Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Set to Continue Super Bowl Halftime Show Partnership with NFL
From Rihanna to Kendrick Lamar, Roc Nation has attracted some of the biggest names in music to the Super Bowl halftime show stage since formally collaborating in 2019. Now, Jay-Z is set to continue his production partnership with the NFL, as reported by Bloomberg’s Randall Williams. Roger Goodell confirmed as much at the league’s meetings on Tuesday, saying, “Jay is happy. Desiree Perez is happy. I’m happy, so we’re all good.” After agreeing to a five-year, $25 million pact in 2019, details surrounding a potential new deal are scarce, with Bloomberg reporting it is “unclear how much the new one is worth and how long it will go.”
Unrivaled League, TNT Sports Ink Inaugural Broadcast Deal
Breanna Steward and Napheesa Collier may be going head-to-head in the WNBA Finals; however, the two UConn alums will be taking their talents to South Beach this winter. The two W standouts founded the Unrivaled League, a 3-on-3 format basketball league that tips off in Miami in January. Ahead of the launch, Unrivaled revealed that it has reached a multi-year media rights partnership with TNT Sports. As part of the deal, TNT Sports properties will broadcast more than 45 primetime games following the Jan. 17 tipoff. According to a release, sports media veterans David Levy and John Skipper were key collaborators in the negotiations.
Stay tuned to this week’s Inside the Boardroom as Boardroom’s Shlomo Sprung provides key insights on the new deal.
Kendrick Lamar Lands 8 Wins at BET Hip Hop Awards
It was a huge night for hip-hop in Las Vegas on Tuesday. Kendrick Lamar cleaned up with eight wins at the BET Hip Hop Awards, including Lyricist of the Year and Song of the Year for “Just Like Us.” Lamar and his creative collaborator Dave Free also took home the trophy for Video Director of the Year. The night’s big winners also included Shannon Sharpe‘s Club Shay Shay, which took the title of Best Hip Hop Platform, and Missy Elliott, who took home Best Live Performer, having hit the road for her first-ever headlining tour this year.
LA Chargers Sell 27% Stake at $750M to Tom Gores
The LA Chargers have a new investor. Billionaire Tom Gores has acquired a 27% stake in the franchise at a price tag of $750 million following a confirmation vote at Tuesday’s NFL Fall meetings. Gores is also the sole owner of the Detroit Pistons, which he purchased outright in 2015. In a statement, Gores expressed his excitement to collaborate with the remaining members of the Spanos family, having bought out Dea Spanos Berberian’s stake and acquired an additional 1% from the remaining Spanos siblings, Dean, Alexis, and Michael.
Adidas Unveils New Patrick Mahomes x Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Collection
Patrick Mahomes unveiled the newest iteration of the Mahomes 2. The superstar paid homage to Kansas City’s Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first Negro League World Series in which the Kansas City Monarchs took home the title. Mahomes, who was a standout baseball player prior to focusing on football, reflected on the legacy of the team and the sport, more generally, saying, “When I first picked up a baseball, I didn’t know. I was just a kid playing a kid’s game, but I get it now. The men that wore these colors changed the games so I can chase my dreams.” The reveal comes on the heels of the Three Stripes’ stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings, which showcased a 7% year-over-year increase in sales and boosted Adidas‘ sales forecast for the remainder of the year.
Endeavor Revenue Projects to Hit $11.4B by 2028; TKO Aims for $3.8B
An internal document from Endeavor reveals that it projects its TKO business to bring in $3.8 billion in revenue by 2028, according to a report from Sportico. Overall, Endeavor estimates the company will generate $11.4 billion in revenue by then, marking a 70% increase from 2023 and beating Wall Street expectations by over $1 billion. The numbers were revealed as part of SEC filings related to Endeavor’s approved buyout by Silver Lake. In its sports portfolio alone, the entertainment giant showcased nearly $4 billion in revenue. The revenue projections for TKO, which it formed in September 2023, total nearly $2.7 billion for this year, including $1.3 billion from UFC and $1.38 billion from WWE.
Universal Prepares for 2025 Early Opening of Highly-Anticipated Theme Park
Universal Studios is expanding its park presence in Florida. Universal’s parent company, Comcast, announced that it will open the doors of its newest park in 2025. The Universal Epic Universe will feature a massive Harry Potter-themed ride set amidst the 1920s Paris of the Fantastic Beasts. Although the precise date of its opening is not yet known, the park will require attendees to purchase multi-day passes for its official launch, which would also grant revelers access to Universal Studios in Orlando. Early projections suggest that the new park could attract more than 8 million visitors in 2025-26, including 1 million who may have otherwise gone to nearby Disney World.
Obamas’ Higher Ground Signs on as Producer of Modern ‘Pride & Prejudice’
The Obamas continue to extend their entertainment legacy. The former First Family’s Higher Ground announced that it will serve as a producer in the upcoming Pride, which serves as a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice set in modern-day Bushwick. The Netflix project is based on the 2018 book of the same name, written by Ibi Zoboi. Karen Joseph Adcock, who writes for the critically acclaimed The Bear, will serve as the lead writer.
More H2G:
Sue Bird Becomes First Player in WNBA History to Receive Statue
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Inks Richest Annual Contract in NBA History
WNBA to Add Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia for a Reported $250M Expansion Fee
LL Cool J, Peyton Manning to Produce Paramount+ Series on Hip-Hop in NYC
Anna Wintour Steps Down as EIC of Vogue After Nearly 40 Years
