Thursday, September 17, 2026

FTX Acquisition Could Reverberate Around Sports World

  • Amid slide in digital assets, FTX announced it would be acquired by Binance.
  • FTX, like competitor Crypto.com, made a major push into sports over the last couple of years. 
FTX Arena
FTX

FTX was mum about the potential impact of its high-profile sports deals after Tuesday’s announcement that the crypto exchange would be acquired by rival Binance Holdings. 

FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried disclosed the Binance acquisition amid fears a run on FTX could have threatened the exchange’s solvency. 

Bankman-Fried wrote on Twitter that “all assets will be covered,” but an FTX spokesperson declined comment when Front Office Sports asked about what the deal means to its sports partnerships. 

FTX, like competitor Crypto.com, made a major push into sports over the last couple of years. 

  • FTX entered into a 19-year, $135 million deal for the naming rights for Miami Heat’s home arena last year. A spokesperson for the Heat declined comment on Tuesday. 
  • It secured a 10-year, $17.5 million deal to become the naming rights sponsor for UC Berkeley’s football field in August 2021. 
  • FTX is the first MLB umpire uniform patch partner as part of a long-term deal that began in 2021. 
  • FTX also has deals with Formula 1 racing team Mercedes-AMG Petronas along with Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, Angels ace/slugger Shohei Ohtani and Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry.

Along with those sponsorships FTX also purchased an ad for the last Super Bowl. NBC reportedly charged $6.5 million for each 30-second spot for the broadcast. 

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Apr 24, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) shoots the ball over San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) during the second half during game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center.

County Votes to Approve $100M for Blazers Arena Upgrades

County leaders vote to support renovations, but a funding source is unclear.

LeBron Could Make Sixers’ Expiring Jersey Patch a Premium Asset

Philly’s deal with Crypto.com expires in 2027. 
Jun 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; A general view of the court and videoboard after game four of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

MSG Hit With Class Action Lawsuit Over Apparent Data Breach

The suit says MSG Entertainment has a “tempestuous history with respect to data privacy.”
Mar 19, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Tristan Thompson (13) responds to a fan during the fourth quarter Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center.

Tristan Thompson Sues After Crypto Company Ends His Deal Early

Thompson says the company promised him $2 million worth of tokens.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

9/17/26 – CFB Ratings Surge, Joe Buck’s $108M Deal, Knicks Ticket Shock

0:00

Featured Today

Fantasy Football Drafts Are Turning Into Full-Blown Vacations

Leagues are foregoing solo drafts and replacing them with in-person getaways.
Oct 4, 2025; Tempe, AZ, USA; General action during the first period of the game between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Mullett Arena
September 10, 2026

How Military-Style Workouts in College Sports Get Dangerous

For elite athletes, high-intensity training can be “very appealing.”
September 6, 2026

Is Carolyn Tisch Blodgett the Future Face of Giants Ownership?

Amid changes at top of Giants ownership, eyes are on Tisch Blodgett.
September 4, 2026

Wild Transfer Window Shows How Premier League Towers Over Soccer

Spending in England vastly outstripped the rest of Europe.
September 3, 2026

Teams Are Spending Millions to Build Luxury Locker Rooms

It’s a recruiting pitch, a retention tool, and a seven-figure line item.
Exclusive

LeBron James Polymarket Deal Worth $15 Million a Year

James is not an investor in Polymarket, just an endorser.
Tiger Woods of Jupiter Links GC stretches his left leg next to Tom Kim during warms up before match against the Los Angeles Golf Club who won the TGL finals at SoFi Center on March 24, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Exclusive
September 10, 2026

New Funding Doubles TGL Parent Company Valuation to $1B

TMRW is the parent company of indoor golf leagues TGL and WTGL.
Ndamukong Suh
September 16, 2026

Ndamukong Suh: ‘I Don’t Necessarily Agree’ With PE in Youth Sports

“They’re always gonna be looking for those returns.”
Sponsored

Drew Weatherford’s Bet on the Youth Sports Economy

Drew Weatherford discusses investing across the youth, college and professional levels.
Aug 25, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; General overall view of Seattle Seahawks logo at CenturyLink Field during a NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Exclusive
September 4, 2026

Mark Stevens Is Seahawks’ Top Minority Investor

Other investors joined the Seahawks’ new ownership from the Mittal-Grousbeck group.
September 3, 2026

Meet the Seahawks’ New Minority Owners

There are multiple PE, VC, and AI investors.
Feb 5, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view a Wilson NBA basketball and logo during the game between the Mavericks and the Spurs at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Exclusive
September 3, 2026

‘Deal Terms on the Table’: Inside the NBA’s Prediction-Market Talks

Multiple prediction-market partners are expected in time for this season.
Exclusive
August 30, 2026

US Open Signs Exclusive Deal With Kalshi

The surprise deal was reached just ahead of this year’s main draw.