North America
Features
Teams in prime US travel destinations mine tourists for ticket sales boosts
Rick Snider looks at how pro teams in key US markets are engaging tourists in order to boost attendance numbers.
‘Our ambition is to have the two best teams in the world’ – why OL Groupe has taken over Reign FC
The NWSL is entering a new era in 2020 following the takeover of Reign FC by OL Groupe, the parent company of French women’s soccer team Olympique Lyonnais Féminin. Bob Williams spoke to new Reign FC COO Vincent Berthillot about the strategy behind the move.
XFL confident its second act will prove a success and avoid same fate as AAF
With the revamped XFL football league kicking off in February, Bob Williams takes a look at the measures Vince McMahon's latest project is taking in order to prosper.
MLB’s new NYC headquarters reflects Manfred’s ‘One Baseball’ vision
Major League Baseball has its first official day at its new central headquarters on the Avenue of the Americas in New York on 6 January. Eric Fisher visits the new offices.
New Orleans uses Sugar Bowl to bring College Football Playoff title game to city
College football's showpiece event is often a loss-making venture for its hosts but the generosity of the Sugar Bowl has brought this year's game to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Dallas Mavericks end jersey sponsor search with Chime deal
The Dallas Mavericks NBA basketball team has signed a jersey sponsorship deal with US-based financial services company Chime
Fanatics signs 10-year partnership with Notre Dame
Global licensed sports merchandise manufacturer and retailer Fanatics has signed a 10-year licensing deal with the University of Notre Dame to become the college's primary apparel, headwear, and hard …
NBA strikes reported partnership with Louis Vuitton
League continues to strike ties with fashion and culture brands
WarnerMedia commits to All Elite Wrestling in three-year rights deal
US media and entertainment company WarnerMedia has expanded its rights agreement with the All Elite Wrestling (AEW) promotion following a successful initial collaboration
Regional SportAccord Pan America off to flying start
The inaugural Regional SportAccord Pan America conference in Fort Lauderdale was hailed as a resounding success by SportAccord president Raffaele Chiulli, providing huge value to key players and stakeholders…
Once-reliable US sports publishing market hits heavy decline
Sales of sports titles have been drowned out in the US, in part by rabid consumer interest in political titles. Dennis Tuttle looks at the reasons behind this and what editors are doing to turn the tables.
NHL All Star Game will further lift spirit of St. Louis after Stanley Cup glory
Four years after National Football League team owner Stan Kroenke relocated the St. Louis Rams to Los Angeles amid bitter acrimony, the Missouri city has firmly regained its civic pride and status as a major league sports town in the United States.
Miller’s Hall of Fame election has complex path both before and ahead
Barry M. Bloom looks at the story of how Marvin Miller, the late former executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, has finally been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
MiLB president O’Conner elected to fourth term amid fractious MLB talks
Longtime executive and industry lifer to remain leading the affiliated minors. But with MLB looking to overhaul the very notion of Minor League Baseball, the job has never been more complex
Football and Rocket League: A burgeoning relationship on the rocks
Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and AS Monaco have all invested in Rocket League esports, but the business case for doing so is shaky at best. Callum McCarthy examines an esport with huge, unfulfilled potential.
Wizards deploy multi-pronged strategy to develop Japanese fandom
In just a short amount of time, the Wizards have put themselves in prime position to become the NBA's most-popular team in Japan following the arrival of Rui Hachimura. Bob Williams discovers how they have done it.
Mariners seek to forge new ticketing ground with Flex Membership plan
Major League Baseball’s Seattle Mariners are examining the future of the season ticket, and seeing how they can offer fans more flexible options to watch their team.
Jim Rooney remembers his father’s outsized NFL legacy in new book
SportBusiness' US Editor Eric Fisher speaks to the son of the late Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney about his legacy and the current state of the Rooney Rule and the NFL at large.
Reliability the watchword as Los Angeles takes long run at the Olympics
The unusually long build-up to Los Angeles’ Olympics has given the city the opportunity to build a sporting strategy that drives benefits for a society. Bradley Rial reports.
Guarded optimism within MLB free agent market after two slow years
After two historically slow offseasons for MLB player movement that heightened tensions between the league and MLB Players Association, this fall and winter are expected to see more activity.
Sports leagues, teams amplify autism outreach
As dedicated facilities are becoming more commonplace, Rick Snider looks at how sports venues are becoming more adaptive for autistic people.
Canadian Premier League off to solid start after filling void for players and fans
Seven-team competition is first professional soccer league in Canada since 1992
Clubs have averaged 4,300 fans a game but OneSoccer digital ratings not made public
Astros look to move past World Series disappointment with several 2020 projects
The Houston Astros MLB team has big plans for its future, in spite of recent disappointment in the 2019 World Series and recent issues with a executive who was fired. Eric Fisher takes a look at the projects the team have in store.
MLB-MiLB negotiations look to redefine entire notion of minor leagues
Ongoing talks potentially present some of the largest organizational changes ever in baseball player development
San Francisco 49ers continue concessions revolution with unlimited food and drink menu
Bob Williams looks at how the San Francisco 49ers looking to create a better game-day experience for their fans, starting with the concessions stand.
Super League enters new era – and new continent – with Toronto Wolfpack promotion
With the world's first transatlantic sports team, the Toronto Wolfpack, set to play in the English Super League from the start of the new season, Bob Williams looks into how the unique arrangement is benefiting both the club and the sport of rugby league.
Bidding for Super Bowls not for the faint of heart
Staging the NFL's championship game comes with a multitude of requirements, but a potentially large payoff for the host city.
Chase Center seeks to push NBA arenas further into the future
Barry M. Bloom looks at Chase Center, the newly-developed home of NBA team the Golden State Warriors, and how it reflects a quickly redeveloping San Francisco.