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Oregon Bill to Construct MLB Stadium
Oregon lawmakers approved Senate Bill 110, authorizing $800 million in bonds to support the construction of a $2 billion professional baseball stadium in Portland, with plans to repay the bonds using income taxes from players and staff rather than current state revenues. While the bill secures public financing for roughly 40% of stadium costs, the remainder would need to be funded through private means, and there is no confirmed MLB franchise or ownership group for Portland yet. The funding structure has faced criticism regarding its financial viability, with concerns over whether expected tax revenues will be sufficient to cover bond payments or if state finances could ultimately be impacted. This ambitious financial commitment signals Portland’s serious intent to secure an MLB team, but the economic risks and competition from other cities make the actual return on investment uncertain at this stage.
Oregon Passes $800 Million Senate Bill to Help Construct MLB Stadium
ESPN Inks New Deal with Premier Lacrosse League
NFL Arbitration Decision Finds No Penalties
NHL Head Coach Takes Equity Stake in CCM
Golden State Valkyries Most Valuable WNBA Team
NFL Can Leverage a Major Court Decision
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Sheppard Mullin's Sports Industry Team is uniquely positioned to address the complex and dynamic needs of our sports industry clientele. Our sports practice offers the expertise necessary to provide full service legal counsel to owners, teams, leagues, governing bodies, facility operators, key rights holders, advertising companies, sponsors and others involved in sports-related transactions or disputes.
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A weekly summary of the key trends and stories in sports business.
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ESPN and the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) have entered into a new five-year media rights agreement beginning in 2026, which also includes ESPN taking a non-controlling minority equity stake in the league. Although financial specifics were not disclosed, this partnership marks a strategic investment by ESPN and aligns both parties’ financial incentives, particularly as ESPN will broadcast all PLL and Women's Lacrosse League games across its platforms. The deal is expected to provide increased media exposure and new sponsorship opportunities, capitalizing on lacrosse's growing participation rates and the sport’s expansion beyond traditional markets. ESPN’s equity involvement could further accelerate the commercialization and mainstream financial viability of professional lacrosse, creating a more symbiotic relationship between league growth and broadcast profitability.
ESPN Inks New 5-Year Deal with Premier Lacrosse League
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An NFL systems arbitrator determined that although league officials encouraged team owners in 2022 to limit fully guaranteed player contracts following Deshaun Watson's record-breaking deal, this did not rise to the level of collusion prohibited by the collective bargaining agreement. The arbitrator found strong evidence that management council messaging included editorial concern about rising signing bonuses and salary guarantees but did not explicitly direct or require clubs to collectively act to suppress those guarantees. Despite emails and meetings highlighting league apprehensions, the lack of a formal, coordinated agreement and owner testimony refuting any pact led to the conclusion that no anti-competitive collusion occurred. The decision underscores the distinction between unified messaging and enforceable conspiracy and highlights the challenge facing labor unions in proving collusion absent clear, corroborative evidence of collective action.
NFL Arbitration Decision Finds No Penalties for NFL Owners
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Martin St. Louis, head coach of the Montreal Canadiens and former NHL star, is acquiring a minority ownership stake in hockey equipment manufacturer CCM via his investment firm Seven7, joining Altor, which secured a majority stake in CCM for $450 million in October. Exact financial terms for Seven7’s stake were not disclosed, but the partnership marks another chapter in CCM’s long history of shifting ownership, including previous private equity and apparel giants like Reebok and Adidas. CCM remains a leading brand in hockey gear, supplying most NHL players across most equipment categories and expanding its influence into the PWHL, AHL, and NCAA programs. This move illustrates how prominent figures in the sport are increasingly leveraging their influence and capital to gain equity stakes in major sports equipment brands, signaling further commercial convergence between professional athletes and the business side of sports.
NHL Head Coach Takes Equity Stake in Equipment Giant, CCM
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The WNBA has experienced explosive financial growth, exemplified by the Indiana Fever's revenue jumping nearly 300% to $34 million and league-wide revenue reaching approximately $243 million, up 53% year-over-year. Franchise valuations have soared, with the average team now worth $269 million and the expansion Golden State Valkyries setting a new standard at an estimated $500 million—levels not seen in prior years. The league's upcoming national TV deals are projected to generate $260 million annually, a 500% increase from previous arrangements, while individual teams are achieving record ticket and sponsorship sales driven by new stars and strategic NBA partnerships. This wave of investment and market enthusiasm suggests that the WNBA is shifting from a league reliant on owner subsidies to a lucrative, mainstream sports business with significant room for further financial acceleration.
Golden State Valkyries Become Most Valuable WNBA Team Half-Way through Inaugural Season
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A U.S. District Court jury ordered the National Football League to pay more than $4.7 billion in damages for antitrust violations. The ruling held that restricting negotiations over rights to broadcast teams’ out-of-market Sunday games to a single, bundled TV package violated competition laws. The lawsuit covered 2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 businesses in the United States who paid for out-of-market games from 2011 through 2022 on DirecTV. The plaintiffs claimed that the NFL broke antitrust laws by selling its Sunday games package at an inflated price. While the League plans to appeal the decision, the ruling could prompt changes in how rights to air games are distributed, potentially benefiting football teams and fans alike. If the ruling stands, the NFL could lose out on one big-ticket payday. But dicing up rights could spark a wider feeding frenzy. The pot for sports rights is expected to grow to $30 billion annually by 2024.
NFL Can Leverage a Major Court Decision to Boost How Teams and Fans Watch Games
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Weekly Trivia Question
Weekly Trivia Question
Who was the first player to win an NBA championship with three different teams?
Weekly Trivia Question
Answer
John Salley (Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers)
REveal Answer
Who was the first player to win an NBA championship with three different teams?
Weekly Trivia Question
In which organization are teams individually owned and belong to governing bodies which promote and relegate teams to different leagues based on performance?
Weekly Trivia Question
a. National Football League (American Football)
b. English Premier League (Soccer)
c. Major League Soccer (Soccer)
d. Serie National de Beisbol (Cuba) (Baseball)
Correct!
b. English Premier League (Soccer)
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Hide Answer
In which organization are teams individually owned and belong to governing bodies which promote and relegate teams to different leagues based on performance?
Weekly Trivia Question
a. National Football League (American Football)
b. English Premier League (Soccer)
c. Major League Soccer (Soccer)
d. Serie National de Beisbol (Cuba) (Baseball)
Correct!
b. English Premier League (Soccer)
Hide Answer
Incorrect
try Again
An NFL systems arbitrator determined that although league officials encouraged team owners in 2022 to limit fully guaranteed player contracts following Deshaun Watson's record-breaking deal, this did not rise to the level of collusion prohibited by the collective bargaining agreement. The arbitrator found strong evidence that management council messaging included editorial concern about rising signing bonuses and salary guarantees but did not explicitly direct or require clubs to collectively act to suppress those guarantees. Despite emails and meetings highlighting league apprehensions, the lack of a formal, coordinated agreement and owner testimony refuting any pact led to the conclusion that no anti-competitive collusion occurred. The decision underscores the distinction between unified messaging and enforceable conspiracy and highlights the challenge facing labor unions in proving collusion absent clear, corroborative evidence of collective action.
NFL Arbitration Decision Finds No Penalties for NFL Owners
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