Dolphins and Bills private equity deals underline value to NFL December 23, 2024 In a historic first for the National Football League (NFL), the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins have become the first teams to shake hands with private equity. These investments follow the update in August to the NFL’s investment and ownership rules allowing private equity minority ownership. Ares Management Corp. is reported to be acquiring [...]
The top five trends emerging in sports marketing in 2025 December 22, 2024 Sports marketing continues to play a diverse and increasingly important role in the marketing mix for brands. And for many reasons. It serves as a launchpad for brands seeking to enter new markets by capitalising on major events across the globe that command mass audiences. It’s a signal of a brand’s stature and prominence re-enforcing [...]
Hit or miss? The best and worst football club Christmas adverts December 22, 2024 Creative type Steve Howell casts his critical eye over Christmas adverts produced by Chelsea, Liverpool, West Ham and Celtic. Think of a Christmas advert and your mind may conjure memories of “A dog is for life…” or any number of classic John Lewis commercials that have become synonymous with this time of year. Whatever brand [...]
What to expect from sports law in 2025: Man City, Saudi and the ‘unlikely MVP’ December 21, 2024 What will the big talking points be in sports law in 2025? We asked the experts at one of the industry’s top firms. This year will be remembered as one in which key sporting decisions were made in the courtroom rather than the boardroom. With the Football Governance Bill, ongoing financial regulatory disputes, and the [...]
The 2024 and 2025 F1 seasons with P1 podcasters Matt and Tommy December 20, 2024 When City AM sat down with Matt Gallagher and Tom Bellingham 18 months ago the podcasting duo had just set up their own F1 startup, P1 with Matt and Tommy. A season-and-a-half and two Max Verstappen world titles later and the duo are enjoying a run of sold out shows replicating their streaming set up, [...]
Ollie Phillips: Dupont leads my 2024 rugby union awards December 20, 2024 For my last rugby union column of 2024 in print it’s only right that we hand out a couple of awards covering the last 12 months. Rugby has seen an Olympic Games sit front and centre of the calendar while there have been some surprises in terms of domestic winners. It wasn’t easy but I’ve [...]
Everton takeover confirmed but Friedkin Group has warning for fans December 19, 2024 Everton’s new owner, the Friedkin Group, has warned “it will take time” to make them successful again after completing their long-awaited takeover. The deal will bring stability to the nine-time English champions following years of financial distress, new executive chairman Marc Watts said. But he added that turning Everton from relegation-threatened strugglers back into a [...]
Full Formula 1 grid as Isack Hadjar joins to complete 2025 line up December 19, 2024 All seats on the 2025 Formula 1 grid have been filled after Liam Lawson was confirmed as Sergio Perez’s replacement at Red Bull Racing with Isack Hadjar replacing the Kiwi at RB. Mexican Perez was sacked on Wednesday after a 2024 season where he consistently finished below par in comparison to his teammate Max Verstappen. [...]
Ed Warner: Why the anti-doping fight desperately needs a shot in the arm December 19, 2024 Confirmation that Mykhailo Mudryk has failed a routine anti-doping test must rightly trigger the usual essential caveats. Chelsea’s Ukrainian winger has only been provisionally suspended. This is simply the start of a process with the facts to be established and the outcome far from certain. What is clear is that Mudryk’s case will be another [...]
Why RFU boss Sweeney is set for no confidence vote December 18, 2024 Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney will face a vote of no confidence after over 180 clubs and bodies rebelled against the governing body’s biggest name. Sweeney, alongside chairman Tom Ilube, will face the music in February following a grassroots-led revolt against the body led by the referees’ union and the Championship clubs at [...]