Final bids for Chelsea FC were submitted last week — and now two of the world’s top athletes are entering the mix.

According to Sky Sports, 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams and seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton have joined Sir Martin Broughton’s consortium, agreeing to invest roughly $13 million each should the group win the bid. The team could fetch around $4 billion.

Reports suggest that private-equity billionaires Josh Harris and David Blitzer, who own and run Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment — the owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Devils — would hold the controlling stake in the bid but would need to sell their Crystal Palace shares.

Broughton’s Barriers

One of the remaining three bidders is the consortium led by Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca, who said this week that he intends to remain owner of the club for his “lifetime” if his bid is chosen.

• Pagliuca also owns a majority stake in Atalanta and would be required to sell some of his shares, as UEFA rules block clubs controlled by a one entity from playing in the same competition. 
• However, Pagliuca said he would look to create a partnership between the teams. 

The third consortium is led by Todd Boehly, an owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Lakers, and Sparks. He’s joined by Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss and property developer Jonathan Goldstein, with backing from Clearlake Capital.

Raine Group is expected to announce the winning bid this week.

The company that may have benefited most from Super Bowl LVI didn’t run a single ad.

Tesla revealed in its first-quarter earnings presentation that orders for its cars spiked on the day following the Big Game on Feb. 13, which featured numerous ads for the EV carmaker’s competitors.

• BMW, Audi, GM, Kia, Hyundai, and Polestar all ran ads promoting EV models. Wallbox, which produces EV charging stations, also ran a spot.
• The surge in orders helped Tesla post an 87% year-over-year increase in automotive revenue to $18.8 billion in Q1 2022. Profits hit $3.3 billion.
• Tesla handily beat revenue expectations by 5.1%. The company’s stock was up around 3% on Thursday after initially leaping 8%.

The moment was further validation for Tesla’s unique marketing strategy: In its 19-year history, the company has not spent a single dollar on advertising.

In 2021, Tesla produced the top-selling EV in both the U.S. (Model Y) and Europe (Model 3), each of which placed 17th in sales among all car models.

Super Spend

Some ad rates for the 2022 game, which was broadcast on NBC, Telemundo, and Peacock, reached a record $7 million for a 30-second spot. Over 30 advertisers bought in for the first time. 

NBCUniversal’s haul likely beat that of ViacomCBS, which held rights to the 2021 game, bringing in $434.5 million.

Automotive companies were among the top spenders, along with those in entertainment and beverages.

The show will go on: A Miami judge blocked an attempt by local residents to call off Formula 1’s inaugural race in Miami Gardens.

A local group had sought an injunction on the highly anticipated contest on the grounds that noise from the event could reach damaging levels.

• “Although the burden may seem unfair to the plaintiffs, I do find that any potential harm is avoidable,” said Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Alan Fine.
• He went on to call the evidence that the race could cause hearing loss “very highly speculative.” 
• “It is not based on any current Formula 1 noise information,” he said, adding it “does not take into consideration the south wall,” referring to sound-mitigating walls installed by event organizers.

The race, the first of 10 in Miami Gardens, is scheduled for May 6-8. Fine did order noise monitoring for the event, noting that the lawsuit could continue afterward with potential consequences for future races.

Money Speeding In

In addition to the noise, F1 is bringing an influx of people and money to the area. Event organizers expect an additional 35,000 hotel bookings on race weekend.

Hard Rock Stadium is being outfitted for a race that fits FIA standards, while the surrounding area is getting a makeover, including a temporary 24,000 square-foot beach with swimming pools and a marina with dry-docked yachts.

F1 is providing $5 million in community benefit funding to Miami Gardens.