Sports Contracts Updates for the First Two Weeks of July

July got off to a slow start during the week of July 4th, though Q3 deals are now underway.  Headlining the week is the NBA’s highly-anticipated media rights deal.  The Orioles hired their first female president of business operations, and many more deals are on the way as we enter the back half of 2024.

1. The NBA finalized media rights deals with NBC, Amazon Prime Video and ABC / ESPN. The agreements will last 11 seasons and be worth about $76 billion.  

   1. The NBA governors still need to approve the agreements, though this should be just a formality.  TNT Sports may still match the offers.

   2. ESPN will pay $2.6 billion, NBC will pay $2.5 billion, and Amazon will pay $1.8 billion.  ESPN will host a conference final and the NBA Finals.  NBC and Amazon will alternate hosting a conference final, and Amazon will host the In-Season Tournament.

   3. Athletic

2. Sportradar and the Union of European Football Associations agree on three-year deal for Sportradar to continue to exclusively distribute UEFA’s gambling data.

   1. Sportico

3. F2’s Oliver Bearman to race for Haas in 2025.

   1. The 19-year-old driver is currently a member of the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy.

   2. F1

4. Willow Bay and husband Bob Iger are finalizing a deal to purchase Angel City FC.

   1. Athletic

5. Fitch is monitoring the NFL’s credit rating in wake of Sunday Ticket class action outcome.

   1. A federal jury found the NFL liable under antitrust law, though the NFL is appealing the decision.

   2. Sportico

6. David Yurman signs 7 NBA players as brand ambassadors.
   

   1. Kyle Kuzma, D’Angelo Russell, Jalen Green, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kevin Love, Josh Hart and Seth Curry will all be brand ambassadors of the high-end jewelry band.

   2. Hollywood Reporter

7. Baltimore Orioles hire Catie Griggs as president of business operations.
   

   1. Griggs is the first female president of business operations in the team’s history.  Previously, she served as president of business operations for the Seattle Mariners.  She began this role with Seattle in July 2021.

   2. MLB

8. Audi becomes the official premium automotive partner of Inter Miami.

   1. Inter Miami CF

9. Though Skydance announces cost-cutting measures following its merger with Paramount, incoming president Jeff Shell reported the company does not plan to cut CBS Sports’ portfolio.

   1. Sportico

Kirsten Flicker is a graduate of Fordham University School of Law in the class of 2021. She can be found on LinkedIn here.