen Curry-Produced Basketball Doc ‘Good Shot’ Reveals Emotional Trailer
Warner Bros. Discovery Reworks CEO Pay, Reducing David Zaslav’s Massive Compensation
David Zaslav’s massive (and controversial) pay package is being cut as Warner Bros. Discovery restructures. In response to shareholder backlash, Zaslav will receive less cash, more stock, and bonuses tied to performance, not just debt reduction. His base salary stays at $3M, but his annual cash bonus target drops from $24M to $6M.
Amazon, Roku Strike Deal To Pool Connected-TV Audiences For Advertisers
Amazon and Roku are teaming up to combine their streaming audiences - roughly 80 million U.S. households - via Amazon’s demand-side ad platform. The partnership aims to improve ad targeting and reduce viewer repetition, helping advertisers reach more unique viewers across Prime Video, The Roku Channel, and other apps on Fire TV and Roku devices.
ESPN
Fanatics Fest: All Access Set To Air July 7 At 9pm ET On ESPN And ESPN+
ESPN will premiere Fanatics Fest: All Access on July 7, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the immersive sports and culture event that drew 70,000 fans in 2024. Produced by OBB Media, the special captures the biggest moments from Fanatics Fest NYC- featuring iconic athletes, surprise performances, and ESPN's First Take live from the floor.
KLUTCH Sports
FOS
Kenny Albert Estimates He’s Called About 4,000 Games During Career
Kenny Albert, who will be the new voice of the New York Rangers, recently surpassed his father, Marv Albert, in national TV games called—logging his 1,486th broadcast during the Stanley Cup Final. With an estimated 4,000 total games across TV and radio, Albert reflected on the milestone as surreal, noting it includes 534 NHL, 512 NFL, 421 MLB, and 15 NBA games.
MSN
A24 has greenlit The Backrooms, a sci-fi horror film from 19-year-old viral filmmaker Kane Parsons - making him the youngest director in A24 history. Based on his hit YouTube series with 190M+ views, the film will star Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve and begins production this summer.
Twitter / X
LeBron James And Steve Nash Are Coming To Fanatics Fest For A Special Live Episode of Mind The Game Tomorrow Saturday, June 21
Bloomberg
Influencer Marketing Gains Ground As Global Ad Budgets Tighten
As global ad budgets tighten, influencer marketing is booming - expected to hit $33B in 2025 - with brands shifting spend toward micro-creators and user-generated content that delivers high engagement at lower cost.
People Spend Most Of Their Time On YouTube Watching Videos That Are Longer Than 20 Minutes
Boardroom
The Dodgers Generated 103.6 Million Social Media Engagements Last Season, The Most In All Of MLB
The Leo Messi Effect Continues To Be Very Real. Inter Miami FC Is Now Valued At $1.2 billion
🎽 Sports & Culture: Brands, Partnerships, Style
Twitter / X
Mitchell & Ness X AMP (Kai Cenat)
Michael Rubin’s Fanatics (and its Mitchell & Ness arm) continues to stay ahead of the curve - tapping directly into Gen Z culture. Partnering with AMP, the streaming collective that’s essentially Gen Z’s FaZe Clan but even bigger, is a smart, strategic play.
Luis Guzman For Salehe Bembury X New York Knicks
Boardroom
Lebron X Amazon Prime Day
Sneaker News
Complex
LinkedIn (Ben Shapiro, CEO BL 101)
Baseball Lifestyle 101 2025 Partnership With The New York Mets
From exclusive in-stadium merchandise to tarp cover branding, and even a Rain Delay activation on the jumbo-tron, this collaboration is just getting started.
🌎 International
FOS
Florian Wirtz Joins Liverpool - $158M Move
EPL record fee
Variety
Netflix To Carry TF1 Channels In France Following ‘First-of-Its-Kind’ Deal
Netflix is officially entering its “new cable” era. Its landmark deal with French broadcaster TF1 - bringing live and on-demand programming to the platform in 2026 - marks a major shift toward aggregation, bundling, and broader entertainment access. As streaming fragments, Netflix is positioning itself as the go-to hub, much like cable once was.
SportsPro
Liverpool Owner FSG ‘Considers’ Getafe Takeover For Multi-Club Model
Fenway Sports Group, owner of Liverpool FC and the Boston Red Sox, is exploring a potential acquisition of LaLiga club Getafe as part of its growing multi-club strategy. The move would mark FSG’s first soccer investment outside England. With other Premier League teams embracing multi-club ownership, FSG is looking to expand its global sports footprint.
FOS
Premier League Embraces NFL-Style Flex Scheduling For 2025–26
The Premier League will adopt NFL-style flex scheduling in 2025–26, allowing match times to shift with shorter notice to accommodate broadcasts and European competitions.
Marketing Beat
SportsPro And SportsQuake Launch Initiative To Celebrate Sport Sponsorship
SportsPro and Sportquake have launched Impact X, an annual initiative spotlighting the most creative and impactful brand partnerships in sports. The inaugural casebook features 50 standout campaigns, including Newcastle United’s ‘Unsilence the Crowd’ and Adidas’ ‘Runner 321’. The project aims to highlight how tech-led, purpose-driven sponsorships are reshaping fan engagement and setting new standards in sports marketing.
📖 Extra Reads
Bloomberg
Concert Ticket Prices Are Falling For The First Time In Years
The drop in concert ticket prices likely reflects short-term economic volatility, not a lasting decline in demand - but the industry remains cautious amid ongoing political and financial uncertainty.
The Athletic
How The NHL Grew Its Stanley Cup Playoff Beard Tradition: ‘We Were Too Tired To Shave’
The tradition of NHL playoff beards is widely credited to the New York Islanders' 1980 Stanley Cup run, though players like Denis Potvin say it started simply due to exhaustion during a grueling series. While some debate the true origin, the Islanders’ success helped cement the ritual - now a near-universal postseason custom - as a gritty symbol of endurance, superstition, and team identity.
LA Times
Shohei Ohtani Makes His Long-Awaited Pitching Debut For Dodgers In Win Over Padres
Shohei Ohtani…modern day Babe Ruth.
Until Sunday,
MH