Week In Review - Sports, Media, Entertainment, & Pop Culture: 06/06/2025

These are the top stories where business and culture collide. This week we break it down by Sports Business / Sports Brands & Style / Media, Streaming, & Content / Pop Culture, Legacy, & Icons. Enjoy.

Hey everyone,

I appreciate you all tuning in - to the extent that you want to.

Each week, I’ll compile the most compelling stories across the business of sports, entertainment, and culture - the brand plays, creative decisions, partnerships, launches, and trends that signal where things are headed.

I’ve spent years immersed in this world - reading everything, tracking every move I can, and talking (mostly to myself) about starting something like this. So it feels good to finally hit publish.

There’s so much fascinating and fast-moving stuff happening within these spaces, and often there are a lot of dots to connect - but it can be hard to keep up with. This newsletter is meant to be a light but thoughtful filter; a way to stay informed without being overwhelmed - curated with care, context, and some notes on each story to help it all click.

My hope is that it becomes a two-way street - collaborative, dynamic, and shaped by the people reading it. Your feedback, your reactions, and your ideas will only make this better.

– Michael

Twitter/X Profile

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Week #1 Article Spotlight

How David Stern’s TMBO Set the Stage for Sports Teams 2.0

In 1999, David Stern launched TMBO - the NBA’s Team Marketing & Business Operations group - and quietly changed the business of sports forever.

At the time, NBA franchises were largely siloed. Each ran its own sales and marketing strategy with little alignment or shared insight. Stern’s bet? Treat teams kind of like subsidiaries under one parent organization. Centralize data, surface best practices, and build a culture of collaboration. Over the next 25 years, TMBO evolved into the engine that helped grow the league's revenue, exposure, and valuation - laying the groundwork for what modern sports franchises look like today.

Fast forward to 2025, and that original vision is playing out across every corner of sports. Teams are no longer just ticketing and sponsorship sales orgs. Rashaun Williams (ATL Falcons Limited Partner & Founder of Harbinger Sports Partners) puts it perfectly

“As we go from Sports 1.0 to 2.0, we see teams moving from ticket and sponsorship sales organizations to media companies - and even finding new revenue sources locally to grow revenue.”

Look at the Mets since 2023:

• Brought in media vet Scott Havens (ex-Bloomberg, Time Inc…Scott actually just resigned on May 27th from the Mets over differences with Owner Steve Cohen) to re-think content and the fan experience

• Launched Mets House in Union Square, giving the team year-round brand presence in NYC

• Transformed the in-game experience with concerts and light shows

• Built out short-form & long-form content plays across YouTube, TikTok, and more

We’re watching teams become mini media companies - content arms, consumer brands, lifestyle hubs, and most importantly live events - and it all traces back to Stern’s core idea: run your sports team like a company.

There’s plenty of backlash to give the man who banned Jordan’s 1s - but David Stern created a foundation that continues to shine bright.

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Sports Business & Entertainment

1. MLB Backs Women’s Sports with Investment in Athletes Unlimited Softball

Source: Sportico
Link: Read Article

• MLB has made a strategic investment into Athletes Unlimited’s professional softball league.

• This marks the league’s first major commitment to a women’s U.S. pro team sport outside of baseball.

2. Hugh Jackman & Ryan Reynolds Join as Co-Owners of Australia’s SailGP Team

Source: SailGP
Link: Read Article

• Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds have joined as co-owners of the Australian SailGP team, now rebranded the BONDS Flying Roos -led by Olympic gold medalist Tom Slingsby

• They’ll debut under the new name at the New York Sail Grand Prix, June 7–8.

3. NBA Team Sponsorship Revenue Hits $1.62B in 2024–25 Season

Source: SponsorUnited
Link: Read Article

• NBA teams generated $1.62 billion in sponsorship revenue during the 2024–25 season, marking an 8% increase year-over-year and a 91% rise over the past five years.

• The league saw nearly 450 new brand entrants, with notable growth in categories like construction, technology, and government sectors.

4. New York Liberty's $60K Championship Ring Reflects WNBA's Growth

Source: Front Office Sports
Link: Read Article

• The New York Liberty's 2024 WNBA championship ring is the league’s most expensive yet, valued at $60,000 and featuring over six carats of diamonds and paraiba tourmaline stones.

• Designed by Jason of Beverly Hills, the ring symbolizes the WNBA’s accelerating investment, visibility, and cultural relevance.

5: Fever Acquires DICE After $100M Raise from L Catterton & Point72

Source: Variety
Link: Read Article

• Fever acquired UK-based ticketing platform DICE following a $100M funding round to expand its tech stack and global reach.

• The move positions Fever to lead the independent live entertainment space, blending DICE’s fan-first tech with its immersive experience model.

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Sports Brands & Style

1. New Balance x Coco Gauff x Miu Miu: Roland Garros’ Fashion Moment

Source: Sportsverse Substack
Link: Read Article

• Coco Gauff rocked custom Miu Miu–designed New Balance gear at the French Open - the first-ever Miu Miu x performance sports collab.

• This crossover campaign blends runway credibility with sports functionality - a model for future athlete-style brand plays.

2. 'The Shop' Goes Live at Fanatics Fest with LeBron, Wemby & More

Source: Sports Business Journal
Link: Read Article

• Fanatics Fest NYC will host a live taping of The Shop featuring LeBron, Tom Brady, Wemby, and others.

• It’s part of a larger strategy to make Fanatics Fest a Comic-Con-style celebration of sports, merch, and culture - blurring the lines between event, content, and brand activation.

3. Nike Drops Kobe Bryant Air Force 1 ‘Mamba Mentality’ in Soft Yellow

Source: Modern Notoriety
Link: Read Article

• Nike unveils a new tribute sneaker honoring Kobe Bryant - an Air Force 1 in “Soft Yellow.”

• It features nods to Kobe’s mindset, legacy, and signature ethos - (look closely to see Kobe’s championship years on the bottom of the shoe).

4. Salehe Bembury Unveils PUMA Hali 1 as Tyrese Haliburton’s First Signature Shoe

Source: Hypebeast
Link: Read Article

• Salehe Bembury has designed the PUMA Hali 1, marking Tyrese Haliburton’s debut signature sneaker.

• The “Hibiscus” colorway will debut during the NBA Finals and is set to release in September.

• Tough to be a Haliburton hater these days ⬇️

  

5. Orlando Magic Reveal New Jerseys with Retro Star Vibes

Source: NBA.com
Link: Read Article

• The Magic dropped updated uniforms that remix their iconic star-themed designs from the ‘90s/2000s era.

• It’s a modern tribute to a fan-favorite look, with new fonts and refined details - part of a broader NBA trend of nostalgia-forward rebrands.

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Media, Streaming, & Content

1. F1 Academy Netflix Series Breaks Down Barriers in Motorsports

Source: American Express
Link: Read Article

• A new Netflix docuseries follows F1 Academy - the all-female racing league backed by Formula 1.

• It tells the story of young women carving out careers in one of the world’s most male-dominated sports

2. Mariska Hargitay Confronts the Truth in My Mom Jayne

Source: Vanity Fair
Link: Read Article

• Mariska Hargitay reveals long-hidden truths about her family in a deeply personal doc on Jayne Mansfield.

• After 30 years, she learns her real father was Nelson Sardelli - not Mickey Hargitay.

3. Lionsgate Experiments with AI to Tune Movie Ratings & Tone

Source: Variety
Link: Read Article

• Lionsgate is testing AI tools to adjust film content (ratings, tone, format) based on audience preferences.

• The goal: make content flexible and customizable across global markets and age groups.

• Check out this Video from Flawless AI’s TrueSync (been in the making for over 2 years)

4. MrBeast's 'Beast Games' Sets New Standard for Creator-Led Content

Source: Variety
Link: Read Article

• MrBeast's Beast Games on Amazon Prime Video has become the platform's most-watched unscripted series, garnering 50 million views in 25 days and setting a new benchmark for creator-driven content.

• The show's success underscores the growing influence of digital creators in mainstream entertainment, with MrBeast leading the way in demonstrating the value and impact of creator-led productions.

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Pop Culture, Legacy, & Icons

1. Sean Monahan's Resilient Season Earns Masterton Trophy

Source: The Athletic
Link: Read Article

• Sean Monahan signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets in July 2024, aiming to reunite with former teammate and close friend Johnny Gaudreau.

• Tragically, Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed by a drunk driver in August 2024, profoundly impacting Monahan and the team.

• Monahan led the Blue Jackets with 57 points in 54 games - His perseverance and dedication were recognized with the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL player exemplifying perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.

2. Lil Wayne's 'The Days' Debuts in ESPN's NBA Finals Campaign

Source: Rolling Stone
Link: Read Article

• ESPN has premiered Lil Wayne's unreleased single "The Days," featuring Bono, as part of its promotional campaign for the 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers.

• The track serves as a preview of Wayne's upcoming album, Tha Carter VI, set to release on June 6, 2025, coinciding with his first-ever solo headline performance at Madison Square Garden.

• Check out this commercial taking us through The Carter over the years

3. Broadway Wraps Up Record-Breaking $1.89B Season

Source: Boardroom
Link: Read Article

• Broadway achieved its highest-grossing season ever in 2024–25, generating $1.89 billion in revenue with 12.3 million tickets sold and an average house capacity of 91.2%.

• Star-driven productions like Good Night, and Good Luck ($4.2M final week) and Othello (average ticket price $398) significantly contributed to the surge

4. Will Ferrell Adapting 'Eurovision' Movie into Broadway Musical

Source: The Guardian
Link: Read Article

• Will Ferrell is adapting his 2020 Netflix comedy Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga into a Broadway musical, collaborating with co-writer Harper Steele and Broadway veteran Anthony King.

• Directed by Alex Timbers, the production aims to bring the spirit of the Eurovision Song Contest to the stage, celebrating its global appeal ahead of its 70th edition in 2026.

5. Jane Birkin's Original Hermès Birkin Bag Heads to Auction

Source: W Magazine
Link: Read Article

• The original Hermès Birkin bag, custom-made for Jane Birkin in 1984, is set to be auctioned at Sotheby's in Paris on July 10, 2025.

• Distinctive features include a shoulder strap, unique dimensions, and Birkin's initials "J.B." on the flap.