Justin Birnbaum

Carolina Hurricanes Stake Sale Approved by NHL Owners Tom Dundon is one step closer to unloading 12.5% of the NHL franchise after the league’s owners approved the pending transaction.

Tom Dundon is one step closer to unloading 12.5% of the Carolina Hurricanes after the NHL owners approved the pending transaction.

Story with @soshnick.bsky.social, @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social, @kbadenhausen.bsky.social and myself at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/business/tea...

How Williams’ Owner Is Driving Value as F1 Rises in U.S. Under Dorilton Capital, Williams has appreciated more than 900%. Its owners see even more growth on the horizon—if they can start winning.

Under Dorilton Capital, the Williams F1 Team has appreciated more than 900%. With a rapidly growing commercial business, its owners see more growth on the horizon—if they can start winning.

More at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/leagues/moto...

How Lewis Hamilton Earned an F1-Record $100 Million in 2025 Lewis Hamilton had a brutal season on the track in 2025, but his Ferrari salary and huge sponsor portfolio helped him earn an F1-record $100 million.

Year 1 at Ferrari did not go well for Lewis Hamilton on the track, failing to make a podium for the first time in his F1 career.

But off the track, it was a banner year for his bank account.

From @kbadenhausen.bsky.social at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/personalitie...

A Tale of 2 Soccer Cities: Inside the Chelsea-Wrexham FA Cup Showdown In a modern edition of David and Goliath, the rags-to-riches Wrexham faces off against EPL giant Chelsea in its quest for English soccer supremacy.

In a modern edition of David versus Goliath, the rags-to-riches Wrexham faces off against Premier League giant Chelsea in its quest for a trophy.

Story with the great Luke Cyphers at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/leagues/socc...

Joe Tsai Exits, Carlos Vela Joins LAFC in $1.25B Stake Sale The billionaire owner of the Brooklyn Nets is selling his stake in the Los Angeles-based MLS club, while a local legend and two others are coming in.

SCOOP: Nets owner Joe Tsai and Fanatics Collectibles CEO Mike Mahan have sold their stakes in LAFC at a $1.25 billion valuation.

Three new LPs are in, including a club legend. With @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social and @soshnick.bsky.social at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/business/tea...

WNBA Stoppage Wouldn’t Be Filled by Red-Hot Unrivaled League WNBPA union leaders Kelsey Plum, Breanna Stewart face off in Unrivaled's 3-on-3 final Wednesday. Then they'll keep negotiating a new WNBA labor deal.

Unrivaled's second season concludes Wednesday. WNBA labor uncertainty awaits.

@jacobfeldman.bsky.social breaks down the state of women's basketball at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/leagues/bask...

Nu Deal: Inter Miami Joins MLS’ Top Tier for Stadium Naming Rights Brazilian financial services company Nu is lending its name to Inter Miami’s new stadium as it seeks to establish a foothold in the U.S.

Brazilian financial services company Nu is lending its name to Inter Miami’s new stadium as it seeks to establish a foothold in the U.S.

Story at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/business/spo...

Chinese Billionaire Buys Miami Dolphins Stake at $12.5B Valuation Chinese phone magnate Lin Bin is buying a 1% stake in the NFL's Dolphins at a record valuation of $12.5 billion.

Lin Bin, the co-founder of smartphone giant Xiaomi, has bought a 1% stake in the holding company that owns the Miami Dolphins and other assets at a $12.5 billion valuation.

From @soshnick.bsky.social, @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social and me at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/business/tea...

The Richest Owner in U.S. Sports Quietly Expanded His Sports Empire Rob Walton, who also owns the Denver Broncos, wrote a nine-figure check for a 10% piece of the Arizona Diamondbacks two years ago.

Rob Walton bought the Broncos in 2022 for a then-record $4.65B, outbidding the pack by $400M.

He's quietly continued that spending spree, picking up 10% of the DBacks in 2024.

With @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social and @soshnick.bsky.social at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/business/tea...

The WBC Is Testing the Edges of Trump’s Immigration Policy While athletes are mostly exempted from Donald Trump’s travel bans, fans from restricted countries hoping to attend the WBC aren’t as lucky.

While athletes are mostly exempted from Trump’s travel bans, fans from restricted countries hoping to attend the World Baseball Classic in the U.S. aren’t as lucky.

A look at how the administration's immigration policy impacts sports at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/leagues/base...

Jack Hughes’ ‘Lost’ Olympic-Winning Puck Has Been Found The puck from Jack Hughes’ game-winning goal in the gold medal game at the 2026 Olympics is in safe hands.

Hey, Jack Hughes. We found your puck. Story with @soshnick.bsky.social at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/leagues/olym...

NFL’s $20M Coaching Staffs Still Build Playbooks With $15 Apps NFL coaches have been creating their play designs in Microsoft Visio for 25 years, even as modern education technology seeps into team facilities.

NFL plays are increasingly intricate. But they've been created in the same app for 25 years.

A look inside the world of play design from my colleague @jacobfeldman.bsky.social at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/business/tec...

Braves’ Battery Revenue Surges in Atlanta, Easing RSN Woes The Atlanta Braves’ real estate revenue increased 45% in 2025, offering the company a stable revenue stream to offset the Main Street Sports chaos.

The Atlanta Braves’ mixed-use development project powered a 45% increase in real estate revenue for 2025, offering the company a stable revenue stream to offset the Main Street Sports chaos.

My story on The Battery at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/leagues/base...

Atlanta NWSL Club Signs Women’s Record $28M Jersey Deal With Aflac The new NWSL franchise in Atlanta does not start play until 2028, but it already set a record with a $28 million sponsorship deal with Aflac.

The new NWSL franchise in Atlanta is setting records two years before it is set to start play with a blockbuster sponsorship deal.

@kbadenhausen.bsky.social has the story at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/business/spo...

Just a final word on Jack Hughes:

He was 0-4 representing USA in international competitions coming into today.

Makes that Olympic gold just a little bit sweeter.

They changed Jack Hughes’ birthplace to Milan 😂

Hard to say who had a better week.

Wasserman Retains Moelis & Co. for Agency Sale Moelis & Company has been retained to sell Wasserman, the sports and entertainment agency founded by Casey Wasserman.

Breaking: New York-based investment bank Moelis & Co. has been retained to sell Wasserman, the sports and entertainment agency founded by Casey Wasserman.

Story with Scott Soshnick at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/business/sal...

Payroll Processor Takes Big Swing With $6 Million SPIRE Academy Deal Vensure Employer Services is paying $6 million in a sponsorship deal with Ohio's SPIRE Academy, hoping to expand its potential customer pool.

Vensure Employer Solutions is taking a leap into the $40 billion youth sports industry.

On Thursday, the HR platform and payroll processor will announce a $6 million partnership with SPIRE Academy, an elite sports school in Ohio.

My story at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/business/spo...

MSG Sports’ Potential Split Could Unlock Knicks, Rangers’ Value The Dolan-owned MSG Sports will explore potentially splitting the New York Knicks and Rangers into separate businesses.

MSG Sports announced that its board of directors unanimously approved a plan to explore potentially splitting the Knicks and Rangers into separate businesses. Here's what that could mean for each team's valuation.

My first (of many) at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/business/fin...

Some personal news. Today is my first day at Sportico! I’m thrilled to join such a talented group.

Got an idea, a pitch, a tip or just want to connect? Give me a shout. I look forward to connecting. (And if you’re in NYC, let’s grab a coffee!)

📬: jbirnbaum@sportico.com

Forbes MLS Valuations 2026 List: Most Valuable Major League Soccer Teams See Forbes' 2026 list of the most valuable MLS teams, with Lionel Messi producing a change at the top of the ranking and five clubs now worth at least $1 billion.

My last story at @Forbes.com!

Inter Miami is a juggernaut both on and off the field, worth a league-best $1.35 billion. But the stalled sales of two rival clubs show the growth isn’t extending to the bottom of MLS’ financial table.

Check out the full list: www.forbes.com/sites/justin...

Some personal news: Today is my last day at @forbes.com. I couldn't have asked for a better run over the past five years. I'm grateful to so many people, but I do want to shoutout @brettknight.bsky.social for being the best mentor I could have asked for.

More to come soon about what's next!

The Seahawks Are Super Bowl Champs — But Their Owner Can’t Profit From The Big Win As executor of her late brother’s estate, Jody Allen led Seattle to its second title. NFL rules, however, may cut short the celebration by forcing the team to hit the market.

As executor of her late brother’s estate, Jody Allen led the Seattle Seahawks to its second title. NFL rules, however, may cut short the celebration by forcing the team to hit the market.

My story at @forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/justin...

Meet The Billionaire Owners Facing Off In Super Bowl LX The Patriots’ Robert Kraft is looking to collect his record-setting seventh Lombardi Trophy. The Seahawks will likely achieve a very different milestone—win or lose.

The New England Patriots’ Robert Kraft is looking to collect his record-setting seventh Lombardi Trophy. The Seattle Seahawks will likely achieve a very different milestone—win or lose.

A look at the owners in Super Bowl LX at @Forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/justin...

Why The U.S. Cross-Country Ski Team Spent $1 Million To Put Its Workshops On Wheels For the first time, American skiers will have their own wax and grind trucks at the Olympics, closing the gap on the perennial contenders in the midst of an equipment arms race.

For the first time, American skiers will have their own wax and grind trucks at the Winter Olympics, closing the gap on the perennial contenders in the midst of an equipment arms race.

My story at @Forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/justin...

Olympic Figure Skating Costumes Aren’t Cheap. Just Ask The Designers. An outfit that properly balances performance and beauty can take 150 hours to dye, paint, cut and sew, pushing prices as high as $8,000 for the athletes taking the ice in Milan.

An outfit that properly balances performance and aesthetic beauty can take 150 hours to dye, paint, cut and sew, pushing prices as high as $8,000 for the athletes taking the ice in Milan.

My story on the cost of figure skating costumes at @Forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/justin...

Seattle is favored by 4.5 points in #SuperBowlLX, but they’re still a financial underdog to New England.

On @Forbes.com’s most recent NFL valuations, the Seahawks are the 14th-most valuable team at $6.7 billion.

The Patriots, on the other hand, are fourth at $9 billion.

A little more context on the #SportingKC sale.

@Forbes.com estimates the club generated $81m in total revenue last year. At roughly $700m, that comes out to about 8.6x revenue.

So relative to #MLS, where clubs averaged a 9.5x revenue multiple last year, that’s on the cheaper side.

Sporting Kansas City Is Being Sold For Roughly $700 Million, An MLS Record An existing minority owner is said to be buying the club, which Forbes valued at $650 million last year, but the Illig family is expected to remain in control—at least for the time being.

SCOOP: Sporting KC is being sold for roughly $700 million, multiple league sources tell @forbes.com. An existing minority owner is said to be buying the club, but the Illig family is expected to remain in control—at least for the time being.

www.forbes.com/sites/justin...