Josh Weirich

Great data on the current market rates for men’s college basketball players. In summary, the market is up a lot.

Coachella was born because Pearl Jam boycotted Ticketmaster in 1993. They played a concert at the Empire Polo Club in Indio to prove you could put on a show without the monopoly. That concert proved the desert site could handle a massive crowd. Paul Tollett and Rick Van Santen of Goldenvoice took note, and launched Coachella at the same venue in October 1999. Tickets were $50 a day. It nearly destroyed the company. Goldenvoice lost $850,000 on the first festival. Headliners like Rage Against the Machine and Beck agreed to defer their pay so the company could survive. By 2001, Tollett was so broke he sold Goldenvoice to AEG for $7 million. AEG. The company that owns Crypto.com Arena, The O2, and operates as the other half of the concert industry duopoly alongside Live Nation/Ticketmaster. The anti-Ticketmaster festival sold itself to the Ticketmaster economy for $7 million. Today Coachella generates roughly $160 million in ticket revenue alone. American Express pays $5 million a year just for branding. Dorsia sells main-stage suites starting at $70,000 per weekend. Villas near the grounds rent for $150,000. Justin Bieber is making $10 million for two Saturday night sets. In 1999, the headliners agreed to get paid later because the festival couldn't afford them at all. Tollett sold for $7 million. The festival now grosses that in about 11 hours of ticket sales. Pearl Jam boycotted the machine. And accidentally built the venue for one.

Learfield, one of the most prominent third-party providers in college sports, is finalizing a sale to PE firm TPG, @SBJ has learned. The sale price is between $1.8-2 billion, sources said, and will see TPG take a controlling stake in Learfield. Details: sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/…

It's that time again: If you are (or know!) a college student who wants to be a #CBJ intern, the postings for the 2026-27 season are live. This includes the journalism internship, which is one of my favorite things about my job. teamworkonline.com/hockey-jobs/ho…

Welcome to the Bigs Juan Brito! Standup double in first MLB at bat. #guardsball

Big day for NHL playoff push. More teams than spots available. Lots of scoreboard watching, 2 point premium, gotta get it #CBJ

Oh my, the Hammy call was priceless. "A missile to right!" Play COUNTRY ROADS #GuardsBall

Arias still trending on my TL, but the tones changed a schmidge... #GuardsBall

Can’t go on a 5 game skid and hold down a playoff spot. #CBJ

Dawgs win 🏆 #MontlakeMentality x #PackToPeak

@PaulPabst How about a mix. @longmanandeagle is somewhere in between. It's existential yet it's so accessible, just like Gus' Pickles.

Little side project. I know where I'm going with this, but I want to see the feedback. -Favorite dive bar/neighborhood pub in Chicago -Favorite high end bar/swank cocktail lounge in Chicago. Name of the spot...pic if possble....and why. Go.

I watched Kemba Walker and UCONN drop Butler at Reliant Stadium in 2011. With future sites scheduled through 2031 at venues including Ford Field, Allegiant Stadium, Lucas Oil Stadium, AT&T Stadium, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium this trend will continue...

Interesting development. It is very difficult to make the College Football Playoff work inside the calendar when a weekend is taken by conference title games that, generally, are unnecessary. They were original money grabs that are now obsolete due to a bigger money maker.

Wisconsin is adding a UW Health jersey patch for four women's sports — basketball, volleyball, hockey and softball, those involved tell @SBJ. This expands UW Health's previous title sponsorship of Wisconsin women's sports. The corporate patch is also the first in the Big Ten.

Crowded in the East headed down the homestretch. Lots of scoreboard watching today. #CBJ do not have it easy. Finish strong, get to the postseason

Gerry McNamara with an elite Step Brothers joke in his introductory press conference 😂😂

@Brad_Reynolds95 You all are getting a great coach!

@DaveHolmesTV Yup.

Biggest gut punch loss of the season. Earning a point has never felt worse.

Congrats @CoachJimmieD