World Cup Hotels, F1 Partnerships & WNBA’s First $1B Team

Hotels have a big World Cup problem: Bookings are running far below projections – NPR *

Nearly 80% of hotels surveyed by the industry are running below projections just weeks before the World Cup.

Inside Audi Revolut’s Miami Grand Prix Weekend and Formula 1’s New Partnership Standard – Culture of Sport *

A first-hand look at how Audi and Revolut used Miami to show why modern F1 partnerships now depend on alignment and execution.

The Ticket Industry’s Biggest Fight is Really a Mirage – Talking Tickets *

A sharp take on ticketing regulation, fan value and where the real pressure points sit in the market.

How Private Equity Fell in Love With Indian Cricket – Front Office Sports (

The IPL’s growth and structure continue to attract major US-style investor interest.

CNBC's Official WNBA Team Valuations 2026: The league has its first $1 billion team – CNBC *

Average WNBA team value has climbed sharply, with the league now boasting its first billion-dollar franchise.

Fifa ‘yet to agree' World Cup TV deals in India and China in latest broadcast standoff – SportsPro

Broadcast stand-offs in India and China risk lower reach and more piracy ahead of the tournament.

IPL’s Rajasthan Royals bought by Lakshmi Mittal for US$1.65bn – SportsPro

Lakshmi Mittal’s family takes control of Rajasthan Royals in another huge IPL valuation moment.

PIF and Kingdom Holding Company Sign Agreement for KHC to Acquire 70% of Al-Hilal Club Company – PIF

Saudi powerhouse Al-Hilal shifts into majority private control.

Prime Video’s year-round sports strategy paying off with brands – Sports Business Journal *

Amazon’s broad year-round sports slate is proving valuable to brands chasing younger audiences.

Kevin Richardson on Content Strategy and Revenue Growth at Clemson Ventures – Digital and Social Media Sports

A useful look at content strategy and revenue thinking from Clemson Ventures.

CitySpace – Manchester City FC

Manchester City and YBVR launch a new VR fan experience on the Xtadium platform.

Without BBC Studios, Bluey would never have been a hit – Always Be Watching *

A reminder that distribution and partner strategy are often what turns a good IP into a global hit.

Kentucky Derby Breaks Viewership Record with 19.6M – Front Office Sports

The Derby posted record preliminary viewership, underlining the enduring power of marquee live events.

Main Street Sports Now One Step Closer to Official Demise – Front Office Sports

The likely end of Main Street Sports marks another turning point in the regional sports network story.

PlayReplay Raises $12M for Local Tennis Court Line-Calling Tech – Sportico

PlayReplay is pushing electronic line-calling deeper into everyday tennis settings, not just elite events.

Day 13: He Built a Tool to Cut His Newsletter Creation Time in Half – Growth In Reverse

A practical creator workflow story about building tools that materially speed up newsletter production.

Google taps Kevin Pietersen for 90-episode series to showcase AI in sports content – SportsMint Media *

Google’s sports content play shows how AI storytelling is moving closer to mainstream fan media.

Row Z: Tottenham x Peppa Pig – the collaboration football really needed – The Athletic

Spurs’ Peppa Pig tie-up shows how kids IP can still cut through inside club marketing strategy.