Sports Business Journal

BREAKING NEWS 🚨 Jim Cavale and Athletes.org have released what may be the first draft CBA for college sports — a proposal aimed at bringing structure to an increasingly chaotic ecosystem. The 35-page framework outlines revenue sharing, updated NIL rules, eligibility standards and agent certification, with football as the starting point but scalability across other sports. With federal solutions like the SCORE Act stalled, Cavale hopes this draft pushes long-overdue conversations into the open. It’s not a final answer, but it could be a meaningful first step toward a more unified model for college athletics. More via Ben Portnoy: https://ow.ly/k2u450XFLnb

Looking for your next opportunity in sports business? Several teams and leagues are hiring: 🔸𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 – 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱: Advance partnership strategy with a creative and business mindset, lead partnership materials, execute revenue-generating solutions, and maximize asset value. 🔸𝗟𝘆𝗻𝘅 – 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿: Drive new business by taking ownership of high-value platforms, identifying and engaging prospects, and securing revenue-generating sponsorships. Senior sales role, no supervisory responsibilities. 🔸𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 & 𝗟𝘆𝗻𝘅 – 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿: Lead new business development across both teams, managing high-value platforms and securing sponsorship revenue. 🔸𝗟𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 – 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀: Support business operations with strategic initiatives using descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytics. 🔸𝗟𝗜𝗩 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗳 – 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿, 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Support the development, packaging, and delivery of strategic sponsorship platforms and partnership proposals. More info: https://ow.ly/vpcZ50XFFs1

LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil is nearly a full year into his role and is looking ahead to the league’s start in Riyadh in February. O’Neil caught up with our Josh Carpenter discuss myriad topics around LIV, including its financials, Official World Golf Ranking points application and more. TAKE A LOOK: https://ow.ly/z6Rh50XFKBF

For more than 20 years, SBJ has highlighted the Most Influential People in Sports Business 🏆 This year, to mark the first 25 years of the century, we present 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟭𝟮𝟱—125 whose impact over the past 25 years has been undeniable and whose influence continues to shape the future of sports business. From pioneering founders and high-stakes dealmakers to brand architects and media moguls, this group has transformed every corner of the multibillion-dollar sports economy—sponsorship, tech, media, venues, events, agencies, and leagues. See who made the list: https://ow.ly/zZrX50XFFJT

After Sunday night’s contentious CFP Selection Show, the spotlight is also on the agents behind college football’s biggest coaching names 💼 Creative Artists Agency and super-agent Jimmy Sexton continue to lead the industry, representing five of the 12 head coaches in this year’s CFP: Kirby Smart, Dan Lanning, Pete Golding, Brent Venables and Kalen DeBoer, with support from Ed Marynowitz and Davis Horton. Win Sports Group’s Clint Dowdle leads representation for Mike Elko and Jon Sumrall. Excel Sports Management’s Bynum Jaeger, with Bryan Harlan, oversees Mario Cristobal and Bob Chesney. Athletes First brings two coaches as well, with Trace Armstrong representing Ryan Day and Alex Hammond representing Joey McGuire. Rounding out the field, Patrick Strong of Balch & Bingham LLP represents Big Ten champion Curt Cignetti. https://ow.ly/1VnP50XFF0S

Just arrived in Orlando. Please let me know if you'd like to connect at the Major League Baseball (MLB) Winter Meetings this week.

Valerie Camillo’s appointment as the WTA’s new chairperson comes at a pivotal moment for women’s tennis. With nearly 30 years of experience across IBM, Booz Allen Hamilton, the NBA’s TMBO group, the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Flyers/Wells Fargo Center, she brings a deep commercial background that aligns with the WTA’s growing focus on business strategy and WTA Ventures. Industry leaders describe her as analytical, integrity-driven and uniquely prepared to navigate tennis’ complex stakeholder landscape. https://ow.ly/Ocy150XASN3

Here's a look at some of those who were on the move around the sports business industry this past week 💼 ◽ Jim Donofrio // Joined LEARFIELD as a National Sales & Strategic Partnerships exec ◽ Nicky Schmidt // Joined the Colorado Rockies as SVP/Chief Revenue & Strategy Officer ◽ Sabine Feldmann // Named Head of Marketing at Boston Legacy FC ◽ Nick Zabriskie // Named SVP/Public Affairs at PrizePicks ◽ Cory Hilliard // Joined USA Swimming as CFO ◽ Joanna Stang // Named Sports Marketing Manager at Schwan's Company ◽ Ramesh Jayaraman // Will join Daktronics as its new president and CEO, effective Feb. 1, 2026 ◽ Peter Jung // Joined TMRW Sports as CMO ◽ Sandy Cross // Appointed as PWHL's new VP/People & Culture Congratulations, all! SBJ subscribers can stay up to date on the latest executive transactions throughout the week here 🔻 https://lnkd.in/guxgcE7w

My initial takeaways from Saturday’s World Cup schedule release are up at Sports Business Journal. A few highlights: ⚽️Unsurprisingly, NY/NJ and Dallas — the U.S. stadiums with the largest capacity — received very strong group stage slates. NYC gets Brazil, France, Germany and England. Dallas gets two Argentina matches, plus Japan-Netherlands and England-Croatia. ⚽️ The schedule reduces exposure to the hottest parts of the day, even if it means giving up some European-friendly start times. ⚽️ East Coast host cities could have their hands full with fan fest logistics due to late start times for matches played on the West Coast, including two of the three U.S. group stage games. https://lnkd.in/eyrGavdB

Major League Baseball (MLB) clubs handed out more than 12.6 million game-day giveaways last season ⚾ These included 748 general admission and 1,145 specialty-ticket packages, according to Sports Business Journal’s 10-month analysis of each team’s full-season promotional schedule. Including non-giveaway promotions such as fireworks nights or the unveiling of a former player’s statue, there were over 4,000 fan activations designed to bring fans to the ballpark. This is the first time we've tracked MLB promotions since 2018, after conducting annual analyses from 2006. https://ow.ly/opn750XAVgl