DCMS issue insolvency threat to rugby clubs over Covid-19 loans February 10, 2025 Rugby clubs have been warned after the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said it “wouldn’t hesitate” to use “all financial levers” available to recover loan payments owed by sports organisations from the pandemic. Those powers could see the government department aid in forcing insolvency on sports clubs to ensure the taxpayer recoups the [...]
Manchester City’s £20m carrot in Real Madrid Champions League tie February 10, 2025 Manchester City will be playing for a potential £20m in prize money when they take on holders Real Madrid in their Champions League knockout play-off tie on Tuesday. Pep Guardiola’s struggling side will bank an additional €10m (£8m) just for progressing from the two-legged tie against the Spanish giants and reaching the last 16. That [...]
Surrey to keep majority as Mumbai Indians owners confirm Oval Invincibles stake February 10, 2025 Surrey have confirmed that they will remain majority owners of the Hundred franchise Oval Invincibles after taking investment from super-rich Indian family the Ambanis. The family, through Reliance Industries Limited, have agreed to purchase a 49 per cent share in the south London side in a deal that values them at around £125m. It was [...]
Voxa: Pettersen launches agency and signs fellow Solheim Cup icon Ciganda February 10, 2025 Former Solheim Cup captain Suzann Pettersen has made European golf star Carlota Ciganda one of the first signings to her new athlete management agency Voxa. Spaniard Ciganda, 34, is joined in the Voxa stable by Chinese world No3 Ruoning Yin, 22, and three more national No1s, Mexican Gaby Lopez, 31, Shannon Tan of Singapore, 20, [...]
NFL betting: Super Bowl fans to wager billions on Swift, Gatorade, Eagles and Chiefs February 9, 2025 The NFL Super Bowl, in all of its commercial glory, will take the headlines across the next 24 hours; whether that be the half-time show, the result of the adverts. But the betting markets this weekend are a fascinating watch, with last year’s Super Bowl – when comparing bet-on events – beating out the Euros [...]
Why Rennes and Como were the surprise spenders in January transfer window February 8, 2025 Manchester City may have led the way in England but the biggest January transfer window spenders in other major European leagues were not the usual suspects. In France it was Rennes who spent the most, eclipsing mega-rich Paris Saint-Germain despite the champions splashing £58m on Napoli’s twinkle-toed Georgia winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Rennes invested £62m on [...]
Super Bowl LIX: The adverts that cost $7m for 30 seconds February 8, 2025 Steve Howell of sports marketing agency Dark Horses takes us through this year’s Super Bowl LIX ads, featuring Beckham, Keoghan and Meg Ryan It’s a strange time for brands wishing to advertise. Technology designed to help consumers avoid commercials has never been more pervasive, whatever medium you choose. There are adblocker apps, browser extensions, unsubscribing [...]
CMA and ASA probe Chelsea-linked Vivid Seats over ticket touting February 7, 2025 Consumer group FanFair Alliance has reported Vivid Seats, a company part-owned by Chelsea chair Todd Boehly, to watchdogs for alleged illegal ticket touting. Chelsea fans have described the involvement of Boehly, the highest-profile member of the club’s US ownership group, as a “breach of trust” after it emerged this week. Vivid Seats offers tickets to [...]
Nandy rejects football regulator pay fears: ‘£130k is more than reasonable’ February 7, 2025 Culture secretary Lisa Nandy has dismissed concerns that the incoming football regulator’s effectiveness will be inhibited by more modest public sector pay. Recruitment for the regulator’s first chair is under way but fears have been raised that the calibre of candidate could be restricted by the salary of £130,000 for the part-time role. While still [...]
Netflix eyes Formula 1 TV rights deal after Drive to Survive success February 7, 2025 Netflix could soon advance their Formula 1 offering beyond Drive to Survive with the streaming giant plotting a move for live TV rights. Having dipped their toe into live boxing, showing Mike Tyson’s bout with Jake Paul, and Christmas Day NFL, the streaming service appears to be interested in the US rights for Formula 1. [...]