On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including the end of the Summer Olympics in Paris. After a decade of underwhelming Games due to geopolitics, disease and location, the Olympics seemed to have its illustrious return in Paris.
The hosts talk about Peacock’s new coverage of the Games, and how social media platforms are now offering a totally different way to follow the Olympics–a way that likely brought in significantly more followers. They also talk about Olympic winners and losers from a business standpoint. They discuss gymnast Simone Biles, rugby player Ilona Maher, breakdancer Raygun and French swimmer Léon Marchand. They also discuss Noah Lyles, the brash American sprinter, who made a lot of headlines, both on the track and off it.
Next, they turn their attention to the LA28 Games. The four-year countdown is now underway for America’s first domestic Summer Games since Atlanta in 1996. The commercial success of the last three weeks should give the LA28 organizing committee a tremendous amount of confidence as it enters the IOC’s spotlight. The group has a $2.5 billion sponsorship goal, and recently told Sportico that it is about 65% of the way to that target.
The hosts close with a discussion about the NWSL. The league and its players union recently agreed to terms on a collective bargaining agreement. The talks happened quietly, with a deal coming more than two years before the current CBA is set to expire. Players are getting a jump in compensation and significantly more freedom in player movement, according to Sportico‘s reporting. Owners are getting labor peace that will extend well past the time they need to negotiate their next media deals in 2027.
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