With the news that CBS Sports Chair Sean McManus will retire after next year's Masters, CBS Sports President David Berson will be taking over the role beginning next April. Berson, an SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree in 2009, started his career as an intern at ESPN in college before spending 16 years with the company -- eventually reaching the post of EVP/Program Planning & Strategy. He joined CBS in 2010 as EVP, where he reported to McManus and had a hand in all areas of the company. He was then promoted to President in 2013, where he picked up a larger role overseeing the day-to-day management of the division. Berson, alongside McManus, has been named to SBJ's Most Influential People in Sports Business in 2019, 2021 and 2022 (SBJ).

The sports world at large, from executives to TV personalities and more, reacted to the news today that CBS Sports Chair Sean McManus is set to retire after next year's Masters.

Some of the reaction: 

• CBS President & CEO George Cheeks: "Sean is a first-ballot, hall of fame executive who has masterfully managed all aspects of CBS Sports for 27 years and helped guide us through a transformative era in sports television."
• White Tee Partners co-founder and former CBS Sports SVP LeslieAnne Wade: "Simply the best boss and best friend, a life in sports television could ask for…He has done it all for CBS Sports with a smart, low-key style to be forever admired.  He was our brand.  I am grateful for my longtime run with Sean McManus."
• Former Fox Sports president and Big Ten Network co-founder Bob Thompson: "Sean was and is a class act.  Enjoy your well-deserved retirement!"
• N.Y. Post sports media columnist Andrew Marchand: "Sean McManus will go down as one of the most integral executives in TV sports history."

The Sounders have unveiled a brand evolution to commemorate their 50th anniversary in 2024. The new branding designs are aimed to incorporate and celebrate the club’s history in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest since its founding year -- 1974. The new primary logo features a modernized Space Needle image with “1974” placed inside the crest. New wave-like “Sounders” wordmarks are followed by new tertiary marks: an orca, a carnation, a bolded “74,” and an abbreviated “SFC” monogram with the wave motif. Each of the tertiary marks are an ode to the club’s past APSL, A-League, and NASL eras. The color scheme for the Sounders remains “Eternal Blue, Forever Green,” while adapting the colors of “Rave Green” and “Pacific Blue,” and adding a new shade of blue called “Heritage Aqua.” Brand and creative studios Athletics, Column, DNA and Name & Number worked with the Sounders in the rebranding process.

The Sounders will complete the 2023 season with their current crest and colors. Chief Revenue & Marketing Officer Taylor Graham noted the process began in February 2022 under the campaign “March to the 50th.” Over 10,000 surveys were completed by fans, stakeholders and local community members. Graham said that the branding reveal is “step one” in showcasing the club’s history while looking into the future. A new HQ and training center in Renton, Wa., is expected to open for the Sounders’ 50th anniversary. In 2025, the Sounders will compete in the FIFA Club World Cup -- hosted in the U.S. -- as the only MLS participant to date. In 2026, Seattle will also guest host the FIFA World Cup. “We are really excited about the next 3 to 5 years and the opportunity to grow showcased by some of the partnerships that the league is creating,” Graham said.

A majority of Oklahoma City Councilmembers voted to "send the new NBA arena proposal to the ballot amid a tense meeting" today. Voters will "make the ultimate decision on Dec. 12." Today's meeting was "lengthy, with various civic leaders and organizations showing up to voice support and opposition to the new arena." The resolution to set a special election "required a simple majority approval from city council, it passed 7-2, and the December vote will need a simple majority from voters." The city is "expected to own and operate the arena," while the Thunder will "pay to lease it during their term." It is "expected to be at a minimum cost" of $900M (OKLAHOMAN, 9/26).

British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe is "restructuring his offer to buy Manchester United" in an attempt to "break the deadlock in the long-running takeover saga." Ratcliffe is working with his advisers to "address concerns about the terms of his bid from minority investors" in the Premier League club. He put forward a proposal earlier this year to acquire 69% of shares in ManU owned by the Glazer family. That left "little benefit for holders of the club’s remaining stock, including Lindsell Train, Ariel Investments LLC and Eminence Capital." It has been almost a year since the Glazers publicly said that they would "conduct a strategic review into their ownership of the club." The bidding process has "moved at a slow pace given the interests of the various stakeholders involved" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 9/26).

The Hornets and Novant Health have signed an "expanded partnership effective this season." Novant will "retain its on-court logo at the arena, courtside advertising, and naming rights to the arena’s suite level and adjacent practice center." It also will "maintain naming rights for the home court" of Hornets G League affiliate the Greensboro Swarm, with that venue known as the Novant Health Fieldhouse, part of the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. The expanded agreement "adds sponsorship for the Hornets’ esports team, Hornets Venom GT, whose jerseys will now include the Novant logo."

Other elements include a "newly created Hornets-branded gift basket program at the hospital given to families of all newborns at Novant hospitals," and "collaborations on community health campaigns." Novant, a sponsor of the team dating to 2004, is "one of five major sponsors that pay more" than $1M annually (CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/26).

The Ryan family as part of its sports investment arm Ryan Sports Ventures has "purchased a minority stake in a venture that controls several European soccer teams." The Black Knight Football Club, a joint venture led by Golden Knights owner Bill Foley, owns Premier League club AFC Bournemouth and Ligue 1 club FC Lorient. Ryan Sports did "not disclose how much it invested." The Ryan family has held a minority interest in the Bears "since the '80s and has made investments in the Penske Corporation and sports technology funds" (CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS, 9/26).

The Spanish soccer federation today was stripped of "hosting the next annual meeting" of UEFA amid the "turmoil since the actions of its former president Luis Rubiales." Madrid was due to host the 2024 UEFA Congress Feb. 8, and also hold the group-stage draw for the next men’s Nations League competition. UEFA has decided to "relocate both events to Paris." UEFA today also replaced Rubiales as a VP by "promoting executive committee member Armand Duka of Albania" (AP, 9/26).

The National Basketball Retired Players Association will serve as title sponsor for the Legends of Basketball Las Vegas Invitational at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The Dec. 2 doubleheader, operated by Chicago-based Intersport, will feature Gonzaga-USC and Washington-Colorado State. ESPN will carry the action. The NBRPA, supported by the NBA and NBPA, serves former professional basketball players in their transition into life after basketball.

This year's event continues a dive into college sports sponsorship by the NBRPA, which also served as title sponsor of last year's Legends of Basketball Classic in Frisco, Texas, and the Legends of Basketball Showcase in Chicago. Tickets for the Las Vegas event go on sale Friday and include VIP hospitality options for the opportunity to meet former NBA and WNBA players. 

Intersport launched its first four-team early season college basketball event in 2018. This year the agency will host at least seven events throughout the course of the 2023-24 season, beginning with the Radford-Marshall neutral site game at The Greenbrier in West Virginia on Nov. 10.

Fitch Ratings has assigned an A- rating to $170.8M in senior secured notes being funded tomorrow for the NBA’s Hardwood Funding. Fitch has indicated a stable outlook for the NBA and is generally bullish on the league, highlighting its national broadcast deals with ESPN and Turner, robust fan support and willingness to explore potential new revenue streams in emerging areas like esports and sports betting. The ratings agency has suggested the NBA’s new CBA, which took effect in July, further bolsters its financial security and “paves the way for the renewal of national media rights” that expire following the 2024-25 season.

Fitch’s report indicates that the financial impact of the Diamond Sports Group bankruptcy and broader shifts in the regional sports network landscape, including the Suns and Jazz moving away from cable RSNs, remains to be seen, though teams may benefit from broader reach through streaming platforms. The NBA’s league-wide credit facility has leverage of 3x this season and 2.7x next season.

That leverage, calculated as each team’s maximum allowable debt of $275M divided by its annual share of national media revenue, has resulted in a slightly weaker credit rating than those assigned to the NFL and MLB, since both leagues maintain league-wide borrowing at a leverage of 2x or lower, but Fitch also noted that the NBA “has demonstrated perhaps the strongest global growth in popularity in recent years.”

The T'Wolves and Caribou Coffee signed a new partnership ahead of the team’s preseason games in Abu Dhabi which will be played in early October. The agreement includes international marketing rights and branded behind-the-scenes content, inclusive of a team visit to Caribou’s newest UAE location (T'Wolves).

Shriners Children’s has signed a multiyear deal to be the new title sponsor of college softball tournament the Clearwater Invitational (ESPN).

The Rolling Stones and MLB have teamed up to release limited edition vinyl of the group's latest album, "Hackney Diamonds." The albums feature custom art for each of the 30 MLB clubs in pocket jackets housing single disc baseball white vinyl. Hackney Diamonds X MLB is available exclusively at TheRollingStones.com and will be released October 20 (Universal Music Group).

Sunday’s NRL Grand Final at Sydney’s Accor Stadium is “officially sold out … making it one of the quickest at earliest sell outs in recent history.” A crowd of around 80,000 will be at the match, which pits the Brisbane Broncos against the Penrith Panthers (Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH, 9/26).

Aston Martin driver ambassador Jessica Hawkins became the "first woman to test a Formula 1 car since 2018" after a run at the Hungaroring in Budapest last week. She completed "26 laps on a day interrupted by heavy rain." Team Principal Mike Krack said that Hawkins' "approach to her chances in the simulator are what convinced Aston Martin to pursue a testing opportunity" (MOTORSPORT.com, 9/26).

Colombian second division club Tigres FC President Edgar Paez was "shot dead following his team's defeat on Saturday." The 63-year-old was "returning home by car with his daughter after the 3-2 home loss to Atletico FC when he was killed by two men on a motorbike close to the stadium, local media reported." His daughter "escaped unharmed and authorities are currently conducting an investigation into the murder" (REUTERS, 9/26).

Paris Olympics organizers and their partners "set up a giant job fair" today "meant to help fill about 16,000 vacancies in key sectors including catering, security, transport and cleaning." Sodexo Live, which is in charge of the catering during the Olympics, is "looking to fill 6,000 jobs." About 3,000 jobs are estimated to be needed to "take care of cleaning and waste management" (AP, 9/26).

Greatest NIL Deal Ever: The Iowa Pork Producers Association have signed Iowa State football players Myles Purchase, Tyler Moore, Tommy Hamann and Caleb Bacon.

Purchase Moore Hamann & Bacon! pic.twitter.com/EnuyhI6uga

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) September 26, 2023

Cool video from Marshall before sellout victory vs. Virginia Tech, but Sun Belt issued Herd “public reprimand” for “drone flying over the field when squad members were present during team introductions for Marshall”
pic.twitter.com/ykA9Mgedqz

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) September 26, 2023

Is it Friday yet? Y’all have wayyy too much time on your hands. (And for the record, I’d make the Rahm the fave here.) pic.twitter.com/YC6XHYoXOX

— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) September 26, 2023

Joseph Greff at J.P. Morgan upgrades $DKNG based on several factors, including a "strong moat" and increasing market share driven by "higher hold rates," "improved loyalty," and continued decline in customer acquisition costs.

Does the story track? 1/ pic.twitter.com/dKoigQnldL

— Chris Grove (@OPReport) September 26, 2023

In a newly appointed role at the Ryder Cup as the Director of Wellness, 2010 European captain Colin Montgomerie took a trip to the Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel to review the hotel that the teams will stay for the 2023 matches.

~12 billion -- Minutes of college football watched across all rated networks on Saturday -- which, according to ESPN Research, makes it the most-watched regular season college football Saturday ever, excluding Rivalry Week (X, 9/26).