Week in Sportbiz: Bitcoin plunge hits chess grandmasters; ‘Stamford Beach’ stunt recalls Chelsea row; and Hundred teams get new spinners May 20, 2021 When is a $100,000 bonus not worth $100,000? That is a conundrum for the chess grandmasters taking part in the FTX Crypto Cup. The tournament, which features world champion Magnus Carlsen and starts this weekend, is offering a $320,000 prize to the winner – a record for an online chess event. But $100,000 of that [...]
Modernising Burnley: How ALK Capital plan to use artificial intelligence and a network of partner clubs to take the Clarets into a new era May 20, 2021 Think of Burnley FC and you think of target men, tigerish midfielders and hulking centre-backs. Of manager Sean Dyche’s gravelly tones. Of one of the Premier League’s less fashionable and most traditional clubs consistently outperforming more glamorous rivals with a defiantly no-nonsense brand of football. But for all that they have punched above their weight, [...]
Inter Milan close to €275m bailout by private equity firm Oaktree May 19, 2021 Inter Milan is said to be closing in on a €275m (£237m) bailout by US private equity firm Oaktree Capital to shore up its finances following the collapse of the European Super League. As part of the deal, Oaktree would take a 30 per cent stake in the Italian football team and provide a much-needed [...]
Olympic chief Bach promises ‘safe’ Tokyo 2020 as record Covid-19 deaths in Japan fuel opposition to the Games May 19, 2021 Olympic chiefs have attempted to calm an increasingly fretful Japanese public that the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games can take place safely this summer. Covid-19 deaths and serious cases continue to reach new daily highs in Japan, the country’s health ministry said on Wednesday. Tokyo and Osaka remain in a state of emergency, while the latest [...]
US PGA Championship prize money 2021: How much is at stake at Kiawah Island and how does it compare to other paydays in men’s golf? May 19, 2021 The Wanamaker Trophy is the target for the cream of men’s golf this week at the US PGA Championship – and the prize money isn’t bad either. A total purse of $11m is up for grabs at Kiawah Island in South Carolina, where play is due to begin on Thursday. From that, the winner will [...]
FA Cup Final: Thunderbolt strike by Youri Tielemans seals Leicester’s triumph over Chelsea May 15, 2021 Youri Tielemans’ thunderbolt strike sealed Leicester’s maiden FA Cup triumph with a gritty 1-0 win over Chelsea at Wembley this evening. The Belgian midfielder rifled an unstoppable effort into the top corner from 25 yards, as Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes put another genuine stamp on years of recent quality. Former Leicester full-back Ben Chilwell saw a [...]
CEO of Flutter sports betting platform FanDuel steps down May 12, 2021 Sports betting and gaming group Flutter Entertainment has confirmed this morning its FanDuel chief executive officer will exit the top position after four years leading the sports gaming platform. Despite handing in his notice, Matt King has chosen to remain with FanDuel until a successor has been found. “It has been a privilege to lead FanDuel [...]
Premier League and Manchester United named top of the table for cashing in on social media May 12, 2021 The Premier League and Manchester United have the most valuable social media output across all sports, according to a new report. The Premier League is projected to derive £302m from activity on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by year end, more than any other sport competition in the world. Manchester United, meanwhile, have a digital inventory [...]
Steering clear of the cliff edge: Why it makes business sense for sport to put the human first May 11, 2021 We’ve seen a seismic shift in attitudes around athlete welfare but the sentiment ‘it’s only what happens on the pitch that counts’, albeit largely unspoken, is sadly still common in professional sport. With the global sports market expected to reach $600bn by 2025, there is no doubt about the pressure clubs are facing to deliver [...]
Week in Sportbiz: Ed Sheeran sponsors Ipswich Town; Javier Tebas blasts Gianni Infantino; Tokyo 2020 set for first transgender Olympian May 6, 2021 It has been a whirlwind few weeks at Ipswich Town. Fresh from welcoming new owners, the League One club now has an unlikely new shirt sponsor: Ed Sheeran. The Suffolk songsmith, a long-standing fan of the Tractor Boys, has agreed to sponsor the men’s and women’s team on a one-year deal that starts next season. [...]