Michael Smith
Sports Business Journal
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Past articles by Michael:
ESPN, Big 12 Agree To Sweeping Media-Rights Deal
ESPN adds more Big 12 rights, resulting in a dedicated ESPN+ section created for conference. → Read More
Endeavor agrees to acquire On Location Experiences for more than $650 million
Endeavor is close to a deal to buy On Location Experiences, the high-end hospitality firm partly owned by the NFL, according to several sources. The two sides have agreed on a price north of $650 million, but they still are negotiating some of the deal’s finer points — a process that could take several more weeks. Majority owners Bruin Sports Capital and RedBird Capital, whose combined… → Read More
Forty Under 40: Ashley Page
Photo: holland reid / img college licensing When Ashley Page arrived at IMG College three years ago, she discovered an outdated system that made it challenging for the business’s trademark infringement unit to keep pace with counterfeiters. The older systems simply weren’t contending with a new marketplace that focused heavily on online product infringement. Senior Vice President and Associate… → Read More
Forty Under 40: Rob Schneider
Photo: sam anise / beaux arts photography When Rob Schneider came out of high school, he faced a compelling choice. Accept the offer to go to school at the U.S. Military Academy or enter the New York University film school, where he could chase his dream of working in the media and entertainment world. Chief Strategy and Development Officer, Learfield IMG College Age: 39 Born: Boston Education:… → Read More
Forty Under 40: Keli Zinn
Photo: kaitlyn cole / wvu athletic communications Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Operating Officer, West Virginia University Age: 39 Born: Cumberland, Md. Education: West Virginia University, B.S. and M.S., sport management Family: Husband, Nathaniel What gets you fired up? When I hear the Pride of West Virginia marching band’s first practice of the summer. It’s that moment each year when… → Read More
Pac-12 Seeking $750M Investment For Schools, TV Networks
The figure is considerably larger than the $500M number that was discussed in recent months. → Read More
Pac-12 Seeking $750M Investment For Schools, TV Networks
The figure is considerably larger than the $500M number that was discussed in recent months. → Read More
Longhorns step outside the box for new arena
Longhorns step outside the box with unique deal to build $338M arena at no cost to the school. → Read More
Goodyear Renews Deal As Title Sponsor Of Cotton Bowl
The tire brand originally struck the title sponsorship deal in '14, the first year of the CFP, and renewed it in '16. → Read More
Fanatics' Deal With Oregon Brings New Model To College Space
This is the first bundled-rights deal of its kind for Fanatics with a university. Fanatics previously ran UO’s online team store. → Read More
Vanderbilt Names G League President Malcolm Turner AD
Former NBAer Shareef Abdur-Rahim will replace Turner as G League President. Abdur-Rahim has worked in the league office since '16. → Read More
American Athletic considers grant-of-rights for schools to sweeten next media rights deal
AAC considers grant-of-rights for schools to make its next media rights package more attractive. → Read More
Learfield Adds Mike Hamilton, Joe Potter For Partnership Group
Two college industry vets -- MIKE HAMILTON and JOE POTTER -- have joined Learfield in the company’s university partnership group. Hamilton is the former Tennessee AD, while Potter was a longtime exec at ISP Sports and IMG College. Hamilton will remain based in Nashville, while Potter will stay based in Winston-Salem, N.C. The duo joins Learfield just as Chief Business Development Officer BOB… → Read More
Game Changers inspires through personal stories
Personal stories from our new class of women in sports business highlight our gala. → Read More
NCAA’s Lucey enjoying ‘dream come true’ job supporting college athletics
Ellen Lucey brings brand-side expertise to ‘dream come true’ championships role at NCAA. → Read More
Fired power five ADs find tough road back to high-profile jobs
Fired athletic directors find tough road back to high-profile, power five positions. → Read More
Currie’s comeback: Visible and back to the classroom
Currie’s comeback: Visible and back to the classroom By Michael Smith, Staff Writer Currie recently served as executive-in-residence at Robert Morris and taught at Columbia. Photo: courtesy of robert morris university Within a week of his dismissal at Tennessee last December, Athletic Director John Currie began t... → Read More
Oliver Luck Leaving NCAA To Become XFL CEO & Commissioner
Oliver Luck, a key figure in the NCAA’s reform over the last three-plus years, is leaving college sports’ governing body to become CEO & Commissioner of Vince McMahon’s XFL. Luck is no stranger to startups like the XFL, which plans to launch in early '20 with eight teams and a 10-week regular season. As the first President & GM of the expansion Dynamo in '06, Luck guided the team to the… → Read More
In his words: Charlie Ebersol, CEO, Alliance of American Football
I have the benefit of history and can look at what worked and what didn’t work. … Look at the number of tickets that got sold (by the XFL) in 2001; they were averaging 25,000 tickets a game. But where they started to lose audience and lose ticket sales, it was the overly violent and salacious stuff. On one side, it showed that people wanted football, but they wanted real football. We spent two… → Read More
IMG College Extends Deal With Cincinnati; Dyehard Lands Rutgers
IMG College extends deal with Univ. of Cincinnati through '27. → Read More