North America

Mixed Martial Arts
Business

A group of investors led by the WME-IMG agency has struck a deal to acquire the Ultimate Fighting Championship for approximately $4bn (€3.6bn), according to Dana White, the president of the mixed martial arts series.

Basketball
Sponsorship & Marketing

The NBA is piloting the use of shirt sponsorships for the 2017-18 season. Brian Heyman speaks to some of the sport’s most important stakeholders and estimates the values of some of the potential deals.

Motorsport
Events

US motor racing series IndyCar has confirmed that it will contribute $925,000 (€839,000) to cover some of the money lost by fans who had pre-purchased tickets for its Boston Grand Prix, which was scheduled to take place in September before being cancelled earlier this year.

Motorsport
Events

The Formula E electric car-racing series has received approval for its 2016-17 calendar, with its third season set to conclude with new double-header events in Montreal and New York, while an Electric Mobility Forum has been scheduled for Las Vegas on January 7.

Phil Knight, co-founder of Nike, has completed his previously announced exit as chairman of the US sportswear giant, with president and chief executive Mark Parker confirmed as his replacement.

Cricket
Business

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has ratified the suspensions of the USA Cricket Association (USACA) and the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), along with welcoming Saudi Arabia as its 39th associate member.

Cycling
Business

American UCI WorldTour team Cannondale Pro Cycling has announced a merger deal with Australian Pro Continental outfit Drapac that will take effect from the 2017 season.

Basketball
Business

Lizhang Jiang has become the first Chinese owner in the history of the North American NBA basketball league by securing a five-per-cent stake in the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Cycling
Business

The International Cycling Union (UCI) has hailed its new partnership with the US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada), stating that the joint agreement will allow the two organisations to combat doping-related issues across the sport.

Basketball

NBA basketball franchise the Oklahoma City Thunder will play two preseason matches in Spain later this year as part of the North American league’s Global Games Europe 2016.

American Football

The NHL is making its move in Las Vegas – but what future does the NFL have in ‘Sin City’? Barry Wilner reports.
Events

The popularity of mass-participation events has rocketed in recent years and Tough Mudder is at the forefront of the craze. Rob Ridley investigates.

Basketball
Business

The Minnesota Timberwolves are poised to become the first team from the NBA basketball league to receive Chinese investment, according to multiple reports.

Motorsport
Business

George Bruggenthies, president and general manager of Road America, has said that IndyCar will return to the US motor-racing circuit in 2017 and 2018, after a successful event this season.

American Football
Business

NFL American football franchise the Green Bay Packers has reported record profits and total revenue for the 2015 financial year.

Boxing
Business

Former Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer has launched a new boxing promotional company and is seeking to create a team that will form a new global force in the sport.

Ice Hockey
Events

The NHL North American ice hockey league will expand to Las Vegas for the 2017-18 season after billionaire businessman Bill Foley was awarded the competition’s 31st franchise, but an expansion bid by Quebec City has been deferred indefinitely.

Motorsport

The Formula E electric car-racing series has made a fresh move to embrace esports by revealing plans for an innovative virtual reality race next year.