Front Office Sports Today

AEG Global Partnerships' co-COOs join us to talk about their big year, new partners, and the multimillion renovations at Crypto.com Arena.Plus, newsletter co-author Eric Fisher discusses dips in MLB postseason viewership — and why there's a debate around the format of the playoffs.

The NHL begins its 2023-24 season amid signs of growth for the league, including a rising salary cap and talk of expansion. Veteran player and broadcaster Eddie Olczyk joins the show to discuss the state of the league.Plus, State Farm CMO Kristyn Cook gives us an exclusive announcement on the sports-aligned brand’s next long-term athlete deal. The star will join Patrick Mahomes and Chris Paul as key players in State Farm’s advertising.

The deal that stands to upend the golf world is running into trouble, and now seems likely to miss a deadline at the end of the year. We delve into what it means for the future of the sport.Plus, Zaire Wade, son of NBA legend Dwyane Wade, joins to discuss his path in professional basketball, through the Basketball Africa League and the G League, which he hopes lands him in the NBA.

The WNBA will be adding teams in San Francisco and, pending final approvals, Portland in 2025. The announcement signals the ongoing strength of the league and women’s sports generally.Plus, baseball play-by-play announcer Brian Anderson joins to discuss the MLB playoffs and the state of sports broadcasting ahead of the National League Division Series between the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies, which he will be calling.

FIFA has made the unprecedented move to start the 2030 World Cup in South America before the action moves to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.Plus, reporter Amanda Christovich joins to discuss her exclusive report on big tech companies joining the race for College Football Playoff rights. Later, NFL All-Pro Marcellus Wiley join us to talk about the NFL, the Deion Sanders phenomenon, and his foundation work.

A complaint presented to the National Labor Relations Board challenges the NCAA’s amateurism model — and could lead to college athletes becoming employees. Front Office Sports reporter Amanda Christovich discusses the complaint and its chances of success.Plus, ESPN NBA Front Office Insider Bobby Marks joins to preview a high-stakes NBA season that will debut the midseason tournament and new rules to keep stars on the court, as the league negotiates its largest set of media deals in history.

NBC is exploring whether to obtain the rights to broadcast a slice of the expanded College Football Playoff in 2026. Senior Writer Michael McCarthy and newsletter co-author Eric Fisher discuss the news, along with their takeaways from Sunday's "Toy Story" NFL broadcast and Taylor Swift's appearance on "Sunday Night Football."Plus, Dallas Stars president and CEO Brad Alberts speaks with senior writer Owen Poindexter about last season's run to the Western Conference Final, growing hockey in the southern U.S., and why NHL expansion teams are so successful.

The MLB regular season is over, and the playoff picture is finally clear for 2023. Newsletter co-authors Eric Fisher and David Rumsey take a look at which teams made the cut, and how the new rules will affect the postseason. Fisher and Rumsey also discuss the scenes in Boulder after Colorado played USC, and the takeaways from this year's Ryder Cup.Plus, senior writer Owen Poindexter sat down with Joel Beckerman — composer of some of the most iconic theme songs in sports.

From the Prime Effect on college football to the NFL potentially going international, there's a lot of change happening on and off the gridiron. Former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, and host of The Five Spot on Outkick, joins Owen Poindexter to discuss the state of the NFL, college football, and where he sees the sport going in the future.Plus, newsletter co-authors Eric Fisher and David Rumsey tells us why Deion Sanders still has a hold on college football despite a big loss last week, as well as gauge Taylor Swift's impact on the NFL.

The Milwaukee Bucks altered the balance of power in the NBA — and possibly the course of their franchise — by swinging a deal with the Portland Trail Blazers for Damian Lillard. We also check in on the woeful Chicago Bears, who are still in search of a new stadium and identity.Plus, with the Ryder Cup starting, PGA of America chief commercial officer Jeff Price tells us how his organization is leveraging this moment to grow the game of golf.