Sports Business

Italy’s top soccer league needs a kick in the culo

30 Sep 2020

Once a global champion, Serie A now trails rivals in Europe on revenue and visibility. A 1.6 bln euro deal by sports-investing veteran CVC seeks to double sales by rebooting an outdated media rights system. Stronger finances would benefit clubs and make for better football.

Corona Capital: Newspaper rivals, College football

17 Sep 2020

Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: the Wall Street Journal hits up the New York Times’ printing presses; U.S. college football’s Big Ten makes a comeback.

Steve Cohen’s Mets win could rewrite comeback tale

15 Sep 2020

The hedge fund manager has agreed to buy the underachieving sluggers at a $2.5 billion valuation, a U.S. sports-team record. It tops off his rocky return to prominence after his former firm was investigated for insider trading. Outperforming in the ballpark may be an easier task.

Corona Capital: NBA’s Covid test

17 Aug 2020

Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: The NBA pays it forward and back with its cheap Covid-19 test.

American college football needs to play long game

10 Aug 2020

Collegiate athletes recently penned a letter arguing for better safety, healthcare and cash compensation. Players have increasingly been using their star power to pressure coaches and administrators. But the time for tweaks is over – a total NCAA revamp is long overdue.

Corona Capital: U.S. Jobs, Drugs

7 Aug 2020

Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: More Americans went back to work in July, though it’s a slowdown from June and Washington is still dithering over job relief aid; and President Trump wants to bring pharmaceutical production back home.

Corona Capital: Baseball, Gas cloud, Luxury goods

28 Jul 2020

Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: Baseball’s Covid-19 cases put popular college sports competitions in jeopardy; a recovery in drilling for gas is bad news for the environment; Gucci and other luxury retailers finally embrace the digital revolution.

Corona Capital: Movies, Sports

24 Jul 2020

Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: Walt Disney is pushing back the highly anticipated movie “Mulan,” with a domino effect for “Avatar” and “Star Wars” sequels; and sport stars are still making it rain when it comes to pay.

Corona Capital: Uber, Tokyo Olympics

20 Jul 2020

Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: Uber’s contact-tracing program could help stem Covid-19’s spread and mend relationships with municipalities; and Japan PM Shinzo Abe faces discontent over his handling of both the virus and the postponed Olympics.

Corona Capital: Mets star bidders, Robot slayers

10 Jul 2020

Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: Power couple J. Lo and A-Rod are giving hedge fund manager Steve Cohen competition for the New York Mets baseball team; Covid-19 is accelerating automation of the meat industry.

Corona Capital: Amazon, Car perks, College sports

29 Jun 2020

Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: Companies are trying to bolster pocketbooks. Amazon makes extra payments to employees while car companies are offering major discounts. Plus: Under Armour ditches its UCLA deal.

Liverpool has one more financial peak to conquer

26 Jun 2020

The Reds ended a 30-year wait to win English soccer’s Premier League. Healthy financial results helped on the pitch. To reach European rival Barcelona’s exalted level, though, Liverpool needs more sponsorship revenue. That should hold up better than TV rights and player trading.

Baseball risks strike-out with its labor squabble

15 Jun 2020

Major League Baseball and the players’ union have been arguing about pay and the length of the 2020 season. Meanwhile, other sports may soon be back in action. Baseball had problems before Covid-19. By focusing on short-term gains, the union could undermine the sport’s future.

Viewsroom: Global takeaway and Cathay

11 Jun 2020

Nothing sums up pandemic dealmaking quite like this: As a merger of America’s top shopping mall operators crashed and burned, two of the world’s biggest food-delivery companies joined forces. Also, Cathay gets a bailout and so might the Mets. Breakingviews columnists discuss.

Corona Capital: Instacart stocks up

11 Jun 2020

Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: Grocery-delivery firm and lockdown beneficiary Instacart tops up on capital while the getting is good.

Mets bid faces Philly-style conflict of interest

9 Jun 2020

Apollo’s Josh Harris and Blackstone’s David Blitzer are exploring buying the New York baseball team. But they already own a sports team in Philadelphia – home to the sluggers’ archrivals. Private equity understands conflicts. But handling sports fans may be their toughest test.

Vacant arenas fortify TV’s financial grip on sport

28 May 2020

When games restart, distancing rules will mean emptier soccer and baseball stadiums. Sports which rely less on live crowds, like golf or Formula 1, may benefit. More home viewers should further boost the value of media rights, already worth $51 bln, and offset lost ticket sales.

Corona Capital: Hockey, HBO, Minority businesses

27 May 2020

Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: A plan to get pucks back on the ice offers a sporting template. Meanwhile, HBO’s streaming service may have missed its moment, and a survey shows minority-owned businesses have mixed feelings about life after Covid.

Review: Michael Jordan marks capitalism’s end, too

22 May 2020

ESPN’s documentary “The Last Dance” explores the basketball legend who defined the 1990s and the modern sports industry. He personifies U.S. business – with his intense competitiveness and bullying. He’s a reminder of when U.S. dominance looked like a slam dunk.

Soccer stars’ wallets will carry the Covid burden

21 May 2020

England’s top league wants to follow Germany by restarting games. That would help teams minimise lost sales, which may be up to $1.3 bln. Still, the world’s biggest sport will be far less lucrative after the virus. Player wage cuts may be the only way to ensure clubs’ viability.