On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including a series of stories about expansion across U.S. leagues big and small.
In one, WNBA star Caitlin Clark has joined the group looking to bring an NWSL franchise to Cincinnati. The Indiana Fever star is part of a group led by local MLS club FC Cincinnati. NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman announced last week that the expansion process was down to three cities—Cincinnati, Cleveland and Denver. That eventual winner will join the league in 2026 alongside Boston’s BOS Nation.
The UFL is also expanding. Ahead of its second season the league is looking to grow beyond its first eight markets. These are just two examples of a number of expansion processes formally underway in U.S. sports. In addition to the NWSL and UFL, the WNBA, PWHL and F1 are all also in active talks to add teams. The NBA will join likely join them at some point soon. The hosts talk about how scarcity value drives valuations at the biggest leagues, and whether that applies lower down the food chain.
Next they talk about Sportico‘s list of highest-paid coaches in U.S. sports. The Top 50 is led by Andy Reid (Chiefs), Sean Payton (Broncos) and Steve Kerr (Warriors). There are 21 college football coaches, as opposed to just 13 NFL coaches and 13 NBA coaches. There is only one coach in the Top 50 in a sport besides football or basketball.
Next they discuss a lawsuit involving gum brand Big League Chew. Over a billion pouches of the shredded gum brand have been sold in the 45 years since two MLB players launched the business, but it is now in a legal battle with a licensee over trademark rights.
The also talk about two Sportico live events. Club Sportico is holding its first meet-up in New York City on Thursday, Dec. 5. Sportico also held a private event in Doha last week, with an attendee list that included Ryan Reynolds, Barack Obama and Magic Johnson.
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