Sports Business Journal

The Grand Prix of Long Beach announces that longtime president and CEO Jim Michaelian has passed away at the age of 83.

Varsity Spirit has launched the Pro Cheer League, the first pro format for athletes 18+, with teams across four cities 📣 Backed by media deals, sponsorship and prize money, the league’s first championship is set for March 27. MORE: ow.ly/hgFI50YvSQ2

March Madness is back 🏀 The NCAA distributes 135 units worth approximately $270M for the men’s tournament, while the women’s unit pool is growing from $15M to $25M. Read more: ow.ly/mr2050YvOAM

March 12, 2020 changed college sports 😷 NCAA canceled March Madness for the first time, leading revenue to drop from over $1B to $521M. With more than 80% of revenue tied to the tournament, the focus quickly shifted to finding a way to bring it back in 2021. Read more: ow.ly/4G9C50Yvo7C

Entrepreneur Mike Repole oversees a wide-ranging portfolio, including majority stakes in NoBull and Junkless Foods and his thoroughbred racing operation, Repole Stable 🏈 Now he’s bringing that disruptive mindset to @TheUFL. MORE: ow.ly/Hlor50YuPsQ

NBC and Peacock averaged 1.1M viewers for Milan Cortina Paralympic coverage, up 24% vs. Beijing 📈 March 7 led the way with 1.4M in primetime, marking the best Winter Paralympic window on record, while USA Network delivered its best Opening Ceremony audience since 2002. ow.ly/uW9050YwYIT

President Trump signed an executive order aimed at blocking other college football games from airing during Army-Navy. The move, backed by supporters of the game, came as he presented Navy with the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy at the White House and could face legal challenges. Via @washingtonpost | ow.ly/FXGl50YwYE7

HKS says the Browns’ proposed Brook Park stadium will put fans closer to the action than any other NFL venue. Plans include seats just 16 feet from the field, a steep Dawg Pound design and a standing room-only bridge. Via Cleveland Plain Dealer | ow.ly/41tf50YwWgX

The SCORE Act is being revised with new provisions, including potential limits on poaching head coaches during a team’s playing season. The bill’s vote has been pushed to mid to late April as lawmakers consider broader changes to college sports governance. Via @On3 | ow.ly/QgUp50YwW7S

AMB Sports and Entertainment owner Arthur Blank has struck a deal with the city of Marietta for a site in Franklin Gateway that will house the training grounds and HQ of Blank’s Atlanta NWSL expansion franchise. The project will include an approximately 38,000-square-foot building, four full pitches and two half-pitches and represents an investment of more than $100M. Via @AtlBizChron | ow.ly/hnlT50YwYRH

FIFA will require every team in women’s competitions to have at least one female head or assistant coach under new regulations, per @Reuters. The rules aim to increase representation in coaching and leadership roles as the women’s game continues to grow globally. MORE: ow.ly/9ZEk50YwW2r

Mike Repole is playing a major role at St. John's University, funding NIL for its resurgent men’s basketball team while advising on marketing, ticket sales, and overall brand strategy. The partnership is helping drive the program’s rise, with leadership viewing Repole as a co-owner of the program. MORE: ow.ly/RRTa50YvSbN

From short sales to short hops: Why @CFTC @ChairmanSelig thinks he’s ready to become the largest single regulator of US sports bets, with @MLB the first signed on to help. Today’s brackets busted, parlays pooped edition of @SBJ Betting is live now: sportsbusinessjournal.com/sb-blogs/newsl…

MLS Commissioner Don Garber has opened the door to potentially leaving before his contract expires in 2027, with all options on the table. The league is already in succession planning as it looks to position its next leader for MLS’s next phase of growth. Via @TheAthletic | ow.ly/pOVh50YwVVM

The PWHL has been making the most of its post-Olympic boost. Since the thrilling gold-medal game that saw the U.S. women top Canada — with rosters full of PWHL athletes — the league has seen a boost in attendance and ticket sales. MORE: sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/…

NFLPA leadership is shifting following the election of JC Tretter as Executive Director 🏈 Key questions remain around the search process, leadership transition and what’s next for the union as it shapes the future of the NFL business. MORE: ow.ly/BIce50YwNMK

Women’s college sports are growing, but gaps remain 🚺 Women make up 43% of NCAA athletes despite 55% of undergrads, and only 46% of head coaches for women’s teams. Read more: ow.ly/QPwz50YwPIC

NFL owners are set to vote on a Raiders succession plan giving Egon Durban the option to purchase a majority stake from Mark Davis. Davis, however, has no intention of selling his majority stake, per sources. Via @espn | ow.ly/Mj9r50YwMMe

NEW FEATURE: Kevin Harlan has navigated working for three major sports employers for decades. It's been a remarkable run – he averages 150,000 miles of travel per year – and I wanted to see how he and his employers pulled it off. My profile of Harlan for @SBJ: sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/…

Day 1 of the NCAA men’s tournament delivered upsets and close games that pulled fans right back in 🏀 High Point, Nebraska and VCU delivered big moments, and Siena pushed Duke, showing that anything can happen. Via @USATODAY | ow.ly/vQRI50YwMAE