Sporticast

Scott and Eben discuss some bold predictions for sports business in 2026, with topics that include the World Cup in North America, the NFL’s media renegotiations, the MLB and WNBA labor battles, the chaos in college sports, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben, both under the weather themselves, talk about the sports business implications of a bad flu season. They also talk about the theater of the absurd in college sports, with seventh-year QBs, NBA draft picks-turned-freshmen, and Pop-Tarts galore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss the Kansas City Chiefs’ move across state lines. The NFL team will receive more than $1.8 billion in public funds, a record, to build a $3 billion venue in Kansas. They also talk about the rise of prediction markets and what to expect in 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eben and Jacob speak with Zach Miller, president of Bucketsquad, the media and e-commerce company behind popular basketball YouTuber Jesser. They talk about Jesser’s popularity, how it’s monetized, and the ancillary businesses that Miller is planning to build on top of it Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss new investors in Monumental, the parent of the Washington Wizards and Capitals. The backers are QIA and Arctos, buying shares previously held by Laurene Powell Jobs. They also talk about a notable line in Marshall Faulk’s new college football coaching contract, and an NWSL player (not Trinity Rodman) crossing the $1 million barrier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben talk about the Big 12's private equity plan, which is basically a credit facility for members. They also talk about the odd saga of Michael Jordan's former mansion, Diego Pavia's reverse star turn, and Nebraska women's volleyball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss a mystery involving Lane Kiffin’s house, which may impact his compensation as LSU’s head football coach. They also talk about the University of Utah’s private equity pitch, and delays at a critical Winter Olympics venue in Milan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben speak about the uproar following the College Football Playoff selections. They also talk about the highest-paid female athletes, and the Donald Trump-dominated World Cup draw. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eben and Jacob discuss the MLS Cup title showdown between Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and Thomas Müller’s Vancouver Whitecaps. They also talk about WNBA labor, ESPN’s sports betting future, and college football playoff implications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eben and Jacob discuss Lane Kiffin’s mid-season departure from Ole Miss, which rocked the college football world on Sunday. They break down what it means for Ole Miss and LSU, why players are the real losers, and why coaches’ contracts aren’t getting any smaller. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss Thanksgiving and Black Friday, two days jam packed with sports of all sorts. They talk about Amazon’s growing sports ambitions, the NFL vs. college football, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

`Scott and Eben talk about changes underway at Spanish soccer giant Real Madrid, which is trying to keep the fan-controlled structure it has had since 1902, while simultaneously raising hundreds of millions of dollars. They also talk about a Sportico story exploring UMass football’s FBS tenure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss the NFL players union’s annual report card, which has drawn the ire of the league and its owners. They also talk about latest in the WNBA negotiations, Steve Cohen’s Sphere selloff, and James Franklin’s new college football gig. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss Steph Curry’s surprise split from Under Armour. They also talk about two big changes at MLS, an existential crisis for NWSL, and the latest in the Big Ten’s proposed $2+ billion loan from a California pension fund. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott speaks with Gavin Kaysen and Bri Rosas of KZ Provisioning about the company’s original story with the Minnesota Wild, untapped potential in athlete nutrition, and the level of personalization needed to maximize performance from the sports world’s biggest stars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben celebrate their 500th Sporticast episode. They discuss president Donald Trump’s visit to the Commanders, a viral market stunt gone wrong, and more sports betting scandals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben tell stories from the latest Invest in Sports event in New York. They also talk about Fairleigh Dickinson University’s decision to add men’s fencing to make more money. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss the end of the World Series, on of the most dramatic in recent memory, and the shift toward baseball’s looming labor battle. They also talk about ESPN vs. YouTubeTV, the latest major carriage fight in sports media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben talk about the other side of the World Series—the Toronto Blue Jays—who are part of a much larger Canadian tech/internet/sports conglomerate. They also talk about athlete nutrition, sideline seating, and Jim Dolan’s many salaries. 2:25 – Let’s talk about the Blue Jays 6:12 – Eben’s Ohtani x Blue Jays story 10:10 – Eben’s nostalgia theory 21:00 – Players and their eating habits 23:16 – Scott on player chairs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben debate all sides of the latest NBA betting scandal, unveiled by the FBI late last week. They also talk about the World Series and the college football coaching carousel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben speak with Stan Kasten, the president and CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They talk about Shohei Ohtani’s superlative performance, the team’s run toward another World Series title, and how the business of the Dodgers has grown in recent years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben break down the start of the NBA season, including some major changes on the media side, and a new all-time highest earner. They also talk about Shohei Ohtani’s superlative performance, and a new plan to save college soccer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben speak with Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico’s valuations guru, about his latest NBA rankings. They discuss the business of the Warriors, Clippers and Knicks; the NBA’s international opportunity; a shift towards an NFL-style model; the economics of new arenas; and more. 1:00 – Kurt’s opening takes 6:00 – International opportunity 6:57 – The China question 17:57 – Scott prediction 19:46 – Clippers 24:40 – Thunder 28:57 – Start of the rapid fires… 32:37 – Who is more superlative? 33:24 – The “classic question” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss the rush of college football buyouts, including Penn State paying James Franklin about $50 million to leave Happy Valley. They also talk NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman’s new contract, and the MLB playoff latest. 0:37 – James Franklin 4:50 – Other schools 5:40 – College sports is skittish 11:50 – Scott q on pension funds (Carol this might be a good segment for a clip) 16:10 – Jess Berman new deal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The WNBA Finals have garnered record ratings, even with a lot of attention focused on the ongoing negotiations and conversation between commissioner Cathy Engelbert and top players, including Napheesa Collier. Just Women’s Sports founder Haley Rosen joined Scott and Jacob to discuss both storylines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss Connor McDavid’s two-year, $25 million extension to stay in Edmonton. They also talk about Gavin McKenna, college sports private equity, the MLB playoffs, and the latest drama in the WNBA labor fight. 0:57 – Connor deal details 6:17 – Salary cap jumps 18:35 – Learfield-style deals 19:20 – Scott’s endowment q 27:51 – WNBA labor drama Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben are joined by Sportico valuations expert Kurt Badenhausen to talk about the NHL’s rise, labor peace, new media deals, international opportunities and the marketability of the NHL’s biggest stars. 1:10 – NHL vs. MLB and text message 5:06 – Let’s talk Florida Panthers 9:15 – Local media disruption 12:35 – International opportunities 16:30 – Hockey culture shies away from marketing 19:30 – Who is the third most recognizable NHL player??? 27:49 –Quick talk about Arizona. Then, will the NHL return there?? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss the collapse of the New York Mets’ 2025 season, which ended with a $342 million roster failing to make the playoffs. They also talk about owner guarantees, the Ryder Cup and new investors in Angel City FC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith joins the Sporticast podcast to discuss his views on the world’s richest sports league. He talks about the NFL’s antitrust exemption, a potential long-term threat from college football, and a theory on why women’s unions seem to be making more progress than their male counterparts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben speak about the Los Angeles Dodgers hitting a big commercial milestone. They also talk about the economics of The Sphere in Las Vegas, and changes in college hockey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben talk about the highest paid NFL players, a new Masters media partner, and growing pains in women's sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss the title fight between Canelo Alvarez and Bud Crawford, which started late and paid its fighters handsomely. They also talk about Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, Nascar driver Bubba Wallace and some throwback Buds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eben and Jacob discuss the expansive grey area in the relationship between sports teams, players and sponsors. They also talk about the growing cost of sports streaming, and the NFL's YouTube numbers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben break down the biggest NBA story of the past week—allegations that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer may have tried to circumvent the league’s cap via a fraudulent tree-planting start-up. They also talk about Unrivaled’s $340M funding round, and a big NWSL loss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben speak with Marc Ganis, prominent sports consultant and NFL advisor, about the league’s business heading into the 2025 season—they touch on media, valuations, private equity, college sports, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben speak with Gareth Balch, the co-founder and CEO of Two Circles, about the company’s data work, trends about sports consumption, and how AI is already disrupting it all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss the celebrity engagement of the week. They also talk about NFL advertising, the U.S. Open, and Tommy “Cutlets” DeVito. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hosts Scott Soshnick and Jacob Feldman are joined by Kurt Badenhausen to discuss the latest sports business news, including a record-breaking sports card auction, the return of the U.S. Open, and an action-packed opening weekend of college football amid seismic change for the sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hosts Scott Soshnick and Jacob Feldman are joined by Kurt Badenhausen to discuss Sportico’s rankings of the highest-paid tennis players, led by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Then they discuss the debut of ESPN’s direct-to-consumer offering, and why the company doesn’t get enough credit for its digital transformation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss a handful of big sports business stories, including Michigan’s punishment for its sign-stealing operation, the collapse of Grand Slam track, a new revenue stream for LA28, and Aaron Rodgers’ helmet fiasco. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben are joined by valuations expert Kurt Badenhausen to discuss Sportico’s latest NFL valuations, which start with the Dallas Cowboys ($12.8 billion) and end with the Cincinnati Bengals ($5.5 billion). They also talk about recent sales involving the Minnesota Twins and Portland Trail Blazers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben speak about UFC’s new $7.7 billion deal with Paramount, which came a week after the Skydance merger was announced. They also talk about ESPN’s streaming tie-up with FOX, and a Sportico investigation into a former NFL player now being sued for fraud. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss the NFL’s latest billion-dollar media deal, a deeper relationship with ESPN that involves NFL Network, RedZone, fantasy, real estate, carriage, and more. They also talk about the Big Dumper, and Shedeur Sanders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Change is afoot. Hosts Scott Soshnick and Jacob Feldman break down a major bit of volleyball news as two leagues announce they are coming together—and expanding. Then they talk about the state of the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun sale, and whether the team will stay in New England or be shipped away from Boston. They also hit on ESPN’s acquisition of media assets from the NFL and the current state of the flag vs tackle divide in youth football, as well as their takeaway’s from MLB’s Bristol experiment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss the latest in the NBA’s efforts to launch a new pro basketball league in Europe. They also talk about the sale of the Connecticut Sun, a film-inspired putter, and more about Deion Sanders’ business interests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss Deion Sanders’ big Colorado announcement. They also talk about medical marketing in sports, the licensing future of Hulk Hogan, and the latest in MLB’s looming labor battle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss an interesting trademark disagreement between the NFL and the U.S. Government. They also talk about a Little League lawsuit, the NFLPA scandal, and Real Madrid’s real revenue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss the latest in the WNBA labor talks. They also discuss President Donald Trump’s latest foray into sports, and the meltdown at the NFLPA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben discuss a curious clause in the new contract of Maryland athletic director Jim Smith. They also talk about the MLB All-Star Game’s Swing Off, the WNBA labor latest, and Juan Solo delivering baseball’s quote of the year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Eben talk about the Home Run Derby, which took place this year without any of the sport’s biggest stars. They compare it to struggles felt by other leagues and their All-Star Weekends. They also talk about latest NFLPA controversy, the Wimbledon finals, the FIFA Club World Cup, and—of course—the Tour de France. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices