A "sun-splashed weekend of fun, star-gazing and Formula One racing" culminated yesterday in a "stunning finish" at the Miami Grand Prix, as driver Lando Norris took the checkered flag for his first-ever title. It was presumed that Max Verstappen, the circuit's "dominant" driver, would win in his third consecutive Miami Grand Prix. The event was a sellout "even though there were midweek concerns," with Dolphins Vice Chair, President & CEO Tom Garfinkel saying that over 275,000 fans came through the turnstiles over the three days. There are "still wrinkles that must be ironed out" every year, and one of next year’s issues to be improved upon is "opening the gates sooner" on Saturday. There was "a logjam of fans" for the Sprint Race (South Florida SUN SENTINEL, 5/5).

Norris' win "isn’t just great" for aspiring F1 fans in the U.S. "weary of Verstappen’s recent dominance," but everyone in F1. The race and its outcome "provided intrigue, excitement, Miami vibes, and reiterated F1’s push in the states" with the first of three races this year (USA TODAY, 5/5). The victory "came at a crucial moment" in the sport. Over the last 28 grands prix, Red Bull has topped all but two races and Verstappen "has gone largely unchallenged" (THE ATHLETIC, 5/5).

McLaren before the start of the race hosted former President Donald Trump, who "chatted with F1 officials from inside the McLaren garage." When he made his way toward the starting grid, "fans began chanting 'USA! USA!' and Trump pumped his fist in approval" (AP, 5/5). The backlash on social media was "swift and vicious enough for McLaren to put out a statement" just as the race began, stressing they were a "non-political organisation" but adding that they "recognised and respected" the office of President. Liberty Media President & CEO Greg Maffei and F1 President Stefano Domenicali were "indeed both waiting for Trump" inside the McLaren garage along with FIA President Mohammed ben Sulayem. Whoever invited him, "if the goal was to raise awareness of the race, it worked" (London TELEGRAPH, 5/5).

Celebrities "flocked to Miami" to attend the race. Among the stars "strolling down the paddocks" were Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs TE Travis Kelce, former NFLer Tom Brady, actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, PGA Tour player Rory McIlroy, soccer stars Zinedine Zidane, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Juan Mata, as well as boxer Anthony Joshua (NBCLOSANGELES.com, 5/5).

CAA Sports is “turning to the man behind Alex Ovechkin’s enviable endorsement earnings” -- David Abrutyn -- to help its stable of high-profile hockey clients “find new off-ice earning opportunities.” CAA’s hockey division -- led by agents Pat Brisson and J.P. Barry -- has hired Abrutyn as its first global chief business officer. In the new role, Abrutyn will “help the firm’s roster of elite NHL talent build their personal brands, forge marketing partnerships and launch business ventures.” Abrutyn will be based out of CAA’s N.Y. office and work closely with Brisson and Barry, and collaborate with CAA Head of Hockey Operations/Marketing and Client Management Jennifer Entin Kardosh. Abrutyn, an original employee at Sports Business Daily when it launched in 1994 and a 2008 Forty Under 40 honoree, has spent the past nine years as a founding partner at sports investment firm Bruin Capital. The “lifelong Capitals fan and one-time ticket-seller” has also represented Ovechkin for most of the team captain’s career and will “continue to represent Ovechkin” in his new role. Abrutyn believes that hockey is “having a renaissance that CAA can help its clients capitalize on” (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, May 6 issue).

LIV Golf has made another executive hire and is bringing on longtime PepsiCo leader Adam Harter as its new CMO. Harter is already working in the role and is reporting to LIV CEO Greg Norman. He was with PepsiCo for more than 20 years, most recently as its SVP/Media, Sports and Entertainment, before leaving at the end of 2022.

Harter led the efforts of Pepsi's Super Bowl halftime show entitlement and also took the lead when the brand landed LeBron James as an endorser, among other high-profile partnerships. Harter has been on SBJ's "Most Influential" numerous times over the last decade. 

Harter's hiring comes after LIV recently made a number of other new executive moves, including naming a new CFO.

Dan Meis and his 13-person MEIS Design Studio has joined AECOM’s sports design practice. Meis will serve as Director of Global Sports Design, including oversight of a newly consolidated Americas Sports Group, including sports designers based in  N.Y., K.C. and L.A. 
 
AECOM -- a global construction, engineering, and design giant -- has more than 55,000 employees but only about 50 are involved with sports venue design. Following the departure of a handful of sports designers and the arrival of Meis and his group, AECOM EVP/Global Sports & Social Infrastructure Leader Bill Hanway is now setting up the sports practice differently than the rest of the company, which largely divvies up projects in the U.S. on an East/West regional divide. The sports practice will follow where its relationships lead, regardless of geography.
 
AECOM hopes to boost its sports practice to roughly 75 people. Of its massive global employee base, thousands are based in the Middle East, Asia, and Australia, three regions where the AECOM plans to pursue sports venue projects, especially with Brisbane hosting the 2032 Summer Olympics (Hanway has a particular expertise in Olympic venue design and planning). Meis and Hanway expect several significant NBA arena projects in the next few years, Oklahoma City, for example, as well as some major college facilities. And Meis, who designed Everton’s Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium expected to open late this year, will continue to chase soccer stadium work in Europe as a flood of those projects come online.

NBC's broadcast of the 150th Kentucky Derby on Saturday averaged a total audience of 16.7 million viewers -- marking the largest Kentucky Derby audience since 1989. Viewership peaked at 20.1 million viewers from 7-7:15pm ET, as Mystik Dan took the win in the Derby’s first three-horse photo finish since 1947. Saturday’s peak audience was the largest ever for an NBC Sports presentation of the Kentucky Derby. Led by Peacock, the Derby also posted NBC Sports' largest streaming audience for a horse racing event with an average minute audience of 714,000 viewers -- nearly doubling last year (371,000). The 2024 Derby marks a 13% increase from last year’s event (14.8 million) and will rank as NBC’s most-watched program since the NFL Divisional Playoffs in January (NBC).

313 Presents, the joint venture between Ilitch Sports and Entertainment and Pistons Sports and Entertainment, has created a new all-inclusive premium space at Little Caesars Arena for non-NBA/NHL entertainment called the Encore Lounge. It’s the first all-inclusive hospitality space in the arena solely devoted to concert-type events. 
 
It makes use of the Red Wings and Pistons’ family room, with the Ilitch entertainment team transforming the space for concerts, comedy shows, and family entertainment events. The Encore Lounge members-only experience includes private parking in the Trinity Health Garage, spaces that are traditionally reserved for Red Wings players and celebrities, and a VIP Red Carpet Entrance just steps from Little Caesars Arena. The lounge itself overlooks the Red Wings’ practice rink and provides members with spacious seating and upscale furnishings, and private restrooms. 
 
313 Presents’ premium team said membership is limited and those interested can join the waitlist. Capacity is a hundred people and memberships are dynamically priced based on the package of shows available at the time of purchase. Delaware North, which manages foodservice and retail operations at Little Caesars Arena, is providing an elevated culinary offering and seasonal fare, and a members-only service bar including premium alcohol. As part of their package, Encore Lounge members will also have access to the Rehmann Club -- located down the hall from the Encore Lounge – for easy access to their premium seats within the arena.

The Ross family "will retain control of the Dolphins for years to come," and Dolphins Vice Chair, President & CEO Tom Garfinkel "made that clear" yesterday -- saying, "I know unequivocally that the team is not for sale." Sources indicated that team owner Stephen Ross has explored selling a minority stake in the Dolphins "to raise capital for other business ventures." But "one thing that hasn’t changed" is that Ross "eventually intends to hand the team over" to daughters Jennifer and Kimberly. Reports also surfaced last week that Ross "entertained" an offer of $10B for control of the Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium and the F1 Miami Grand Prix (PALM BEACH POST, 5/5).

Legendary rapper Flavor Flav is "throwing his support" behind the U.S. women's water polo team, "pledging to back the defending champions" at the Paris Olympics. Veteran Maggie Steffens said this weekend that she and her teammates "are still in need of financial support" ahead of the Games in a message on Instagram. Hours later, Flav responded by writing, "As a girl dad and supporter of all women's sports - imma personally sponsor you my girl. Whatever you need. And imma sponsor the whole team." Flav went on to write, "The US Women's Waterpolo team has won the GOLD MEDAL THREE OLYMPICS IN A ROW," Flav wrote on X. "These women should not have to be working 2-3 side jobs to be able to compete" (REUTERS, 5/5).

A few hours prior to Steffens' and Flav's interaction online, a profile of Steffens was published that noted that a few years ago, she met with an agency, "believing she had a pretty good resume to showcase, one that could make her attractive to sponsors." Steffens: "They were like, 'Awesome, we love meeting you, everything you’ve done is amazing. It’s just too bad you didn’t pick another sport'" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 5/5). 

Netflix hosted its three-hour-long roast of former NFLer Tom Brady last night, and "no topics were off limits" as more than a dozen people took the stage at the Kia Forum in L.A. "to rib Brady." Among those also participating were Patriots owner Robert Kraft, former coach Bill Belichick, former Patriots WRs Julian Edelman and Randy Moss, ex-TE Rob Gronkowski, former NFLer Peyton Manning, actor Ben Affleck, reality star Kim Kardashian, host Kevin Hart and "a slew of comedians." A "vast majority" of the jokes were "too inappropriate to reprint" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/6).

Comedian Nikki Glaser termed the roast as "the comedians' Super Bowl" and noted the competition level "was ramped up because everyone wanted to one-up each other." Hart said before the event that no topic was off limits, and he "went on the offensive early" with jokes about Brady's ex-wife, Gisele Bündchen. The only time Brady objected to a joke was when Jeff Ross made a reference to Kraft and massages. Later, Kraft and Belichick "did a shot together on stage after some coaxing from Hart" (AP, 5/6).

In this week's SBJ, Arthur M. Blank is fond of saying, “There is no finish line.” With his belief that success is a journey and not a destination, Blank has been steadfast in building the Falcons and Atlanta United but perhaps more importantly building up the city of Atlanta and its people. Blank is being honored as SBJ’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient with this week’s issue chronicling his career. Plus, Publisher and Executive Editor Abe Madkour provides his personal reflections on Blank’s accomplishments. 

Yahoo Sports is making former Wisconsin QB Nate Tice a full-time NFL analyst. Tice, the son of former NFL head coach Mike Tice, had previously contributed pieces to Yahoo and The Athletic. He also was an NFL assistant coach and scout (SBJ).

The referee for today’s Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Manchester United will "wear a camera on his head for a program that will be broadcast later this year offering an insight into the demands of being a match official." The “RefCam" is being "used on a one-off basis" and the footage will "not be broadcast live" (AP, 5/6).

The PGA of America REACH Foundation and Kohler Co. today announced a transformative partnership supporting PGA WORKS and the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship (PWCC). Kohler has committed to a six-year partnership that will see it host the PWCC in 2025 and 2029 on the Straits and Irish golf courses at Whistling Straits, and be the presenting sponsor of the PWCC and Beyond the Green through 2029 (PGA of America).

“Who’s going to say now that women’s tennis is boring?" -- Tennis player Iga Swiatek, on her three-set battle with Aryna Sabalenka in the Madrid Open final which lasted more than three hours (London TIMES, 5/5).

THE ATHLETIC goes with the header, "How TikTok breakout Jordan Howlett’s baseball dream led him to social-media stardom." Howlett spends a lot of time looking in the mirror, where he stands in his San Diego home to film viral videos for his almost 30 million social media followers across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook. A few years ago, a documentary short was made about Howlet -- but it had nothing to do with social media. It was about baseball. 

Also:

• Caitlin Clark had another awkward reporter exchange before WNBA debut.

MONDAY

• The YES Network and the Paley Center for Media will host "The Story of My Number: An Evening with New York Yankees Legends" at 7:30pm ET at The Paley Museum. The event will feature the world premiere of the YES App original series The Story of My Number, followed by a conversation with former Yankees Aaron Boone, Tino Martinez, Nick Swisher alongside series host Gracie Cashman for an onstage conversation with moderator and YES Network Yankees play-by-play announcer Michael Kay.

TUESDAY

• Disney will release its quarterly earnings.
• Electronic Arts will release its quarterly earnings.
• Wynn Resorts will release its quarterly earnings.
• Gray Television will release its quarterly earnings.
• Aramark will release its quarterly earnings.
• Vivid Seats will release its quarterly earnings.

WEDNESDAY

• Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham will appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
• AnheuserBusch InBev will release its quarterly earnings.
• Fox Corp. will release its quarterly earnings.
• The New York Times Co. will release its quarterly earnings.
• TopGolf Callaway Brands will release its quarterly earnings.
• Atlanta Braves Holdings Inc. will release its quarterly earnings.

THURSDAY

• Warner Bros. Discovery will release its quarterly earnings.
• Nexstar Media Group will release its quarterly earnings.
• Shift4 Payments will release its quarterly earnings.

   

Have an event we should feature? Send an email to malongi@sportsbusinessjournal.com.

LANDO NORRIS YOU ARE A FORMULA 1 RACE WINNER! pic.twitter.com/NcNCcqrL14

— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) May 5, 2024

Still can’t believe this is the same place… and stadium pic.twitter.com/njcniAj2fs

— Alex Baumgartner (@ABaumgartner91) May 5, 2024

Kentucky Derby hold my beer pic.twitter.com/6ijrTpnmSD

— Kyle Larson (@KyleLarsonRacin) May 6, 2024

😅

(via The Roast of Tom Brady) pic.twitter.com/coXiXb2Awq

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 6, 2024

"This title character of the top song from 1996 can’t stand her boyfriend Vitorino and spurns him to be with his two friends."

"What is 'Macarena'?"