This weeks edition of the Sports Business Weekly Wrap-up is being published on a special day for the company. Behind Sport is officially 1 year old today and I wanted to just take a minute to thank every single person who’s interacted with us in any way whatsoever over the last 12 months. We didn’t really know what to expect when we decided to make Behind Sport a thing but this last year has been nothing short of incredible. The thing is as well, we’re only just getting started and we can’t wait to show you what we’ve got planned for the next year and beyond.
Anyway, here’s the biggest sports business news stories that caught my eye this week…
Monday
Juventus to be kicked out of Serie A?
The European Super League news will end at some point, promise…
There are 3 clubs still refusing to withdraw from the proposed European Super League. Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus still believe in the project and despite a threat from UEFA to ban them from the Champions League for two seasons, they won’t let it go.
Monday saw Juventus faced with the threat of being kicked out of Serie A if they don’t withdraw. Italian football federation president, Gabriele Gravina said “The rules are clear. If Juventus is still part of the Super League when it enters next season, it can’t participate in Serie A,”
Like a dog with a bone, it seems that the remaining aren’t willing to let go of the idea just yet but I do wonder how the threat of expulsion from the domestic league influences their feelings.
Tuesday
European Tour x Zoom
Zoom haven’t had the worst of years, have they? And now they’re linking up with the European Tour Official to become their Unified Communications Partner. Zoom will provide “comprehensive communications services including virtual and collaborative experiences for media, commercial partners, hospitality guests and the Tour’s global fanbase, through exclusive live-sport experiences.”
The European Tour and @Zoom have entered a multi-year partnership ? ? pic.twitter.com/irJaCRY8P0
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) May 11, 2021
The global pandemic has forced the world of sport to rethink how it engages with its audiences and come up with innovative ways to build and maintain relationships, I’m really interested to see what the European Tour do content wise with this partnership. I’m hoping they get creative with it like they do with all of their other content.
Wednesday
The Notorious takes the number one spot
Wednesday saw Forbes reveal their list of the highest-paid athletes over the last year. For a while now, the same names have dominated the top few spots but there’s now a new number one. MMA superstar, Conor McGregor has taken top spot having reportedly collected $180 million over the last 12 months. The most interesting thing though is that $158 million of that total came outside of his fighting career. A big chunk of this came from selling a majority stake in his whiskey brand, Proper No. Twelve to Proximo Spirits.
The Irishman only graced the octagon once in 2020 so it’s clear the power his personal brand carries outside of the cage with so much being generated from endorsements. Not only is he a very good fighter, he’s clearly a very savvy businessman.
Thursday
Premier League agrees to roll over UK £5bn domestic rights deal
Back in the world of football on Thursday, the Premier League agreed to roll over its existing £5bn rights deal with television broadcasters for another 3 years.
(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
According to the BBC the new deal with Sky Sports, BT Sport, Amazon Prime Video and BBC Sport will run from 2022 to 2025. The Premier League say that the renewals will provide financial certainty to professional clubs and also enables an additional £100m of funding to be provided to clubs throughout the football pyramid over the next four years.
“Covid-19 has had a significant impact on football, and renewals with our UK broadcast partners will reduce uncertainty, generate stability and promote confidence within the football pyramid,” said Premier League chief executive Richard Masters.
Have the value of rights for domestic leagues in Europe peaked?
Friday
BBC x Copa America
Sticking with the BBC for the final story of the week, they announced on Friday that they will be showing all 28 games from the 2021 Copa America tournament. Beginning on June 13th a year later than originally planned, the tournament will take place in both Columbia and Argentina.
With the time difference it means that a lot of these games will be shown in the early hours of the morning but it means audiences in the UK will have even more sport to watch this summer as there are a number of major events on including both the Olympics and Euro 2020.
That’s another Sports Business Weekly Wrap-up boxed off and done for another week. I feel like I’m saying it every week at the moment but more news about the European Super League will come out this week as the last remaining 3 refuse to back down. Is there anything sports business wise that caught your eye that I’ve missed? Tweet us @BehindSport and let us know!
You can also read previous editions of the Sports Business Weekly Wrap-up here.
