Front Office Sports Today

Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer are in a dispute regarding whether MLS teams will participate in the U.S. Open Cup. The fight pits the largest entities in American soccer against each other as the sport continues to surge in popularity.Plus, Erik Allebest, CEO of Chess.com joins to discuss Endeavor’s investment in the company, their plans to make chess a spectacle with mainstream appeal and how Chess.com is addressing lingering concerns over cheating.

The NFL has seven national broadcasts this week, with all of its major media partners involved. That includes three games on Christmas, typically the NBA’s territory. Front Office Sports newsletter co-author Eric Fisher joins the show to discuss the league’s ever more ambitious media plans.Plus, U.S. Ski & Snowboard president and CEO Sophie Goldschmidt discusses the state of winter sports in the U.S., the Winter Olympics, the growing revenue of her organization, and how snow sports are responding to a changing climate.

Amazon is in talks with Diamond Sports Group on a deal that could lead to the tech and retail giant becoming a broadcaster of local MLB, NBA, and NHL games. The reported talks come on the heels of a MLB and Diamond reaching a framework agreement on broadcasts for the 2024 season. The uncertainty around local media revenues has led to some MLB teams taking a tentative approach to spending this offseason.Plus, Front Office Sports reporter Amanda Christovich calls in from Los Angeles, where a trial is underway that could lead to college football and basketball athletes becoming employees, with all the associated rights and benefits.

MLB is approaching a deal with regional sports network owner Diamond Sports Group that would provide certainty on costs and plans teams that have contracts with Diamond. However, that clarity will only last a year, as 2025 and beyond remain an open question regarding baseball’s media future. We also look at two woeful NFL teams and the latest voice calling for wholesale change in college sports.Plus, we hear from Bay FC CEO Brady Stewart on launching an expansion team with huge expectations. Bay FC will play its inaugural NWSL season next year. It enters with the reported largest sponsorship deal in league history, as the NWSL looks to capitalize on the momentum from its groundbreaking media rights deal.

The Washington Wizards and Capitals, both owned by Ted Leonsis’ Monumental Sports and Entertainment, have a framework in place for a deal to move to Virginia, but many questions and hurdles remain. Meanwhile, Washington, D.C., is still working to retain both teams as it tries to lure back the Commanders. We also look at stunning details that have emerged about Shohei Ohtani’s contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB’s latest attempt to stoke interest in its prospects.Plus, we hear from Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan on what it takes to put on bowl games like the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl and the Pop Tarts Bowl, including the story behind the latter’s edible mascot.

ESPN's Matt Miller joins Front Office Sports Today to break down his thoughts on the College Football Playoff Controversy, how NIL and the transfer portal have reshaped college football, and the biggest narratives of this NFL season.We also dive into the NFL's plans to play a 2024 regular-season game in São Paulo, Brazil, and the Super Bowl heading back to Los Angeles for the second time in five years in 2027.

Shohei Ohtani’s deal rocked the baseball world, first with its incredible $700 million worth, then with the news that all but $20 million will be deferred until after the contract expires. Former Miami Marlins president David Samson argues that the deal is a problem for MLB and will cause in-fighting between team owners.We also look at a unique marketing campaign created by Tom Brady and Topps with help from three MLB Hall of Famers, the latest from David Tepper's coaching carousel, and ratings from the in-season tournament that will have the NBA seeing dollar signs.

Negotiations between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund are heating up following the departure of Jon Rahm for LIV Golf and the approaching Dec. 31 deadline to strike a deal. Front Office Sports senior reporter AJ Perez shares what he’s hearing from his sources regarding the negotiations. We also check in on Netflix’ latest live sports event and lessons learned from the NBA’s in-season tournament.Plus, Serie A’s U.S. managing director Andy Mitchell discusses the top-flight Italian soccer league’s plans to grow in the U.S. with the World Cup and other major international soccer tournaments arriving Stateside in the next few years.

Shohei Ohtani signed a contract with no comparison in American sports. His 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers gives him a higher annual salary than some MLB teams. It also includes significant deferrals that can be leveraged by both the player and the team.Plus, we hear from SMAC Entertainment co-founder and CEO Constance Schwartz-Morini, who helped launch and shape the second careers of Deion Sanders and Michael Strahan, and co-produced the Coach Prime docuseries.

A truce between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf ended with LIV’s signing of Jon Rahm for a reported $600 million. The move comes as the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Investment Fund, which backs LIV, are approaching a Dec. 31 deadline to strike a deal on a new company. Barstool Sports’ Dan Rapaport joins to discuss the implications for the future of golf.Plus, with the MLS Cup on Saturday, former MLS and Premier League player Eddie Lewis joins to discuss the state of the league and how it has progressed since the arrival of his former teammate, David Beckham.