Tag Archives: sportsbiz

Dan Snyder faces a ‘harder reckoning’: Washington Redskins odds

A clear pattern is starting to build with Washington’s football team: If you want any serious change with the organization, you need a massive backlash to the franchise’s behavior. First there was years of pressure to change the team’s name. Now, a focus on an alleged history of sexual misbehavior in the back office. And if neither of those are enough to get you upset, there’s a growing history of just not being good at football.

[Image credit: Wikimedia Commons]

Sexual Harassment Allegations and Fallout

The bombshell scandal that revealed itself on Thursday revealed Dan Snyder’s football organization turned a blind eye to years of sexual harassment, alleged by 15 female employees, from top figures in the organization. While Snyder himself wasn’t implicated, that he somehow didn’t know any of this was happening is just as bad.

European Football Special – Real Madrid Crowned La Liga Champions for 34th Time

After a season that has been interrupted by the Coronavirus and a row with one of his best players, Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid have been crowned La Liga champions for a record 34th time.

Since the global COVID-19 lockdown, the most decorated club in domestic Spanish football history added the latest La Liga title to their collection after 10 straight victories gave them the title, eclipsing a stuttering Barcelona side for whom Lionel Messi may have scored his 700th career goal but as a team looked light in certain areas of the pitch at crucial moments.

Madrid’s victory is all the more impressive given Barcelona’s recent dominance. In the 30 years since 1990, Los Blancos have won only nine title including this latest win, paling into insignificance when cast against the luminous 16 titles that have gone the way of their Catalan rivals.

Zidane’s side, however, have been imperious, building on a phenomenal defensive record of conceding just 23 goals compared to the 46 they shipped last season with one game to go.

Arsenal to face Chelsea in F.A Cup final after both Manchester clubs beaten

An incredible weekend of F.A. Cup action saw the record winners and their long-time London rivals both reach the F.A. Cup Final that will prove who is the only club in London to win a trophy this season. But how did it happen? Let’s take a look back at a fantastic two days of cup football. 

Arsenal 2-0 Manchester City

The Gunners were only fancied for defeat by most heading into the game, with some bookmakers having the North London side, the most decorated in F.A. Cup history as 8/1 shots.

Despite that, David Luiz led the side into a performance of obduracy and huge patience as Mikel Arteta got his first win against his former colleague. Pep Guardiola has suffered a number of high-profile semi-finals in recent memory, with many of the defeats coming in the Champions League, but this loss will smart just as much.

Betcris inks betting partnership with Major League Baseball

Online sports betting pioneers Betcris have become the latest operator to sign an official partnership with Major League Baseball.

On Thursday, the Costa Rica-based, Malta-licensed Betcris announced that it was the new Official Wagering Partner of MLB in Latin America. The ‘multi-year international partnership’ gives Betcris access to official league data for betting purposes, as well as trademark access for wagering platforms and a new free-play mobile app that Betcris is developing.

Betcris CEO JD Duarte said his company “share a vision with MLB to deliver fun and exciting content to our audiences,” that is, assuming the league actually gets around to playing games in this pandemic year. Striking an optimistic tone, Duarte said the deal “could not come at a better time” and would give Betcris “a great competitive edge.”  

MLB’s VP of gaming & new business ventures Kenny Gersh logrolled back, saying Betcris was “the right gaming operator” to both cater to Latin America’s existing baseball fans and to bring new fans into the fold. Gersh said Betcris had “taken great strides in recent years to listen to their users” and the company’s vast experience would “further elevate the engagement opportunities” for MLB’s LatAm audience.

Super Rugby break up on the cards for 2021

Break-ups are always hard and in the world of rugby with broadcast deals on the line, it’s serious business. New Zealand Rugby officially announced that they were saying goodbye to South African Super Rugby sides. The COVID pandemic has forced Super Rugby into a major rethink with New Zealand announcement of a potential new competition.

New Zealand Rugby announced that they would be looking at developing a new competition, with the involvement of Australia and Pacific Island teams on the cards. New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson confirmed in a statement that NZ Rugby would be pursuing a new direction:

“The look and shape and feel of how this competition may be owned or run is still to be determined and the way it connects to Sanzaar is yet to be determined. But the reality is that the impact of COVID has been so significant that we’ve had to look at alternatives and a new direction here.”

New Zealand Rugby have proposed a competition that includes all five Super Rugby teams from New Zealand with a potential team from the Pacific Islands. New Zealand have opened up the competition from bids from Rugby Australia.

MLB teams get creative to put fans in the stands

Just because baseball fans aren’t allowed to attend MLB games in person doesn’t mean they still can’t be seen at the games. Because of the coronavirus, MLB, and all other sports leagues, have decided that allowing fans to grab a seat at the games wouldn’t be a smart idea. This means considerable losses in revenue, as on-field advertising loses its purpose and concessionaires can’t sell their goods. However, teams across the MLB have come up with a novel, out-of-the-box solution that will allow fans to be seen at the games while, at the same time, recovering some of the lost revenue. Welcome to the world of fan cutouts. 

The idea emerged earlier this month and has since caught the attention of several teams, including the San Francisco Giants, the LA Dodgers, the Milwaukee Brewers and more. The concept is simple – fans can submit a picture, pay a fee and the team will build a cardboard cutout of the fan to be placed in a seat during games. Each team has its own procedures and policies, but, for some fans, they will even be able to keep their cutouts and, should their virtual self be hit by a foul ball, will be sent a game ball as a keepsake. 

Prices range drastically, some as low as $49 and some as high as $299. Just like with most ballparks, the difference in price depends on where the fan wants to be seated. Other clubs are restricting the sales to only season-ticket holders. The money generated from the sales could be substantial, too. The response has already high and, to use Oracle Park as an example, the return could be substantial. The home of the Giants has 41,915 seats; if it sold half of these at $50 (season-ticket holders get them for free), it could pick up over $1.04 million. That certainly isn’t enough to offset all the losses incurred by the lack of having beer-guzzling, popcorn-munching fans in the stands, but it’s better than nothing. 

The Brewers are taking a slightly different approach. The team will place two-foot images of fans together with the “Last Row” statue of Bob Uecker located at the top of Miller Park. Uecker has been a game-caller for the club for 50 years and has been around baseball almost as long as the game itself. The cutouts cost $50, and the promotion sold out almost as soon as it was launched. 

Ninjas in Pyjamas partner with Esports Charts to crunch the numbers

The latest Esports partnership that will be looked at towards making both a team and the overall game better has been confirmed as between Swedish Esports team Ninjas in Pyjamas and the game data analysis firm Esports Charts.

Swedish team ‘Ninjas’ have had a long and complex history, with their initial formation coming as a Counter-Strike team in 2000, before its abrupt ending in 2007. The team returned in 2012, however, and as a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) team, under the management of Robin Jedhammar and the captaincy of ‘hampus’, have gone from strength to strength.

To date, Ninjas have won just under $3 million in prize winnings and in order to improve, they will be powered by data provided by Esports Charts, who already provide teams such as Astralis Group, Natus Vincere and Alliance with analytical data and statistics for events there to help the team compete to an even better level in the future.

Esports Charts’ CEO  said in a statement: “Seemingly invisible and stealthy “ninjas” are the deadly rivals for every team in every discipline, wherever they participate. They, more than anyone else, clearly know their goals and move towards victory. Esports Charts, using ninja reflexes, will promptly and surgically react to the changing trends of the esports market and fully support Ninjas in Pyjamas with their data.”

UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez Odds

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

The UFC wraps up a busy stretch at its unconventional (and brilliant) Fight Island in Abu Dhabi with its third card in a week on Saturday, headlined by a flyweight title fight and rematch between Brazil’s Deiveson Figueiredo and American Joseph Benavidez. The main card overall begins at 8 p.m. ET from the United Arab Emirates.

The flyweight title became vacant late December of last year when champion Henry Cejudo announced he was moving up full time to bantamweight – he would defend that belt in May with a win over Dominick Cruz but then shockingly retire.

Cejudo’s vacation of the flyweight belt came when a bout between Figueiredo and Benavidez was announced. They battled on Leap Day in UFC Fight Night 169 in Virginia, and Figueiredo won by second-round TKO (punches).

BBL cricket is set for a longer summer in Australia

Cricket Australia took the first steps to re-establishing themselves for the traditional Aussie cricket summer by releasing an extended Big Bash League (BBL) schedule. The 10th edition of the tournament has been tentatively scheduled to run for 9 weeks, with the first match to start on December 3rd.

The tournament will be played over 56 games and run for more than two months; the longest in Big Bash history.

There’s more important things in the world than cricket right now, but here’s how we’d love to see the summer of BBL unfold. Stay safe and healthy everyone! #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/yE3tKuAEGp

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) July 15, 2020https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

The Memorial Tournament odds & betting preview

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

The last time the PGA Tour staged events back-to-back weeks on the same course was 1957. Thanks to the coronavirus, it will accomplish the feat again starting Thursday at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, with the prestigious Memorial Tournament hosted by Jack Nicklaus. The Golden Bear is from that area of the country, starred at nearby Ohio State and designed this course.

Muirfield Village hosted the one-off Workday Charity Open last week as a replacement for the canceled John Deere Classic, which wasn’t suited to host a tournament during a coronavirus pandemic. Collin Morikawa (+2000 this week) beat Justin Thomas (+1000) in a playoff to win the Workday Charity Open, but Muirfield Village will be set up much tougher this week. It plays to par 72 at approximately 7,400 yards and hosted the 1987 Ryder Cup.

The original plan was for a limited number of fans – about 25 percent of a usual crowd – to return this week, but the coronavirus spiking all around the USA will keep the fans away from PGA Tour events for the rest of the year.

UFC/MMA gambling takes the lead in sports gambling on Bodog

The first thing most sports fans are doing now when they wake up in the morning, after pouring the much-needed cup of coffee, is tuning in to sports news to see what’s going on with the NBA, NHL and the rest of the gang. Between now and September, all the major leagues in the U.S. are expected to get underway, either finishing out their seasons or, as in the case of the NFL, get things going. Things are changing on a daily basis and there is still no guarantee that the coronavirus won’t force schedules to change, but, fortunately, there are plenty of other sports to keep fans occupied. This past weekend, Bodog saw a lot of action, and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 251 ticket proved to be especially hot.

In terms of wager percentages on individual leagues, UFC 251 accounted for 38.27% of all bets seen on Bodog this past weekend. Kamaru Usman took on Jorge Masvidal in the Welterweight main event fight, completely dominating as he has done in almost all of his matches. He won by decision at the end of Round 5 to further his record to 17-1-0. Masvidal was forced to concede defeat and now has a 35-14-0 record.

Sharing the spotlight in main event round were Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in a Featherweight bout. Volkanovski improved to 22-1 after winning by decision after the two went at it for all five rounds. In the Bantamweight fight on the ticket, Petr Yan scored a victory through a TKO when the referee had to step in and call off the match after a little more than three minutes into Round 5.

The response to UFC 251 was enough to keep soccer from controlling the Bodog boards. Between MLS, the Premier League, La Liga in Spain and Serie A in Italy, they usually make up the majority of wagers; however, this past weekend, soccer accounted for 31.59%. MLS was the overall winner, with 9.86% of the action. NFL 2020 Sims ranked up there once again, as well, taking 8.94% of the wagers. In golf, the Workday Charity Open, which saw Collin Morikawa take his second PGA Tour title, captured 7.96% of the bets.

NFL’s Washington Redskins to change name following public pressure

The Washington Redskins will stop using their controversial name and logo following mounting public and corporate pressure.

On Monday, the Redskins’ corporate office issued a statement saying that it would be “retiring the Redskins name and logo upon completion” of the internal review it announced earlier this month. The team’s identity has long been the subject of protest by US tribal activists who viewed the name as racially offensive.

The National Football League franchise said it was in the process of developing “a new name and design approach that will enhance the standing of our proud, tradition rich franchise and inspire our sponsors, fans and community for the next 100 years.”

There’s no indication as to what the team’s new identity might be, nor if it will be in place by the time the new NFL season kicks off (hopefully) in September. Owner Daniel Snyder, who previously vowed that the team would “NEVER” bow to pressure to change the name, is said to be “working closely” with other stakeholders in choosing a new identity.

NHL wants fans to provide the season’s video and audio soundtrack

Virtually all sports leagues in the US, provided they see players suit up, are going to hold competitions on courts, fields and rinks in front of empty stands. The coronavirus is forcing organizations like the NFL, NHL and NBA, in accordance with state and federal directives, to keep fans away until there is more confidence that the pandemic is under control, which creates a unique situation for the leagues. Part of the thrill athletes experience in the games is the crowd noise, as fans cheer, holler, root and sometimes rant. Different leagues have formulated plans on how to address the lack of live fan participation and, in some cases, piped-in audio clips or soundtracks from video games are being used. The NHL is taking a different approach, and wants to hear from hockey fans.

NHL team season-ticket holders are beginning to receive correspondence from the teams, asking them to get involved. They, instead of all fans, were probably chosen because of the easy access to databases, and will have the ability to record and submit 30-second video and sound bites that could be included in the league’s upcoming games – more colorful commentary probably won’t pass muster.

The NHL will be holding the final matches of the 2019-20 season in Toronto and Edmonton. The fan-provided sounds will be heard live by players at the rinks, as well as used in game broadcasts and on NHL social media accounts. The league explained that submissions need to be free of any possible copyright or trademark issues and told the recipients to avoid “the appearance of paintings, posters, professional photography or any other art in the background,” as well as to avoid “wearing apparel that shows any brands.”

The material submitted should include expected reactions to goals being scored and can be specific for each team. For example, Boston Bruins fans can provide a clip of the famous “TUUUUUUUUKKKKKKK” chant, which is heard every time goalie Tuukka Rask successfully protects the net. Chicago Blackhawks fans can provide clips of a “slow clap” and “30 seconds of how you act/cheer during the National Anthem at a home game.” Fans of the Winnipeg Jets were requested to provide clips on why they’re proud to support the team and to include a “We Are Winnipeg” shoutout.

Is Esports doing more for mental health?

Gaming can be a very hard business, and a demanding pursuit. When the game is your life, switching off isn’t as simple as flicking the off button on your computer set-up.

We’ve seen in recent weeks how the business of Esports can impact the players who play the game, with the tragic death of 31-year-old Twitch streamer Byron ‘Reckful’ Bernstein, whose death was confirmed by his girlfriend and remains a suspected suicide. Bernstein was a very popular player in the World of Warcraft community, and an outpouring of love for him in the aftermath of his death has only confirmed what we already know.

More needs doing to protect the mental health of Esports players and those gamers who are most at risk in the gaming community.

One positive towards this end is the initiative by Esports platform GLHF.gg, who have pledged to donate funds from a unique forthcoming tournament. The event, which will take place during July, will have a top prize of £5,000 that is donated to MIND, the charity for Mental Health.

Los Angeles FC sits atop MLS tournament odds

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

Will the NBA’s ambitious 22-team restart in the “bubble” of the Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando actually work when that begins later this month in the wake of record-setting coronavirus numbers in Florida? Sports fans may get an answer this week if it’s possible to stage such a sporting event when the MLS is Back Tournament kicks off Wednesday at the same complex.

Already, the challenges facing all sports league in a pandemic have shown up with several players from FC Dallas reportedly testing positive for COVID-19 last week, forcing the entire team into quarantine. What’s worrisome is that the team said no player tested positive before leaving for Florida.

FC Dallas had been scheduled to open the tournament with a group stage match against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Thursday. That has been pushed back. All of the league’s 26 teams are being sequestered in hotels in advance of the tournament and players are tested for the virus every two days.

Will Dak Prescott dig in his spikes over Cowboys contract?

Dak Prescott is fourth favourite to be regular MVP of the 2020 NFL at 16/1 and a lot shorter to throw the most passing yards at a very attractive 13/2. He’s also the Dallas Cowboy contract rebel who might scupper their plans for a record-breaking NFL season.

The Dallas Cowboys are in with a real chance of winning Super Bowl 55, nestled into the betting market at 20/1 and with coach Mike McCarthy second favourite at 14/1 to win the NFL Coach of the Year award at the season’s close, it’s clear that the Cowboys have a lot going for them.

So why is Dak Prescott stalling on a contract offer?

The Dallas Cowboys have a lot of history and a bright future, but they have also existed in a recent period of change initiated by tough and some say uncompromising owner Jerry Jones. With recent coach Jason Garrett let go after 10 seasons at the club, their new manager McCarthy brings with him plenty of nous that is likely to help them come the season’s start.

F1 Black Lives Matter display opens divide between racers

While Valtteri Bottas claimed the win at the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix, it was the actions of his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton prior to the race that were talked about.

The six-time world champion has been vocal in his call for diversity in Formula One, and before the race took a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Hamilton had called out his fellow drivers to show their support, but not all were willing at the Austrian event.

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