FOS PM: 1.8M World Cup Tickets Sold - Front Office Sports

2022-07-02 03:29:30 By : Mr. Ray Chow

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is a big hit with team owners. Under him, franchise values have quadrupled, the minor league system was reorganized, and Manfred says he wants to expand to 32 teams. Manfred’s $17.5 million annual contract ($25M with bonuses) is up after the 2024 campaign — and he should have a lot of leverage in negotiations.

This year’s World Cup in Qatar has sold 1.8 million tickets so far.

Qatar residents have purchased the most tickets, with Canada, England, France, Germany, India, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the UAE, and the U.S. following. With all 32 teams now confirmed for the tournament, the next phase of tickets for the November event go on sale Tuesday. 

FIFA plans to offer a total of 3 million tickets over all buying rounds but has received more than 23 million requests. Qatar hopes to attract 1.2 million fans.

Fans interested in attending have a few ticket options, with prices ranging from roughly $69 for a Category 3 group-stage match and north of $1,600 for a final ticket.

The purchase period will be open until Aug. 16 but will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. FIFA says a queue management system will apply if there is high demand.

There will also be a third, “last-minute” sales phase.

A minority investor in AC Milan is attempting to block the sale of the Italian soccer club to New York-based private investment firm RedBird Capital Partners, according to Bloomberg. 

Blue Skye Financial Partners claims American investment firm Elliott Management held talks “behind closed doors” about the deal, which valued AC Milan at $1.3 billion. Milan has been under Elliot’s ownership since 2018. 

To date, the firm has poured as much as $838 million into the club.

In May, RedBird, which has $6 billion in assets under management, agreed to purchase Milan from Elliott.

The sale is now under fire because Blue Skye’s claims are a breach of minority rights.

Despite the controversy, Milan has found success on and off the pitch.

The club won its 19th Serie A title in the 2021-222 season and has generated $257 million in revenue in 2022, up from $165 million in 2021.

No matter who ends up with a majority stake, the club will maintain its famous red-and-black look. On Wednesday, Milan extended its kit sponsorship deal with sportswear brand Puma.

Germany-based Puma will reportedly pay $31.5 million per year under a five-year contract.

Crypto at its core is grounded in the idea of empowering the individual through a decentralized currency, providing everyone the freedom to buy, sell and trade without intermediaries.

As professional sports teams and leagues have begun to adopt crypto in recent years, athletes have capitalized on the freedom and opportunities it provides as well.

In the final lesson of Crypto in Sports Essentials, WNBA star, Jewell Loyd of the Seattle Storm shares her view on crypto, how she utilizes it to create content, engage in communities and start meaningful conversations. Plus, what the future holds for athletes who are getting involved in crypto at both the professional and collegiate level.

Sign up for the course today to learn more.

A major transaction is bringing Cristiano Ronaldo onto the same team as Kyler Murray — and Tom Hanks.

Creative Artists Agency acquired ICM Partners, completing a seismic shift in the agency landscape.

With the closing of the deal, the “big four” U.S. agencies became the “big three,” alongside Endeavor-owned WME and United Talent Agency.

All three have been on an expansion path, with Endeavor acquiring sports betting company OpenBet and nine minor league baseball teams in the last year. 

CAA represents more than 2,000 athletes including Ronaldo, Aaron Rodgers, Shohei Ohtani, Chris Paul, and Dwyane Wade.

ICM acquired NFL-focused agency Select Sports Group in July 2021, bringing in Kyler Murray, Andy Dalton, and Colin Kaepernick, among others. ICM Stellar Sports, which represents soccer talent including Jack Grealish, Eduardo Camavinga, and Yéremy Pino, was formed after ICM purchased Stellar in October 2020.

Last week, Front Office Sports held a virtual summit to celebrate 50 years since the passing of Title IX in 1972. The event featured intimate conversations with some of the most influential female athletes and business leaders, including: 

Couldn’t make it? Register here to access the replay.

U.S. stocks were mixed on Wednesday. Here’s a look at how sports-related stocks performed:

Wimbledon brings the best tennis players in the world to the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club in London.

Last year, Novak Djokovic won the men’s singles championship, while now-retired Ashleigh Barty took home the women’s singles title.

How to Watch: 6 a.m. ET on ESPN+ / Stream all of Wimbledon on ESPN+ *

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