MLB and its players association moved closer on key economic issues Wednesday — but still couldn’t reach a deal. 

MLB canceled a second week of games, pushing Opening Day back to April 14, after the players rejected the league’s latest offer. The league said players would not be paid for missed games.

Though the two sides appear nearly aligned on the financial factors dominating much of the negotiations, MLB’s desire for an international draft appears to be a roadblock.

• The competitive-balance tax threshold — perhaps the greatest source of tension throughout the lockout — has nearly been settled, with both sides proposing an initial raise around $230 million from last year’s $210 million. 
• The MLBPA proposed raises up to $250 million in 2026, with the owners rising up to $242 million.
• MLB offered to raise the minimum player salary to $700,000 from $570,500, with increases to $770,000 over the next five years. The MLBPA is $10,000 higher on both sides.
• The two sides are narrowing the gap on a new bonus pool for high-performing pre-arbitration players, with MLB proposing $40 million and the MLBPA $65 million.

International Draft

A new sticking point emerged over MLB’s strong desire for an international draft, which the players oppose.

The league pitched a novel draft pick system that would not be based on record, but would instead rotate on a four-year cycle. Unlike the regular draft, picks will be tradable. 

The draft will feature 20 rounds with 600 picks, with the highest slot bonus (a soft cap on how much a drafted player may earn by signing) starting at $5.5 million. 

The concept is reportedly a non-starter for Latino players.

France’s soccer governing body, Ligue de Football Professionnel, announced it would sell a stake in marketing broadcast rights for Ligue 1 in 2021. Several bids are reportedly in now.

Silver Lake, Hellman & Friedman, Oaktree Capital, and CVC Capital Partners have all submitted binding bids prior to Wednesday’s deadline, according to Reuters. BC Partners reportedly tried to team up with Oaktree, but the deal didn’t materialize and BC Partners exited the bidding.

• The stake in the media rights, which would only be about 10% to 15%, is valued at $1.64 billion.
• In December, the league itself was valued between $10 billion and $14 billion, according to Sports Business Journal.

The bids are the latest in a list of European leagues and teams looking to private equity funding to help with COVID-19 financial shortfalls.

Pending Sale

French soccer’s attempts to rake in more cash go beyond Ligue 1’s recent moves, however. 

On Wednesday, a report surfaced that French club Lyon is for sale. 

Raine Group will manage the sale for the club’s two majority stakeholders. Film equipment and production company Pathé currently owns 33.53% of shares, while IDG Capital owns 19.96%.

In 2019, Lululemon announced it would be leaning into footwear. Three years later, the fitness brand is finally releasing its products.

The move is the company’s latest attempt at competing with top athleticwear brands like Adidas and Nike — and in order to distinguish itself in the marketplace, it’s creating shoes engineered for women’s feet.

CEO Calvin McDonald called the new footwear line the “natural next step” for the brand’s expansion.

• The Blissfeel, Lululemon’s first-ever women’s running shoe, will launch March 22 and retail for $148.
• Three additional lines of trainers — Chargefeel, Restfeel, and Strongfeel — will follow soon after.

The company will unveil men’s footwear in 2023.

An Underserved Market

Lululemon joins a small group of brands that offer athletic footwear designed specifically for women’s feet, rather than shrinking men’s versions. 

“More often than not, performance shoes are designed for men and then adapted for women,” Sun Choe, chief product officer, said. “That didn’t sit well with us.”

Historically, Nike’s Air Swoopes and Ryka have been some of the only women-centric shoes on the market. A women’s basketball footwear brand called Moolah Kicks launched in 2021.

Construction on the Carolina Panthers’ new $800 million facility project has been paused — allegedly because the city of Rock Hill, South Carolina, is behind on its bills, according to Tepper Sports and Entertainment. 

• GT Real Estate Holdings invested more than $170 million in the project so far, according to a Tepper Sports and Entertainment statement.
• But “our partners have been unable to contribute the agreed-upon investment to fund the construction of the public infrastructure.” 
• Rock Hill owes $225 million in infrastructure loans, according to WLTX 19 in Columbia.
• The company will continue to pay workers for a week after the pause’s official date, according to The Charlotte Observer.

The town’s city manager, however, told the Observer that the city has “met all financial obligations.”

A Wave of Complications

In July 2020, construction began on the shiny new facility, which is slated to include not only new team headquarters but practice fields, too. 

It was supposed to open in August 2022 and has been stalled not only by funding issues, but also pandemic-related delays.

The Observer reported that it was rescheduled to open in 2023, but it’s unclear when construction will continue.