FOS PM: ESPN Expands Paywall - Front Office Sports

October 22, 2020

ESPN is moving more written features and analysis into ESPN+, while the Ball Corporation is making its next move in sports to help push sustainability.

ESPN Expands Paywall

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN is moving much of its written feature and analysis content to subscription video platform ESPN+. The service will also become the exclusive home for the live and replay telecasts of ESPN Radio shows “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, Greeny,” “The Max Kellerman Show,” “Chiney & Golic Jr.,” and “Jorge Ramos y Su Banda.”

News reporting, investigative stories, and “select other written content” will not be moved behind the paywall. That will mean that some top reporters will likely have both paid and free content.

ESPN+ will now include content from writers like Malika Andrews, Bill Barnwell, Alden Gonzalez, Zach Lowe, Jackie MacMullan, Jeff Passan, Ramona Shelburne, Wright Thompson, Seth Wickersham, Brian Windhorst and more. Top news breakers Adrian Wojnarowski and Adam Schefter are not listed among the writers included.

Ball In Their Own Court

Ball Corp.

Ball Corporation is making its next move in sports to help push sustainability, putting its name on the home of the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche.

The naming rights deal to the arena — that has been known as the Pepsi Center and will now be called Ball Arena — is the keystone piece of a broader agreement with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, the ownership group of the two Denver teams. The holding company also owns the Los Angeles Rams, Arsenal F.C. and the NLL’s Colorado Mammoth. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Colorado-based company, largely known for producing cans and jars, released the Ball Aluminum Cup in 2019, essentially a more eco-friendly version of the plastic cups used in arenas. It will now be used at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium in London and the Rams’ SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

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Secret’s Hockey Commitment

Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

Deodorant brand Secret has committed $1 million to the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association to fund the 2021 Dream Gap Tour. It marks the largest corporate commitment ever made for professional women’s hockey in North America.

A total of 125 players — including 38 Olympians — will compete in the upcoming Secret Dream Gap Tour. Players will also compete for cash prizes across the six-stop event in the “Secret Cup.” Teams will be based in Toronto, Calgary, Montreal, Minnesota and New Hampshire.

Last year, PWHPA players only had their travel, lodging and meal costs covered during tour events. The cost of practice time and facilities at the five hub locations had already covered for the upcoming season.

Other Headlines

Hulu + Live TV is dropping the Fox Sports RSNs after negotiations with Sinclair stalled. The channels are now only available for cord-cutters on AT&T TV NOW.
Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera, a Cal alum, and his wife Stephanie are donating $500,000 to the school for its softball facility renovations. The facility will be known as the Rivera Family Cal Softball Field.
The Circa Resort & Casino is set to open in downtown Las Vegas with a 1,000-seat sports betting auditorium.
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has broken the record for the most endorsement deals for a rookie running back in NFL history. He endorses seven companies and has four additional marketing activations.

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Market Movers

U.S stocks finished higher on Thursday as traders continued to look towards Washington and a new stimulus bill. Here’s a look at how sports-related stocks performed today.

Up:

Rogers Communications (NYSE: RCI) gained 11.36%

Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS) gained 8.40%

Dave & Buster’s Entertainment (NASDAQ: PLAY) gained 6.95%

Down:

Peloton Interactive (NASDAQ: PTON) dropped 2.82%

Hibbett Sports (NASDAQ: HIBB) dropped 2.79%

Manchester United (NYSE: MANU) dropped 2.41%

(Note: All as of market close on 10/22/20)

Featured On FOS

The WNBA’s Seattle Storm have announced their endorsement of Joe Biden & Kamala Harris. FOS spoke with co-owner Ginny Gilder about the endorsement, what inspired this stance and what she hopes it’ll accomplish.

The NHL was forced to postpone both the 2021 NHL Winter Classic and All-Star game due to uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic, although the league said that it still hopes to start next season as planned “on or around” Jan. 1.

German sportswear giant Adidas is exploring selling off the Reebok brand in the coming months, according to multiple reports. Reebok has long struggled to gain popularity and profitability, even as it pivoted to cater mostly to the fitness market.

Giving Props To Sports' Best Employers

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We are proud to present this award in partnership with FEVO, our technology partner shaping the way people buy and share experiences with the people they love.

Nominate your employer by completing the 2020 Best Employers in Sports Award Survey by Friday, Oct. 30.

What To Watch

Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders FC: Twice in recent weeks, the Timbers have had a chance to break a tie with Sounders FC and move into sole possession of first place in MLS’s Western Conference — they’ll get another chance tonight. Seattle is 12-10-6 against Portland in MLS regular-season play — 8-3-3 at home — but the Timbers are 3-0-1 in their past four matches at CenturyLink Field.

How to watch:

10:30 p.m. ET on FS1

Betting odds:

Sounders -130 || O/U 3