• Tennis Channel is reporting that potential merger talks between ATP and Holgoic WTA are on again and something could happen by November, “but the issues are complicated.”
"This has been in the ether for years and years but recently it’s picked up,” according to Jon Wertheim. “It’s gotten a lot of momentum. The idea is to go to market with a combined entity. As we always say, the devil is in the details, but the good news is that the details are really being attacked. It’s not about prize money. In terms of how revenues are being split is what it being worked on.”
• AP Sports: NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother were killed Thursday night when they were hit by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles in their home state of New Jersey.
Johnny Gaudreau, known as “Johnny Hockey,” played 11 professional seasons in the league and was set to enter his third with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He played his first nine with the Calgary Flames, a tenure that included becoming one of the sport’s top players and a fan favorite across North America. (Full story here.) Athletes, USOPC, NBCU, Sponsors, Fans Play Paris Paralympics
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Fans are encouraged to support the campaign by sharing a message of hope for children and families in the fight against cancer using #KickChildhoodCancer.
The Kick Childhood Cancer campaign will benefit Children’s Oncology Group, an organization devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer research. Reggie Bush Joins Nissan Heisman House
• Last year, the NFL secured $78 million in funding from 16 Minority Depository Institutions, Community Development Financial Institutions and minority- and women-focused lenders.
The NFL now said it is expanding its commitment to support diverse enterprises across the country to help drive economic opportunity in underserved communities by securing an additional $21 million in loans from ten additional banking partners, totaling $99 million in funding from 26 institutions in the last two years.
• The NFL said Luis Martinez has been named GM-NFL Brazil in connection with the first game in NFL history in South America, in Corinthians Arena, São Paulo Sept. 6.
“In this newly created role, Martinez will be responsible for leading the NFL’s business and expansion across Brazil as part of its larger international expansion strategy and its long-term commitment to Brazil.” The NFL plans to open an office in São Paulo under Martinez’s leadership.
The NFL said it is “committed to growing the game globally at every level in the years ahead, with Brazil as a significant market of focus for the league. With over 35 million local NFL fans and São Paulo’s first regular season game this year, the league is underlining its investment in the growth of American football across the country.”
• ESPN and the U.S. Tennis Assn. have extended their relationship with a 12-year agreement beginning in 2026 and running thru 2037.
Under the new agreement, the USTA will take over host broadcaster duties from ESPN as ESPN focuses its production resources on the more than 260 hours of annual coverage planned for the U.S. The new deal also includes expanded streaming rights, a whip-around show and a provision to ESPN for limited sublicense rights.
ESPN platforms have covered the U.S. Open since 2009 and exclusively since 2014. ATP Tour ‘Record Sponsor Growth’ In ’24
• AP Sports: Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris said he is hopeful a new stadium can open in time for the 2030 season.
"There's no way to predict a specific date, but I think that's a reasonable target," he said
Harris also said he is hopeful to bring the NFL draft to the region in 2027, ideally taking place on the National Mall between the U.S. Capitol and Lincoln Memorial.
"Think about the idea of having — and I'm not breaking news here, it's not done yet — but think about a draft on the Mall, and how exciting that would be, for the city of Washington, for the NFL," Harris said. "Everyone sees that, and obviously there's a lot of complexity to it with the Park Service . . . but I believe it will happen, and it's a question of when." (Full story here.) World Baseball Classic ’26 Countdown Pour It On: CFB + Evan Williams Bourbon CFB, Dr Pepper Fansville Are Back Gold Rush For James, Curry, Durant Card NBA Jumpstarts 2024-25 Season
• Variety is reporting that Fox has “sold out all but a handful of slots of commercial inventory” for Super Bowl LIX in Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Feb. 9, 2025, asking more than $7 million for a 30-second spot. Ad purchase involves a package that includes the MLB post-season.
• During the 2024-2025 NFL season, the NFL, its clubs, and players will come together and activate NFL Votes, including on the field during Weeks 8 and 9 of the regular season.
The league-wide, nonpartisan initiative is focused on driving awareness and participation around three key components of the electoral process: (1) voter education; (2) voter registration; and (3) voter activation.
NFL Votes will activate via two PSA spots highlighting the importance of civic engagement, with other key activations and touchpoints continuing throughout the first half of the NFL season and culminating on Election Day on Nov. 5.
MLS Commish: Growth, Expansion, Future
• In 2024, nearly 300,000 U.S. men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.MLB and all 30 clubs join the Prostate Cancer Foundation to "Keep Dad In The Game" by dedicating Father's Day to the fight against prostate cancer, the most common non-skin cancer in America.
MLB supports the Prostate Cancer Foundation's annual "Home Run Challenge" to benefit PCF's efforts to raise funds for prostate cancer research and awareness. Over the last 29 seasons, PCF said the Home Run Challenge has raised more than $70 million for breakthroughs in prostate cancer research. • NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade has launched the Translatable Project, funded by the Wade Family Foundation, an online community designed to support LGBTQIA+ youth and their families.
Wade officially unveiled the platform during a ceremony ini which he was named the Elevate Prize Foundation Catalyst Award winner “in recognition of his advocacy for the transgender community,” for which he received $250,000 in unrestricted funding, which Wade said would go toward supporting Translatable.
"I am honored to accept the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award and share this honor with my daughter, Zaya (16, who publicly came out as transgender in 2020), who has served as the catalyzing force behind Translatable," said Wade during the event.
• Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, has launched through his Foundation to Combat Antisemitism “Stand Up to Jewish Hate,” a $25 million multi-media campaign to “raise awareness nationwide about soaring incidents of antisemitism online and in person.” • AP: Attempted book bans and restrictions at school and public libraries continue to surge, setting a record in 2023, according to a new report from the American Library Assn. Full story here.
