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The playbook for college sports revenue is expanding

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — You've heard about the patches coming soon to a college football jersey near you. You've seen the corporate logos cropping up on football fields from South Carolina to the University of Washington. Talent fees on season tickets, league-level deals with the likes of PayPal, naming rights revenue not just for a stadium but for the playing field within the stadium. All of this is now standard fare for universities scrambling to keep up in the sprawling and expensive industry that college athletics has become. For the latest year available (2024), the 352 Division ...

College sports advocates press philanthropy to buffer NIL’s commercial pressure on women’s sports

NEW YORK (AP) — While interest in women's sports is booming and Olympic sports organizers lock in preparations for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, advocates worry that the college athletic programs that feed both those systems may be strained further by increased demands from bigger sports. Olympic sports haven't had the opportunity to thrive on their own, according to Women's Sports Foundation CEO Danette Leighton, because the business has centered one product: college football. Leighton is calling on donors to set the agenda. Philanthropy can protect those teams, she said, ...

Harden agrees to 3-year, $97-million contract to remain with Cavaliers

James Harden agreed to a three-year, $97 million contract to remain with the Cleveland Cavaliers, two people close to the situation told The Associated Press on Thursday. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced. It includes a player option for the 2028-29 ...

NFL complains about changes by Nielsen to TV ratings measurements

The NFL is upset about changes made by Nielsen in its methodology for measuring viewership for the upcoming season, calling them "rushed" and saying they will have a negative impact on sports. Nielsen announced plans this week to change how it measures audiences on television, beginning on Aug. 31, including alterations to how the company measures whether multiple people are watching an event at the same time. The NFL is coming off one of its most successful seasons ever on television after Nielsen began using its Big Data + Panel methodology for all events last September. The league ...

Verstappen extends contract with Red Bull to 2030 after he weighed up leaving F1

ZANDVOORT, Netherlands (AP) — Max Verstappen says he seriously considered leaving Formula 1 before the four-time champion instead committed to four more years with Red Bull on Thursday. The announcement of his contract extension ahead of Verstappen's home Dutch Grand Prix this weekend ends speculation that he could seek a blockbuster move to another team or quit the sport. It comes despite Red Bull struggling to match the pace of leading team Mercedes this season, and Verstappen's own frustration with how much the 2026 cars rely on electrical power. "After the first few races ...

Mazar, Starr lead Creek to opening night win

WINTERSVILLE — Coming into opening night with a more youthful group than the past couple of seasons, veteran Indian Creek coach Andrew Connor was hoping to be able to lean on his returning seniors Thursday night. Senior Bruce Mazar was that such player to lean on for Connor. Mazar, a ...