North America

Former Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) chief executive Hank Ratner has been hired to lead a new US sports agency which will supplant the existing Relativity Sports organisation and seek to broaden its horizons outside the sports management business.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has moved to deny a takeover deal has been agreed for the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion, stating it is considering its legal options over the “false stories” surrounding its future.

The United States Golf Association (USGA) has confirmed that the US Open will return to Oakmont Country Club, the host of this year’s edition of the major championship, in 2025.

The National Hockey League (NHL) has chosen Las Vegas for its next expansion franchise, according to multiple reports, with the decision set to make it the first North American major league to set foot in the Nevada city.

DraftKings and FanDuel, the two biggest operators in the daily fantasy sports (DFS) market, have entered talks over a possible merger.

The CAA Sports division of US sports and entertainment giant Creative Artists Agency has moved to further enhance its global marketing capabilities by acquiring German sports and entertainment brand consultancy Cemano Communication.

Local organisers have claimed that funding is in place for a Las Vegas round of the Formula One motor racing series to be added to the calendar as soon as next season.

The 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games in Toronto came in at C$342m (€237.3m/US$268.4m) over budget, according to a report issued by Ontario Auditor-General Bonnie Lysyk, although event organisers in the Canadian city have denied the claim.

The inaugural edition of the Louisville International Open on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour will be staged in 2017 and not later this year as originally planned.

The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) is in advanced talks over an agreement that would see its Copa America national team tournament hosted on a permanent basis by the United States, according to reports.

US college sports conference the Big 12 has voted to reinstate a championship game for its American football competition, stating the move could generate up to $28m (€24.7m) in additional revenue per year.

Premier League football club Swansea City has confirmed that it has been taken over by US businessmen Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan.

Plans have been revealed for a lucrative new golf event in Las Vegas dedicated to the art of putting.

The PGA Tour has struck a seven-year deal to move its elite World Golf Championships event from the Donald Trump-owned Doral course in Miami to Mexico City, a decision blasted by the US Republican presidential candidate.

American football league the NFL has confirmed that Orlando has replaced Hawaii as the host of its Pro Bowl event.

Consumers in the US and Great Britain (GB) may show strong levels of recognition of long-standing Olympic sponsors, but that does not necessarily make them want to buy their products according to a survey carried out by SMG Insight in association with SportBusiness International.