FIFA's scheduling committee has formally recommended moving the '22 World Cup in Qatar "from the summer to the cooler months, between Thanksgiving and Christmas." The plan will be voted on by FIFA's Exec Committee in Zurich next month. The switch to winter at this point "has long been a foregone conclusion." FIFA in a statement today said the committee considered a number of options and "aimed to find the most viable solution for all stakeholders" (NYTIMES.com, 2/24).
Fox is marking 100 days until the start of its FIFA Women's World Cup coverage with a multiplatform marketing initiative, highlighted by a 30-second spot airing tonight during a coordinated primetime roadblock across 34 Fox-owned networks. At 8:00pm ET, all of the networks will begin running the spot simultaneously. A 60-second version of the ad, titled "It's Not Over," premiered Sunday during Fox' Daytona 500 telecast (Fox Sports).
An Inglewood (Calif.) City Council vote on a proposed 80,000-seat NFL stadium and related development could come as soon as tonight, and a report commissioned by local officials finds that the project "would boost that city's budget" by $18.7-28M annually over the next 15 years. The report found that over 25 years, Hollywood Park Land Co. would recoup about $260M in tax money. The current deal "pledges no public funds will be spent upfront," but it "allows for the developers to be paid back" for certain costs (L.A. TIMES, 2/24).
Jaguars Owner Shahid Khan's proposal to redevelop Jacksonville's Shipyards will go before the Downtown Investment Authority this afternoon. The plan "asks that the city fund the environmental cleanup of the site," up to $35M. The developer also would keep 80% of the proceeds "from any land sale in the project." Khan last week unveiled his plan to turn the Shipyards into a "grassy idyll" that would include a riverwalk, football-themed park and Jaguars practice fields (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 2/24).
NASCAR driver Joey Logano appeared on CBS’ “Late Show” last night after winning his first Daytona 500 on Sunday. Logano said, “The Daytona 500 is the biggest race of the year for us, so being able to take the victory at that place, you get to do cool things like come on the ‘Late Show.’ So I’m having fun with it.” CBS’ David Letterman asked, “Is it a Chevy power plant, is that what you’re driving now?” Logano: “No, we’ve got a Ford, the blue oval. Easy. Don’t list the enemy.” Logano said drivers "are wailing on each other" during races and he feels like "we should crash a lot more than what we do" (“Late Show,” CBS, 2/23).
Lakers G Kobe Bryant appeared on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last night and talked about the Lakers' record and the upcoming documentary about him. Bryant said of his team's record, “It’s hard to be in that environment when we’re literally at the bottom of the league.” ABC's Jimmy Kimmel: “You’re welcome to come hang out here.” Showtime will air a documentary on Bryant Saturday night, and Kimmel said, “I heard you’re still working on it.” Bryant: “We’re still finishing it. It’s such a personal film that we’re all perfectionists, everybody that’s working on the film.” Kimmel noted, “You’re always shooting.” Bryant said laughing, “I will never stop shooting.”
The interview later featured questions from fans via satellite and one fan asked Bryant who he would build a team around besides himself. Bryant replied, “James Harden drinks BodyArmor so that’s the team I start with.” Bryant is a minority owner of BodyArmor. Another fan asked if he would trade the Clippers to St. Louis for the Rams. Bryant: “I like the new management that the Clippers have put in place. Before that, I’d trade the Clippers for a bag of peanuts” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 2/23).
Fidelity National Financial Chair William Foley yesterday announced that “the two-week-old public drive to sign up potential season ticket holders” for a Las Vegas NHL team has reached the 7,000 mark, “with another 3,000 to go to meet his goal” (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 2/23).
UMass Exec Associate AD Tim Kenney and New Orleans AD Derek Morel are the “two finalists” for the St. Bonaventure AD job. Kenney is expected to visit the campus today and Morel’s visit is “scheduled for Thursday and Friday” (OLEAN TIMES HERALD, 2/24).
Vancouver has “secured a four-year commitment to play host to the World Rugby Sevens Series” beginning in March 2016, “a development that will ensure new artificial turf at BC Place for this June’s FIFA Women’s World Cup” (VANCOUVER SUN, 2/24).
Comcast said that Q4 net income “edged up less than 1%, despite revenue gains at its video-distribution and NBCUniversal units.” The company posted net income of $1.93B, compared to $1.91B in the year-ago period (VARIETY.com, 2/24).
“It’s a big deal for our sponsors and a big deal for Ford” – NASCAR team Owner Roger Penske, on his driver Joey Logano winning the Daytona 500 (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/24).
“It’s going to take something catastrophic – perhaps – for folks to step back and say, ‘OK, maybe we shouldn’t be doing this’” – ESPN's Mark Dixon, on the early start to the NCAA lacrosse season resulting in games being played in snowy or icy conditions (BALTIMORESUN.com, 2/23).
“I’m really intent upon the idea that we’re going to have to an average game time this year that starts with a ‘2’ as opposed to a ‘3’” – MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, on his goal of having games take less than three hours (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 2/24).
“There were several students that hit our players. … This has got to stop. I think court-storming is fine, but certainly you can get security to the point where players’ safety is not involved like it is here the last several times” – Kansas basketball coach Bill Self, on fans storming the court last night after K-State defeated Kansas 70-63 at Bramlage Coliseum (K.C. STAR, 2/24).
Last night’s 1:00am ET edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” led with Kansas-Kansas State, followed by Louisville-Georgia Tech, Grizzlies-Clippers, T’Wolves-Rockets and Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez reporting to Spring Training early. Last night’s 1:00am ET edition of FS1’s “Fox Sports Live” led with Grizzlies-Clippers, followed by Kansas-Kansas State, Louisville-Georgia Tech and Rodriguez' early arrival.
ESPN’s Keith Olbermanncalled out his “world’s worst” persons in sports: The “fans at the Athens Derby” who rioted before the Panathinaikos-Olympiakos soccer match. Olbermann also blasted “whoever set off the fire alarm at the Washington Capitals' hotel in Philadelphia early Sunday morning” before their game against the Flyers, which they lost 3-2, and Syracuse Univ. for retiring the numbers of former F Louis Orr and C Roosevelt Bouie but misspelling Bouie’s name as "Bowie" on the jersey he was given. Olbermann said, “Look at the bright side: Syracuse did spell ‘Syracuse’ right.”
PROVIDENCE JOURNAL on the Pawtucket Red Sox' McCoy Stadium: "In many ways it was a baseball version of a 'mom and pop' store in the best sense of the word, just 50 miles away from the bright lights of Fenway, so close, yet so far away, too."
Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Things Overheard Backstage At The Academy Awards.” CBS’ David Letterman said, “I think the Academy is made up of old drunks and I don’t think they go to the movies” (“Late Show,” CBS, 2/23).
10) “Are you Reese Witherspoon or Renee Zellweger?”
9) “Oh great, now Robert Duvall is in his underpants.”
8) “We recommend the Oscar statuette extended warranty for $99.”
7) “You can drop the phony British accent now.”
6) “Hi, I’m John; I’m sort of in the entertainment industry.”
5) “Who’s that woman with Steadman Graham?”
4) “Flip over to Downton Abbey.”
3) “You’d think the ‘Best Editor’ would know when to shut up.”
2) “Shh, you’ll wake Clint.”
1) “You had a weird encounter with Travolta? Me too!”
You're talking Chicago, D.C. and Boston. Pinnacle sports towns, and not only that, football towns, and that's the differentiating factor.
-- NFL Media Exec Producer Charlie Yook, on how the first three picks in the NFL Draft belonging to teams in big major markets that need QBs could lead to record viewership. nfl draft tv
On this week’s pod, SBJ’s Austin Karp has two...
Read More
On this week’s pod, SBJ’s Austin Karp has two Big Get interviews. The first is with TNT’s Stan Van Gundy as he breaks down the NBA Playoffs from the booth. Later in the show, we hear from ESPN’s VP of Programming and Acquisitions Tim Reed as the NFL Draft gets set to kick off on Thursday night in Motown. SBJ’s Tom Friend also joins the show to share his insights into NBA viewership trends.
SBJ I Factor features an interview with Molly Mazzolini....
Read More
SBJ I Factor features an interview with Molly Mazzolini. Elevate's Senior Operating Advisor – Design + Strategic Alliances chats with SBJ’s Ross Nethery about the power of taking chances. Mazzolini is a member of the SBJ Game Changers Class of 2016. She shares stories of her career including co-founding sports design consultancy Infinite Scale career journey and how a chance encounter while working at a stationery store launched her career in the sports industry.
SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.
