The Charlotte Ledger’s Post

I'm always open to speaking directly with MLS owners who are dissatisfied with what Don Garber is offering. The Apple deal has sold you short—you're going to lose money on production, and the economics simply don't make sense. The valuations are pie in the sky. How many clubs have actually been sold? What happened to the $300 million for Sacramento or the $400 million for Las Vegas? MLS got lucky with San Diego, but where's the confidence in the valuation? That money could have supported growth and inspired more belief in the MLS system. If MLS is going to survive, it needs a reset. I have a comprehensive list of solutions that will not only elevate the clubs but take the sport to a whole new level in this country. I’m ready to help, but an overhaul is essential. MLS isn’t the NFL, and Don Garber has had his chance and failed. If you want to confidently discuss the future of the league, I’m available at [email protected]. https://lnkd.in/g3CsS_pk

Tickets Sales Tip and the Stars Behind them Week #48B (The Pitfall of chasing revenue without increasing capacity) On the surface it makes sense as it's become a trend post C19 in the hotel business due to staffing shortages/labor costs. The Sports venue unlike the hotel, can't go undercover if it's not full. The fan experience, per cap and the power scarcity plays to acquire, renew and accept sporting event tickets is all negatively impacted when capacity starts to decline. Major League Stars- Smaller market teams NHL Teams who work hard across all facets of tickets sales to produce full buildings every night. Hats off to Dionna Widder, A.J. Tomeny @ the Predators and Nick Wierciak St Louis Blues (non playoff team) in what's suddenly a struggling city economy. Minor League Stars- Gavin Riches Asst GM of the Sold out Colorado Eagles who's customer service teams ensure members seats are used every game and the AHL's Springfield Falcons who by running meaningful promotions every night have been sold out since January 26th. To learn more ideas: [email protected] or call/text me at 416-770-0917

The cutthroat power struggle within US Soccer is plunging the sport into a downward spiral, with MLS at the forefront of the controversy. Accusations of MLS deliberately sabotaging the USL in a bid to cling onto its dominance are rife, exposing a desperate grasp for power. This calculated move by MLS comes as no surprise, considering its ongoing assault on the USL's modest strides in lower league soccer. The recent demise of USL San Diego serves as a grim reminder of the ruthless tactics employed by MLS to crush any potential competition. Such ruthless maneuvers not only stifle the growth of the sport but also erode the very essence of healthy competition that soccer thrives on. Instead of nurturing an environment of fair play and rivalry, MLS's actions reek of a monopolistic agenda aimed at controlling markets, ultimately tarnishing the integrity of the beautiful game. https://lnkd.in/eEmjB5db

Who would you rather bet against? Your friends or the bookmaker? A lot of folks lean towards betting against their peers. And I tend to agree, it just FEELS more winnable. When you sit down at the poker table, you think "I could take these guys." But staring down the house in blackjack? That feels more David vs Goliath. At the end of the day though, it's not really about who's on the other side. What matters most is how many bettors are walking away winners. The more people in the black, the better the experience for everyone. Whether they got one over on their friends or outsmarted the sportsbook, it doesn't really matter. A win is a win, right? So while everyone's busy arguing the merits of peer-to-peer vs the house, they might be missing the real point. Instead of worrying about who's the fairest matchup, maybe we should focus on creating more profitable players. Get enough of those and suddenly it doesn't matter if you're betting against Joe Schmo or Caesars Palace. — Where do you stand on the great peer-to-peer vs house debate? Does your betting opponent influence your picks? I want to hear your take - drop a comment below.

National Football League (NFL) owners approve Jacksonville Jaguars’ $1.4 billion stadium renovation project. On Tuesday, October 15, 2024, the National Football League (NFL) owners unanimously approved the $1.4 billion renovation of the Jaguars’ EverBank Stadium. The approval and construction of the “Stadium of the Future” project is set to begin in February of 2025 and is expected to be completed on time for the beginning of the 2028 NFL season. Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan explained that “the venue will be world-class by every definition.” Khan also explained that the new stadium is supposed to attract significant sports and entertainment events to the region and will serve as an economic catalyst for the city of Jacksonville for decades. Khan also explained that the stadium renovation project would bring a new and vibrant downtown Jacksonville that once seemed unimaginable and would come back to life. The renovation of the stadium, jointly funded by the City of Jacksonville and the Jaguars, represents the franchise’s commitment to remain its current home. It includes a new leasing agreement. However, the Jaguars are a mainstay of the NFL’s International Game series, prompting rumors that the team could be eyeing a permanent move to London. With the leasing agreement, a part of the deal says that the Jaguars will play one of their home games in London aside from any other international games that the NFL requires. This will begin early in 2028. In the first two years of the renovation, the Jags will play in EverBank Stadium, and they plan on reducing the capacity starting in 2026. In the 2027 season, the Jags will play away in a stadium that has not been determined. For the 2024-25 season, the agreement allows the Jags to play three international games.  By: Amos Morale III The New York Times #NFL #NewYorkTimes #London  #JacksonvilleJaguars #internationalgames  #owners #EverBankStadium #leasingagreements #renovations 

Bobby Bonilla Day: Why the New York Mets pay $1.19M every July 1 The best deal in sports and business history! "The calendar has turned to July 1, and that means one thing: It's time for Mets fans everywhere to wish each other a Happy Bobby Bonilla Day! Why? On Monday, 61-year-old Bobby Bonilla will collect a check for $1,193,248.20 from the New York Mets, as he has and will every July 1 from 2011 through 2035." So why does Bonilla get this payday? In 2000, the Mets agreed to buy out the remaining $5.9 million on Bonilla's contract. However, instead of paying Bonilla the $5.9 million at the time, the Mets agreed to make annual payments of nearly $1.2 million for 25 years starting July 1, 2011, including a negotiated 8% interest. At the time, Mets ownership was invested in a Bernie Madoff account that promised double-digit returns, and the Mets were poised to make a significant profit if the Madoff account delivered -- but that did not work out." - Dan Mullen, ESPN.com #sales #business #habits

Jesse's view on MLS expansion lacking insight is an understatement. The subpar MLS, trailing even the championship in quality, with only a handful of teams like LAFC and Inter Miami holding up due to their aging star players. Remove those, and you're left with league one, with some MLS teams struggling against league two counterparts. The core problem lies in the nonsensical 18-team playoff system and the absence of promotion and relegation. With 29 teams in a sprawling market, the league leans heavily on almost 60% foreign players, creating an environment where securing a spot for Americans is akin to winning the lottery. The blatant disregard for homegrown talent is not just disappointing but leads to the exodus of top domestic players. The increasing preference of young American talents for European trials over MLS opportunities is a stark testament to the ongoing woes of the league. After almost three decades, a crucial overhaul in player development is not just essential but imperative. Shifting the focus of academy recruitment from socioeconomic status and athleticism to merit is long overdue. American soccer and its fans deserve more than the constant stream of excuses

Let's talk about "Mattress Mack" Jim McIngvale and his audacious $1 million wager on the University of Houston to win the NCAA basketball tournament. At first glance, it seems like a wild, all-in gamble. But as is often the case, there's more than meets the eye with this crafty furniture tycoon. Here's the deal: 🛏 McIngvale runs a promotion at his Gallery Furniture chain - buy a $4,000+ mattress, get it free if Houston wins it all. 💰 He then bets big on the Cougars to hedge his promotion risk. $1 million at +750 odds to be precise. 💸 If Houston cuts down the nets, he'll rake in $7.5 million to cover thousands of free mattress refunds. 😏 But even if they fall short, all those juicy mattress sales offset his betting losses. It's an ingenious marketing ploy disguised as sports gambling bravado. McIngvale is no reckless Vegas whale. He's a savvy operator leveraging the unholy union of sports fandom and retail gimmickry. Whether the Cougars win or not, Mattress Mack will be sleeping comfortably, stuffed with cash from both angles of his scheme. Gotta hand it to the mattress maverick - he's definitely found his luxurious niche between the economics of sport and the theater of marketing. A true triple-double threat in the arena of American capitalism.

“Sin City” now “Sports City” - Las Vegas home to #NHL Golden Knights, #NFL Raiders, #Formula1 Grand Prix, soon #MLB A's, a LeBron-led #NBA franchise down the road and on Sunday Super Bowl LVIII. The #SuperBowl is expected to boost the local #Vegas economy by $1.1 billion and have incalculable global location branding value. Just 20 years ago, the NFL wouldn't even allow Vegas to buy a Super Bowl ad on TV. It’s a whole new ballgame today as casino gambling and sports betting (now legal in 38 states) have entered the mainstream. Casinos are now viewed as key components of mixed-use real estate and major league stadium developments like the Steve Cohen/Hard Rock proposal for Citi Field in Queens, NY, or Miriam Adelson’s plans for a new NBA Mavericks arena and casino in Dallas. #SiteSelection #Relocation #EconDev #CasinoIndustry #RealEstateDevelopment

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐅𝐋 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐦𝐬: 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ As a real estate development attorney and a member of Greenberg Traurig’s Sports Law Practice, I’ve been keeping a close eye on the latest in stadium development projects. Recently, the Cleveland Browns announced their plans for a new domed stadium, joining other NFL teams like the Chicago Bears and Tennessee Titans in this growing trend. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ - 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐦𝐬: The Browns’ $2.4 billion indoor stadium proposal is part of a broader NFL trend. NFL teams are increasingly moving towards domed stadiums, marking a significant shift from the traditional open-air venues that many NFL teams have historically used. Currently, 10 out of 32 NFL teams play in domed stadiums, with more on the way. ⁣⁣ ⁣ - 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: While domed stadiums come with higher construction costs, they promise greater versatility and potential economic benefits. The Browns’ proposed stadium aims to be the centerpiece of a large-scale lifestyle and entertainment district, boosting the local economy.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ - 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬: The Browns’ plan includes a 50-50 split between public funding and private investment. This funding model is becoming more common, though it often faces resistance from local governments and taxpayers due to the high costs involved.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ - 𝐌𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐬: The increasing focus on developing new domed stadiums with state-of-the-art facilities is driven by revenue generation. Modern stadiums are designed to unlock new revenue streams and maximize profitability by selling more premium seating and luxury options and utilizing the stadium year-round to host a wider range of events beyond football. These stadiums also include advanced technology, such as high-definition video screens and robust Wi-Fi networks, and other amenities offered to patrons to compete with the in-home viewing experience and meet the expectations of today’s fans looking to justify the increasing cost of attending an NFL game. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ As the landscape of sports and entertainment venues continues to evolve, a key question is whether fans and local taxpayers will be as enthusiastic about the prospect of shiny new multi-billion dollar venues as NFL team owners are. What's your take on this? Share your thoughts in the comments below!⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #GTLaw #RealEstateLaw #SportsLaw #EconomicDevelopment #NFL #SportsFacilities #EntertainmentVenues