The Varsity Is the NFL Unstoppable?
Oct 15, 2025
Ken Belson, a longtime sports business reporter for The New York Times and author of Every Day Is Sunday, dives into the NFL's incredible journey to cultural and economic dominance. He discusses the transformative impact of Rupert Murdoch's Fox deal and Roger Goodell's media-first strategy. Topics include the NFL's cautious embrace of private equity, challenges from expanded gambling, and the implications of college NIL on player leverage. Belson also highlights the risks of declining youth participation and explores the owners’ innovative revenue models beyond game days.
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1993 Deal Turned The NFL Into A Financial Engine
- The 1993 CBA shifted the NFL from constant labor fights to stable revenue-sharing and a salary cap structure.
- That financial footing unlocked big media deals and transformed the league into a predictable, investable business.
Fox's Bid Redefined Sports Media Value
- Rupert Murdoch's Fox bid added a new deep-pocketed buyer and shifted how networks valued sports rights.
- That competition exploded media prices and changed league-media dynamics permanently.
Goodell Turned The League Into A Media Power
- Roger Goodell reframed the NFL as a media company and pushed inventory expansion like Thursday Night and international games.
- The league's cautious, incremental approach let it copy successful experiments and scale them safely.
