2026-02-18
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Finance & Investments
The league paid €18M for control of Fantacalcio, valuing the total business at €40M.
Fantacalcio, a popular digital game with 6M players, expects to generate €9M in revenue this year.
This acquisition allows Serie A to better engage fans globally and gather valuable user data.
Investors paid $70M for a minority stake, led by investment firm StepStone Group and joined by Founders Fund; the valuation was not disclosed.
Night Media, which manages top creators like Twitch streamer Kai Cenat, will use the capital to acquire companies in gaming, sports, and music.
The firm has already bought podcast network The Roost and marketing agency Experiential Supply to diversify beyond talent management.
The athletic department earned $164.7M total, driven by a 79% spike in fundraising to $59.1M.
Football led revenue sources, collecting $18.6M from media deals and $13.5M in ticket sales.
Heavy investment in stadium renovations resulted in a final budget surplus of just $200K.
The club's parent company acquired 97% of the team to legally separate it from the men's squad.
Tennis star Kim Clijsters and soccer icon Karen Carney purchased a 3% stake to support growth.
This restructuring mirrors recent moves by Chelsea and Aston Villa to optimize revenue and financial compliance.
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Media, Broadcasting & Sponsorships
Retired MMA champions Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano will face off on streaming giant Netflix on May 16.
This follows the platform's hit Mike Tyson boxing match, which drew 108M viewers globally last year.
Jake Paul's promotion company MVP will produce the event as Netflix expands its live sports lineup.
Australia’s largest bank beat rival Westpac to become the Games’ first major domestic partner.
The deal supports organizers facing rising costs as they target $1.4B in total commercial revenue.
The UK streamer targets rights for 20 US teams as their current broadcaster prepares to cease operations.
DAZN is requesting that teams accept a significant 40% cut to their current media payment rates.
Matches on cable channel USA Network now average 115K viewers, a 55% jump from last season.
Audiences on free streaming platform Victory+ rose 136% compared to the previous pay-to-watch model.
The league attracted a 52% female TV audience and generated over 1.17M impressions on Pinterest.
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Teams & Leagues
The racing organization debuted "1948," a luxury club meant to rival Formula 1’s exclusive Paddock Club.
Single-day tickets cost $10K, offering concierge dining and backstage access to high-net-worth attendees.
This initiative aims to monetise wealthy fans better who previously had no ultra-premium options at the track.
The union asks for a 25% share of total league revenue and a team salary cap near $9.5M.
Players demand team-provided housing to solve rental issues caused by the short five-month season.
Negotiators face pressure to finalize the deal quickly as the regular season begins in just 80 days.
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Miscellaneous
Chairman Mike Selig argues his federal agency holds exclusive authority over betting contracts, blocking state bans.
The regulator classifies sports wagers as financial "swaps" rather than gambling, bypassing local gaming laws.
State officials strongly oppose the move, arguing these products are effectively unregulated sports gambling.
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