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A look at the stories that captured your attention

Getting a sense of reader interest in our stories is always difficult. A lot of it is anecdotal or through conversation. Most of it comes through the data we study on readership and online metrics. It’s not entirely precise, and our online numbers can be skewed by the number of social media followers of certain writers or how aggressive we are in pushing a story outside our paywall. But it does provide us a sense of what’s resonating. With that in mind, nine months into 2014, here’s a look at the nine most-read stories of SportsBusiness Journal, and with three months left in the year, a look at the top three stories of the year in both SportsBusiness Daily and SportsBusiness Global.

Top Stories In SportsBusiness Journal:

Keeping it rolling, July 21-27 issue

This midsummer piece by Tripp Mickle offered an insightful behind-the-scenes look at a top NASCAR team’s expenses over a race weekend. Who knew NASCAR teams spend $900 on ice over a race weekend?

Detroit’s delivery man, Feb. 24-March 2 issue

No profile captured readers’ attention like Christopher Botta’s portrayal of the leadership of the well-respected Mike Ilitch. Ilitch and his wife, Marian, have remained out of the public spotlight for some time, so this conversation piece, captured at their Florida home, provided rare insight into one of the most admired owners in sports.

Longhorns’ AD Patterson goes on the offensive, June 23-29 issue

The significant readership of this story proved the interest in and sensitivities around changes in college sports. It also showed the draw of anything University of Texas-related. In an interview with Michael Smith, AD Steve Patterson, who has spent more than two decades in pro sports, was ready to change the conversation around college athletics, and wasn’t afraid to go on the offensive. Among his hits: “It’s absolutely agents and trial lawyers that are the whole reason we’re talking about this [athletes marketing their own rights]. You’ve got guys like Jay Bilas out there making the claim that scholarships aren’t worth anything, and nobody says anything to discredit that. … So who is saying with any rationality or any fact that student athletes on a full ride aren’t getting something? They’re just flat-out wrong and they’re liars. And they’re doing the bidding of agents and trial lawyers. The longer everybody waddles around acting like it’s not about agents and trial lawyers, the more silliness we’re going to have out there.” Many relayed to me how surprised they were at Patterson’s “bluntness,” though in far more aggressive words!

SEC Network’s cost will top that of other college nets, Jan. 13-19 issue    

This story in January by John Ourand and Smith was the first to establish the price for the most highly anticipated channel launch of the past several years. The two reported that distributors in SEC-based areas could expect to pay a rate of $1.30 to carry the network, which went on to have one of the most successful launches in sports TV history.

Discover, Tostitos to end bowl title deals, June 9-15 issue

Another indication of the changing face of college football was when two brands closely linked to the BCS — Discover and Tostitos — ended their title sponsorship of popular playoff bowl games. Tostitos had been with the Fiesta Bowl for 18 years and always had compelling activation. Further, this demonstrated the new sales and pricing model established by ESPN, which is selling the major inventory around the new playoff system.

MLS’s big play, May 12-18 issue

I’ve learned that soccer fanatics are hungry for any news on the health of their favorite sport, and this story was no exception. Details of the league’s progressive and lucrative new television agreements with Fox, ESPN and Univision showed that MLS is taking steps to broaden its reach, and this story detailing how the deal came about became one of the most-shared stories of the year to date.

How CBS won Thursday night, Feb. 10-16 issue

Just a few days after the NFL and CBS announced their new deal for an eight-game Thursday-night NFL package, Ourand detailed how a series of secret meetings pushed the agreement across the goal line.

WME outlines plan for IMG, April 14-20 issue

One of my favorite stories of the year came through the excellent reporting of Mickle, who detailed how William Morris Endeavor planned to cut $151 million in costs out of IMG upon closing its acquisition of the company. With never-before-reported company financials and 2013 revenue by business unit, this became one of the most-talked-about stories in agency circles and provided the basis for future reporting on the financial expectations of the new company.

Alabama’s success delivers big payday, April 21-27 issue

Proving again the juggernaut that Nick Saban helped build in Tuscaloosa, Smith unveiled the University of Alabama’s new deal with Learfield Sports, which is one of the nation’s most lucrative multimedia rights agreements, worth at least $150 million to $160 million over 10 years. Like the University of Kentucky deal that followed a few months later, this deal reset the market and opened the eyes of university leaders around the country.

Top Three From SportsBusiness Daily:

CBS, Tim Brando Parting Ways After 18 Years Together, Jan. 14

When one of the most recognizable voices of any sports division leaves, it’s news. And when it’s after 18 years and the talent is one of the most visible in college football, it’s even bigger news. The numbers that read about the surprising parting between Tim Brando and CBS shows the interest in stories about talent.

NFL Teams Saw Local Market Ratings Gains In ’13; Chiefs, Seahawks Up Big, Jan. 14

There is always a craving for local market TV data, and Austin Karp provided a true clip ’n’ save in listing three-year market trends for NFL teams’ regular-season local market ratings.

Joe Buck, Greg Norman To Head Fox’ Golf Broadcast Crew Beginning With ’15 U.S. Open, April 15

Anticipation around Fox’s plans for its coverage of golf was evident by the interest in this intriguing duo becoming the network’s faces and voices of the game next year.

Top Three From SportsBusiness Global:

Bombing At Northeast Nigeria Football Match Kills At Least 40 People, June 3

Africa is underdeveloped when it comes to sports business, and this frightening news was a shock for anyone with a business interest or connection on the continent.  

Chelsea Owner Roman Abramovich To Buy Spanish Second Division Side Mallorca,
June 11

The business investments of the intriguing Roman Abramovich are always among the most-read items in our Global edition. The Russian’s expansion of his sports empire with the acquisition of the historic club Mallorca, which touts Rafael Nadal as a top fan, garnered attention from those wondering whether he might turn another struggling club into an international contender. 

Adidas To Start Selling New Four-Star Germany Jersey By Mid-Week, July 15

With the successful conclusion of the World Cup, Adidas moved swiftly to capitalize on Germany’s victory and leverage its massive investment in the event. 

We’ll see how these rankings change at year’s end.

Abraham D. Madkour can be reached at amadkour@sportsbusinessjournal.com.

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