2026-03-13
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Finance & Investments
Danish IT firm Netcompany will invest up to €100M over five years to co-sponsor the UK-based cycling team owned by billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.
The cash injection reduces Ratcliffe's financial burden while helping the former champion team match rival budgets, which now reach up to €60M annually.
This massive funding equips the team to win expensive bidding wars for elite global cycling talent needed to reclaim major championship titles.
The baseball franchise is expected to sell for nearly $3B, breaking the previous $2.4B league record set by the New York Mets.
Five investor groups have submitted bids, including basketball team owner Joe Lacob and former football star Drew Brees.
The massive price tag stems from booming ticket sales and the team's successful push to host profitable stadium concerts.
Sports retailer Dick's reported strong fourth-quarter net sales of $6.2B, easily beating Wall Street expectations.
The company is actively restructuring Foot Locker, a shoe brand it bought last year, by clearing old inventory and closing weak stores.
Despite a drop in net income to $128M, executives predict the Foot Locker business will successfully bounce back by the back-to-school season.
According to sports data firm Opendorse, total spending on player endorsements hit $932.5M this season, tripling the amount from 2022.
Earnings during the March Madness tournament have jumped 92% since 2022, with starting players making up to 40% more than backups.
Athletes who transfer from smaller schools to top-tier college programs see an average 540% increase in their personal endorsement earnings.
England's largest indoor golf business now serves over 3K golfers across four London sites, with two locations reaching full membership capacity.
The company projects over £4M in revenue by 2026 and plans to open two new venues per year to meet growing demand.
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Media, Broadcasting & Sponsorships
Sports deals dominated the industry, generating €24.8B as major brands continued to pour money into football clubs and international athletic competitions.
Non-sport sectors like arts and festivals secured €9.7B, largely driven by companies buying long-term naming rights for major public venues.
Germany remained the largest national market at €6.3B, while Spain saw the fastest growth of 14% thanks to major new international sporting events.
FIBA, the global basketball governing body, generated up to $290M in media value for its sponsors across its 2025 3x3 season.
The 3x3 basketball events aired in 234 global territories, driving a 48% increase in television coverage compared to the 2023 tournament.
Online engagement reached a record 1.1B video views, proving the sport's massive digital appeal as it begins its 2026 world tour.
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Teams & Leagues
French sports club Paris Saint-Germain faces competition from local bidders to establish a new expansion basketball team in Paris.
The National Basketball Association expects formal franchise bids to range between $500M and $1B when submitted later this month.
Pro basketball stars Kevin Durant and Victor Wembanyama may become financial backers of these European teams under updated league rules.
SURJ, Saudi Arabia's state-backed sports fund, is financing the buyout of multiple event licenses to clear space on the men's tour.
The overall effort will cost hundreds of millions, with individual tournament buyouts ranging from $15M to $45M depending on event size.
This consolidation aims to shorten the grueling 11-month season while making room for a new premium Saudi tournament by 2028.
As the only nonprofit NFL franchise without a billionaire owner, the Packers cannot sell team shares to cover rapidly rising operating costs.
While the team holds a $600M reserve fund, officials warn this cash falls short compared to rivals who easily raise massive capital.
To boost income, CEO Ed Policy plans to raise ticket prices, host more stadium concerts, and sell naming rights for team training facilities.
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Miscellaneous
Top mixed martial artists, including Michael Chandler, will teach combat techniques to FBI staff and trainees this weekend.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated learning from these elite athletes will better prepare the federal law enforcement agency for fieldwork.
The training precedes a unique June fighting event on the White House lawn celebrating America's 250th anniversary.
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