Sports Business Journal

#30 in the rafters forever for the Charlotte Hornets!

Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) and Seth Curry (@sdotcurry) have arrived for their dad’s Jersey tonight at Spectrum Center.

MLS will play a 14-game “sprint season” with a full MLS Cup Playoffs in early 2027, running from February through May. The abridged campaign will bridge the gap between the current season ending Dec. 18 and the new summer-to-spring calendar beginning next July. MORE: ow.ly/nV1G50YwwRa

Minor League Baseball and Circle K have renewed their partnership, keeping Circle K as the league’s official convenience store. In year one, the brand had signage in 38 markets, video board presence in 95 ballparks, and integration across digital and broadcast programming. MORE: ow.ly/53Rq50Ywui9

The UFC will regulate the Freedom 250 card at the White House with oversight from the Association of Boxing Commissions due to its federal property status 🥊 The ABC will serve as an independent third party on safety and health standards for the event. MORE: ow.ly/sThE50YwtS4

A&P Agency has signed March Madness viral sensation Amir Khan, becoming the first agency to add a student manager to its NIL client roster. After going viral last March, Khan is now building his NIL portfolio with representation focused on contracts, opportunities and long-term growth. ow.ly/J5GV50YwtCP

Was curious about the crowd turnout for the early session today with Ohio State-TCU (not exactly traveling basketball fanbases) and Duke fans perhaps waiting for later rounds. It's a packed house here in Greenville. Hardly an open seat w/ 11 mins left in the first game.

ESPN is increasing its investment in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament with expanded coverage, on-site reporters, and enhanced technology for 2026. The network is also adding new programming and evolving its presentation as viewership continues to grow. Read more: ow.ly/l5r750YvRkB

With March Madness brackets now locked, @lemirejoe is putting two AI-built brackets head-to-head to see whether ChatGPT or Gemini will make better picks. Take a look: ow.ly/bhlo50YwqF5

Measuring fandom like never before 📊 🏀 @nielsen has launched its first-ever “Most Popular Teams in College Basketball” rankings — combining viewership + social media data. The new metric tracks the entire 2025–26 season, ranking the Top 10 men’s and women’s programs. Did your team make the cut? 👀

Throwback Thursday 🏀 “Obey Your Thirst” era = unmatched. @kobebryant + @realgranthill33 helped define a generation of hoops marketing with Sprite, from iconic ads to $25K bottle cap contests. Now that @Sprite is back with the @NBA... Which current NBA stars are you casting in the remake? 🎬

Miami RedHawks men's basketball fans turned Dayton into an extension of Oxford as 12,588 attended one of the largest crowds in First Four history at UD Arena. Via @daytondailynews ow.ly/LYss50YwieP

Manchester United aims to file a planning application for its $2.6B new stadium within the next 12–18 months. The club is nearing a key land assembly milestone, with detailed design expected to take seven months. Via @MENnewsdesk | ow.ly/UMsX50YwhOq

The U.S. host cities for this summer’s World Cup have been awarded $625M in security funding, according to a FEMA release sent to members of Congress. The funding, released after a lengthy delay, will be administered via FEMA under the FIFA World Cup Grant Program. Via @TheAthletic | ow.ly/VXaQ50YwhA2

The NFL has begun identifying potential replacement officials amid ongoing CBA talks with the NFL Referees Association 🏈 The effort is targeting college officials, with onboarding as early as April and a potential transition to games by September. Via @ProFootballTalk | ow.ly/Q0Mg50Ywhu7

Women’s Professional Baseball League (@wpbl_official) named Justine Siegal its first commissioner ⚾ Siegal, the first woman to coach a professional men’s baseball team and throw batting practice for an MLB team, will manage WPBL baseball operations and oversee player relations and staff development. Read more from @MazzNYC: ow.ly/x2Qy50Ywk9L

Business travel to Miami International Airport during the World Baseball Classic final rounds more than quadrupled compared to last year ✈️ Bookings surged 2,520% versus the comparable period during the 2023 WBC. MORE: ow.ly/9h6H50Ywi2I