This Week's Newsmakers: Goodell's Week Highlighted By TV Deals
THE DAILY each Friday offers our take on the performances over the past week of people and entities in sports business. Here are this week’s newsmakers:
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Goodell Presides Over Deal With Comcast,
TV Rights Extensions With CBS And Fox |
WIN: ROGER GOODELL -- The NFL Commissioner becomes personally involved in the highly contentious negotiations surrounding Comcast and NFL Network and comes away with a deal that both sides can claim victory on. It also is a pact that could be a precedent for the other large MSOs, including Time Warner and Cablevision, that have yet to reach a carriage deal for the net. Goodell also reaches long-term extensions with CBS and Fox that include slight rights fee increases, a feat deserving of praise amid the current recession.
LOSE: VICTOR MACFARLANE -- More than two years after purchasing DC United with partner WILL CHANG, the S.F.-based developer bows out of MLS after failing to secure a new stadium deal. MacFarlane’s tenure with MLS’ most decorated franchise, built on the premise that he could use a new soccer stadium to anchor a mixed-use development in the DC area, certainly does not live up to expectations and thus can be considered a failure. While stadium proposals for Poplar Point in DC and Prince George’s County, Maryland, offered signs of hope for the franchise, neither arrangement comes to fruition, leaving United in the rapidly-aging RFK and MacFarlane disinterested in his investment.
DRAW: STEPHEN ROSS: Since taking over for WAYNE HUIZENGA as the front-office face of the Dolphins, Ross has made, excuse the pun, a big splash -- signing a unique naming-rights deal with Land Shark Lager and this week agreeing to a deal with Kangaroo Media for premium-seat holders. Ross also maintains his vigorous stance on wanting all Super Bowls to be played in the greater Miami area. However, he suffers a set back this week as the Dolphins lose out on Super Bowl XLVII to New Orleans. Additionally, Ross is caught off guard by fellow owners who claim Land Shark Stadium is becoming dated.
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