On March 25, BTS’ j-hope featured in a gwang series interview uploaded on YouTube. During the segment, the host Kany Diabaté asked him about a dream stage. The K-pop idol, in reply, mentioned the Super Bowl. He wondered out loud what performing there would feel like. Diabaté, building on the answer, addressed the NFL directly.
“Super bowl people! NFL whatever, you have to call BTS call them for the next one 2027,” she stated.
In response, Hobi acknowledged it, saying it felt as if the host was speaking for him, which, in that moment, “feels nice.” Fans are reacting to this brief exchange.
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“Get ready NFL,” an X user commented.
Fans are tagging the official NFL account on X, asking them to make it happen.
@NFL@JAYZclassicBars you hear this? make it real pls
Meanwhile, others believe it’s sooner than expected, with many saying it could be a “spoiler” as well.
bts at super bowl might be more closer than we think it is OMG
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AND BANGTANBOWL IS HAPPENING
istg if this is a spoiler.
BTS Super Bowl talk linked to past NFL moments
In 2022, Min Yoongi addressed the idea of a Super Bowl stage on Weverse. He noted that performing there would be something to consider, yet the final call depends on an official invitation.
“Do I want to perform at the Super Bowl next year? I’d like to, but we’ll have to be invited… We can’t do it just because we want to,” yoongi stated.
At the same time, his sports involvement appears more defined elsewhere. He has attended several NBA games, and in 2023, he was introduced as an NBA ambassador. Alongside that, he has spoken about preferring underdog teams, including the Portland Trail Blazers, while also mentioning Damian Lillard as a player he follows.
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Meanwhile, a separate moment connected BTS to an NFL setting earlier on. In October 2022, j-hope shared a birthday post for Park Jimin, which included a photo taken inside the locker room of the Las Vegas Raiders. The image, as a result, circulated widely across fan spaces, drawing attention to the group’s presence in a venue typically associated with professional football.
The photo, in turn, traced back to BTS’ Las Vegas stop during the Permission to Dance On Stage tour earlier that year. The group held four sold-out shows at Allegiant Stadium, which serves as the Raiders’ home ground. During those dates, the stadium shifted from a football venue to a concert setting, hosting large audiences each night. In the shared frame, Jimin was seated near a locker, with a Raiders jersey placed behind him.
BTS recently released ARIRANG and is currently promoting the album. A documentary will be released next, followed by their world tour starting in April.
Iran’s men’s national football team has trained in southern Turkey as the players gear up for two crucial pre-World Cup friendlies.
Their preparations are unfolding against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tension, with the squad anticipated to attract significant attention amid the US-Israeli war on Iran.
The team conducted a training session in Belek, a resort area near Antalya, under stringent media restrictions.
Officials stated the measure was to prevent distractions ahead of matches deemed vital for their World Cup readiness.
This cautious approach aligns with recent revelations from federation President Mehdi Taj, who last week confirmed discussions with Fifa regarding relocating Iran’s World Cup fixtures from the United States to Mexico due to player safety concerns.
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Trump indicated it would not be ‘appropriate’ for Iran to play at the World Cup (AFP/Getty)
This follows a warning from US president Donald Trump that it would not be “appropriate” for Iran to play in this summer’s tournament.
The Iranian camp has largely sought to maintain a low public profile, anticipating intense political and media scrutiny as the tournament approaches.
In Belek, no interviews with players or coaches were granted, with a team media representative emphasising the squad’s complete focus on their immediate competitive programme.
The team is scheduled to face Nigeria on Friday and Costa Rica on Tuesday in Antalya, fixtures that were originally planned for Jordan but moved to Turkey following the outbreak of the Iran war.
While players appeared relaxed during the sunny training session, with staff and team members observed chatting and joking, individual controversies have recently emerged.
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Forward Mehdi Taremi faced scrutiny after swapping shirts with an Israeli opponent while playing for his club, Olympiacos, in Greece.
Separately, prolific striker Sardar Azmoun, who boasts 57 goals in 91 internationals, was omitted from the squad.
Iranian media reported his exclusion stemmed from a perceived act of disloyalty to the government, following an Instagram post featuring him meeting Dubai’s ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Reports that first surfaced in January saying Bill Belichick would not be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame sparked strong reactions across the sports world.
Despite winning two Super Bowls as an assistant and six as Patriots coach, Belichick reportedly fell short of the Hall of Fame’s 50-vote threshold, raising questions about the voting process. The Pro Football Hall of Fame unveiled its 2026 class at NFL Honors — a list that did not include Belichick.
ESPN reported that Belichick was initially “puzzled” and “disappointed” by his omission and questioned what more he needed to do to be inducted immediately. While Belichick has largely avoided publicly addressing his Hall of Fame status, he offered a measured response Tuesday when asked about the controversy.
North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick with the team before the game at Kenan Stadium.(Bob Donnan/Imagn Images)
“I’m focused on coaching this team and focused on getting Carolina football to the highest level I can. That’s what I’ve always… I focus about what I can do, and things that are not in my control, I don’t worry about,” he told reporters as North Carolina opened spring camp.
Belichick led North Carolina to a 4-8 record in his first season coaching in Chapel Hill, but a string of off-field headlines largely overshadowed the program.
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During last year’s widely discussed “CBS Sunday Morning” interview, Jordon Hudson faced accusations that she attempted to exert control during the former NFL coach’s sit-down. The interview was part of a promotional tour for Belichick’s new book, “The Art of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football.” Hudson, 24, has drawn attention for dating 73-year-old Belichick for more than two years.
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick and girlfriend Jordon Hudson look on from the sideline vs TCU at Kenan Memorial Stadium.(Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
The viral moment sparked questions about Hudson’s involvement in both his personal and professional life and whether it could affect football operations.
Belichick has previously dismissed the increased attention on his personal life. “Sometimes it’s noisy, and sometimes it isn’t,” he told ESPN last summer. “Sometimes with the Patriots it was noisy, too.”
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick directs his team during the game against Charlotte in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sept. 6, 2025.(AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Earlier this month, UNC general manager Michael Lombardi recently addressed the scrutiny and outside criticism that surrounded the program last season, defending the team’s response amid what he characterized as inaccurate accounts.
“All during those stormy times, all during when the boat was getting capsized, when people were attacking us with fake rumors and fake stories all over — nobody’s corrected them yet, but that’s OK, we understand — our players hung together,” Lombardi told the “Pat McAfee Show”.
⚽ Mohamed “Mo” #Salah will leave #Liverpool at the end of the season in June, the club announced on Tuesday. He spent nine years at #Anfield, during which he established himself as one of the greatest players in the club’s history.
Last time out, he made remarkably short work of Dillian Whyte, stopping the veteran in just 119 seconds in Saudi Arabia. But the Kent youngster is back on home soil this weekend, taking on an American opponent in Manchester.
Moses Itauma (left) and Jermaine Franklin at a launch press conference for their fight (Getty Images)
Franklin (24-2, 15 KOs) actually has his own history with Whyte, having lost a controversial decision to the Briton in 2022 before losing to Anthony Joshua on points in 2023. Yet those defeats are the only losses of the 32-year-old’s career, and he is seen as a sensible test for Itauma, whose injury in January forced this bout to be pushed back by two months.
Here’s all you need to know.
When is the fight?
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Itauma vs Franklin will take place on Saturday 28 March at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester. The main card is due to begin at 5pm BST (10am PT / 12pm CT / 1pm ET), with main-event ring walks expected at 11pm BST (4pm PT / 6pm CT / 7pm ET).
Itauma is a short-priced favourite on all the major betting sites to win Saturday’s bout with Franklin a massive underdog, according to the bookies.
Itauma – 1/20
Franklin – 10/1
Draw – 20/1
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Fight card in full
Subject to change
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Itauma made short work of Dillian Whyte in August (Getty Images)
Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin (heavyweight)
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Nathan Heaney vs Gerome Warburton (middleweight)
Ezra Taylor vs Willy Hutchinson (light-heavyweight)
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Shakiel Thompson vs Brad Pauls (middleweight)
Liam Davies vs Francesco Grandelli (featherweight)
Alex Murphy vs Josh Holmes (lightweight)
Michael Gomez Jr vs Jordan Flynn (lightweight)
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There’s no question Ohio State’sArvell Reese is one of the best overall players in this draft class. They don’t make many athletes with the size (6-foot-4, 241 pounds), speed (4.47-second 40-yard dash) and positional versatility Reese brings. He finished 2025 with 6.5 sacks and 69 total tackles.
However, the history of players with similar versatility traits isn’t exactly encouraging in the NFL. Isaiah Simmons is on his third team in six seasons, Zaven Collins hasn’t found his footing in Arizona, and plenty of others have struggled to fit at the next level.
While I think Reese is different from those players — there’s a difference between “positionless” and “versatile” — there are still questions about where he plays in the NFL.
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More importantly, there’s the financial angle. The fifth-year options and franchise tags for EDGE and off-ball linebacker are the same, but the highest-paid EDGE (Micah Parsons) makes $46.5 million per year — more than the top two off-ball linebackers (Fred Warner and Roquan Smith) combined. Even average EDGE rushers carry more value financially, so if Reese wants to cash in, playing on the edge could be the way to go.
But does that best align with what he does on the field? Let’s dive into the film.
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Reese’s power pops immediately on the edge
The first thing that stands out when Reese lines up on the edge is how violent he is with his hands. Players who walk down from off-ball linebacker typically don’t play as heavy-handed as Reese does. He packs serious power into his punches as both a run defender and pass rusher, generating a ton of force for someone who would be considered undersized on the edge.
You can’t block him with a tight end — he’ll obliterate them in the run game. He forklifts players on the edge, using strong pad level to close gaps and funnel backs into traffic. This Illinois tight end stood no chance, getting manhandled into the very gap the running back was attacking.
Watch the Miami tight end’s head snap back on contact. There’s playing with force, and then there’s what Reese showed in his final year at Ohio State. He wrecks the rep with pure power.
This rep against Penn State’s left tackle isn’t perfect, but the force jumps out. His head is down on contact, but his body angle is excellent. He’s in position to stack and shed because he’s attacking with leverage, generating force through his body into the tackle’s chest so he can make a play.
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His pass-rush upside is both exciting — and incomplete
Where the rubber really meets the road is Reese’s potential as a pass rusher. Despite being undersized, he generates serious power. You’d expect an off-ball linebacker moving to the edge to win with speed and bend, but Reese’s go-to is converting speed to power and running through tackles.
This is what you would call getting dunked on in the football world:
Here, he faces fellow draft prospect Markel Bell (6-foot-9, 346 pounds) and still turns him with power, prying open the outside corner. The ball comes out before he arrives, but it’s a strong rep that shows what he can already do as a pass rusher.
Again, Reese displaces Illinois’ right tackle with power, knocking him off his feet. It’s not a perfect rep or finish, but it highlights how much force he generates in a 241-pound frame.
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Reese also showcases the ability to counter with speed. His pass-rush repertoire is still limited, but the flashes of bend and acceleration are reminiscent of top NFL rushers. Ohio State even schemed one-on-one opportunities, where he would do this to opposing tackles:
While he gets the sack on that rep, another better illustrates his upside. He sells the bull rush, then dips around the outside shoulder and flattens to the quarterback. That’s the kind of nuance he needs to build on.
The issue right now is consistency. He doesn’t have many reliable counters, which makes sense given his background as an off-ball linebacker who also drops into coverage. If he transitions full-time to the edge, his development as a pass rusher may take time.
He could improve by using his hands more actively — swiping at tackles to create cleaner rush paths and turn more pass rush reps into pressures. Against Wisconsin, for example, the tackle sets to cut off the edge. Reese needs to either club the outside hand or counter inside, but he does neither and loses the rep. A more detailed pass-rush plan will be key going up against NFL tackles.
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Another area for growth is stringing moves together when his initial rush stalls. That will come with reps and coaching. The upside is clear, but right now he’s a better run defender than pass rusher off the edge.
Reese might be more polished off the ball right now
As an off-ball linebacker, Reese’s violent hands and fluidity really stand out. Even in a defense loaded with megazord athletes, he consistently pops on tape. He simply puts guys on their butts when they try to block him. His explosiveness moving downhill is a delight to watch, and his hand placement and ability to forklift defenders immediately jump off the tape. Just ask this Penn State tight end:
OUCH. His ability to generate force allows him to lift blockers out of the way and stay square to the line of scrimmage while working through traffic. He’s comfortable operating in tight spaces and consistently finds the ball.
One rep against Michigan highlights his instincts. The Buckeyes are in a five-man front, with Reese aligned as the stack linebacker. The defensive lineman in front of him plays his primary gap with the ability to fall back into his secondary, and Reese has to mirror that from depth to keep everyone on a string. He fits into the primary gap, then recognizes the running back bounce to the secondary as the tight end tries to get hands on him. Reese slips underneath the block and closes to make the stop — a great example of his high-level processing and movement ability.
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In the passing game, his ceiling is also high — especially as a blitzer. His power translates immediately, as shown when he drives a Texas right tackle back and forces Arch Manning out of the pocket.
Reese is a mismatch against running backs in pass protection and can be used as a penetrator on pass-rush games, using his size and speed to collide with offensive linemen and free up rushers. You can also design looks for him to play iso ball against RBs, where he can crush the pocket.
The main area for improvement off the ball is his spatial awareness in coverage. He has the range and athleticism, but his recognition once receivers enter his zone can improve. He recorded just two pass deflections in his career, rarely getting his hands on the football. Better angles could help — like on a near-play against Wisconsin that could have been an interception.
That said, there are reps where he shows potential. Against Penn State running a Dagger concept, he drops as the middle defender in Cover 2, carries the vertical route, then sinks to disrupt the dig and force a checkdown. That’s the upside.
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The biggest question: Where does Reese actually fit in the NFL?
So what is Reese at the next level — linebacker or EDGE? The answer is both. He’s a true hybrid, but not in a way that leaves him without a position. He can be a skeleton key who answers many questions for a modern defense, allowing it to shift fronts and personnel without substituting. Think about what the Eagles do with Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell — players with the size to play on the edge and the movement skills to stack without being liabilities in coverage. That kind of true versatility is becoming increasingly valuable in the NFL.
If you’re asking where he makes the most immediate impact, it’s probably as an off-ball linebacker. His coverage still needs refinement, but as a run defender and blitzer, he already fits what modern defenses want.
Still, he shouldn’t be boxed in. Let him dictate fronts and structures — that’s how he blossoms into the centerpiece of a modern NFL defense.
This weekend, Itauma meets American Jermaine Franklin, a veteran of 26 fights but still a young man in the heavyweight business at 32, and whose only two losses are more relevant than any of his 24 wins; there is a subtle difference between winning in risk-free fights and losing in fights where you have no chance.
Franklin is tough, tested, rested, and the type of seasoned and underestimated fighter that could beat any boxer on any given night. Itauma is still only 21, a wide-eyed kid in a division of dangerous old men, and he is also one of the most hyped fighters in the modern business.
Moses Itauma (left) facing off with Jermaine Franklin (Getty Images)
The hype started when he was still a schoolboy (at 16, he showed up to spar with the world’s best heavyweights in his school uniform) and has continued through his 13 professional fights. The Franklin fight is the first real test, a bout where Moses might have to go into the heavyweight unknown; Franklin’s two losses were over the full 12-round distance, to Dillian Whyte and Anthony Joshua.
So far, Itauma has done everything right in a ring apprenticeship that launched with bold claims that he would win a world heavyweight title at a younger age than Mike Tyson. Luckily, that storyline vanished, and Itauma could get on with learning, winning, and growing as an adult and a boxer. Itauma has often talked about his sacrifices to get where he is – he lost his teenage years to the gym and his chosen profession.
In Itauma’s last fight, he travelled to Saudi Arabia in August and dropped and stopped the ghost of Whyte in just 119 seconds; we had no idea that Whyte would be beaten so quickly. It was a real message, and what was needed was a strong man, a man with a credible record and a man who posed a risk, but not a threat: Franklin is ideal, and this might just be one of Frank Warren’s greatest pieces of matchmaking.
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Itauma made short work of Dillian Whyte in August (Getty Images)
Franklin is in many ways the last of a once-essential heavyweight breed; he is the real definition of a journeyman fighter, a man who poses problems and can educate the boxers that beat him. He can also deliver a career-shattering loss, and last September in Las Vegas, he beat double Olympic medalist Ivan Dychko, who was unbeaten in 15 as a professional with 14 knockouts.
For context, there is no way that Itauma would have been matched with Dychko on that night. Franklin is a danger, and Itauma knows that very well; young Moses has a smart head for boxing and does not believe the hype.
The Independent columnist Steve Bunce speaking with a victorious Itauma (Getty)
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There is bold talk of world titles later this year, and even Oleksandr Usyk has entered the Itauma debate; the great Ukrainian has said he will not fight him because he doesn’t “want to break him”. The rest of the heavyweights have all welcomed the challenge.
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Itauma is also on his way to becoming, assuming he beats Franklin, one of the sport’s major cash cows. Itauma is a boxing baby, but he fights like a veteran, and that is a contradiction that might just elevate him from schoolboy menace to world heavyweight champion. The real road to glory for the kid from Kent starts on Saturday night.
The Bengals announced that they re-signed 41-year-old quarterback Joe Flacco to a one-year deal. The contract is for $6 million, but is worth up to $9 million with incentives, according to ESPN.
“I love the building,” Flacco told the team website. “I enjoyed being there, and I’m excited about being back with the fellas.”
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco warms up before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, on Dec. 7, 2025.(Mark Konezny/Imagn Images)
The Bengals acquired Flacco after he was benched by the Cleveland Browns after four starts. Burrow was hurt at the time, and Jake Browning, who was the backup before Flacco arrived, had underwhelmed.
Flacco made six starts for the Bengals and played well, despite the team having a 1-5 record in that span. He completed 61.7% of his passes for 1,664 yards with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions, and the Bengals offense averaged more than 27 points per game.
Making Flacco’s performance more impressive, he played through a sprained AC joint in his shoulder with the Bengals.
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Flacco was looking to find a starting job in free agency, but after not getting one, he struggled with the reality that he might not play at all.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco warms up before the Steelers game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Nov. 16, 2025.(Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
“I don’t know what Plan A was. It’s tough to kind of say exactly what that looked like, so you kind of just have to go with the flow a little bit,” Flacco said. “I have good feelings there. The hardest thing for me is probably coming to grips with the fact that I might not play.”
The veteran quarterback didn’t want a repeat of last season with the Browns, when he was benched for rookie Dillon Gabriel after four games.
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“I felt like I had to be careful with some certain decisions. I don’t want to be in another situation where I’m going and playing four games like I did last year in Cleveland. I was a little bit nervous about that for whatever reason, and kind of getting thrown under the bus. I think there was a time to be that guy, but I don’t know if I was willing to do that. It just felt right in the gut,” Flacco said.
Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco runs off the field before a field goal attempt against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Oct. 16, 2025.(Sam Greene/The Enquirer/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Flacco, at 41, is the oldest player to ever play for the Bengals.
He is 14th on the all-time passing yards list and just 1,824 yards away from 50,000.
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In a perfect world for the Bengals, Flacco never steps on the field because that would mean Burrow remains healthy all season. However, if Burrow gets injured, they can trust that they have a capable backup who can lead the offense at a high level.
The former Maccabi Tel Aviv goalkeeper has made 13 starts in the Championship and has delivered a series of impressive performances.
He was particularly influential in Southampton’s 1-0 victory over Norwich City, with the Saints currently sitting sixth in the table.
Southampton hold an option to sign him permanently for around €8 million, a deal that could be completed even if they fail to secure promotion.
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Bayern Munich’s goalkeeping situation
Christian Falk has exclusively told CFbayern that the goalkeeper situation at the German club hinges on several factors.
Manuel Neuer remains the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, but uncertainty surrounds his future amid ongoing injury concerns.
If Neuer signs a one-year extension, Jonas Urbig is expected to remain as the backup, with Sven Ulreich continuing as third choice.
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However, if Neuer decides to retire, Bayern are likely to promote Urbig to the number one role.
In that scenario, Ulreich would remain in the squad, while the club would look to recruit an experienced goalkeeper for additional cover.
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Alexander Nubel, currently on loan at VfB Stuttgart, could also factor into the plans, although a permanent deal would require a significant fee.
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Bayern are hopeful that Southampton will exercise their option to sign Peretz at the end of the season, allowing the club to streamline their goalkeeping department.
The news that two Indian Premier League (IPL) teams, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), have both changed hands for over $1.6 billion each has obviously made headlines. Both buyouts involved consortiums, and ownership will formally change only after the upcoming 2026 season.
Sports team buyouts are hardly new. But these two deals set new standards for the IPL with top-line numbers that hit, as Sourav Ganguly pointed out, National Basketball Association (NBA) levels. Considering English football as a benchmark, only the “Big Six” of Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur are valued higher than RCB and RR.
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(Incidentally, the family of the late, great Shane Warne has been set up for life since the leg-spinner had cleverly negotiated a deal where he took a tiny stake in RR in lieu of compensation. That stake is now worth roughly ₹460 crore.)
All sorts of people buy sports teams. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund paid GBP 305 million in 2021, for example, to buy 80 per cent of English football club Newcastle United. Back in 2003, Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea for GBP 140 million. He was forced to sell it after the Ukraine invasion when he came under sanctions. Real Madrid – probably the world’s richest club – by contrast is set up as a non-profit owned by some 90,000 “socios”, or individuals. Barcelona has a similar socio ownership structure.
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The concept of club ownership would be incomprehensible for traditional value investors seeking concrete returns on investment (RoI). For example, RCB declared profits of ₹140 crore on revenues of ₹550 crore in financial year 2024–25 (FY25). The consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group, which bought it, paid $1.78 billion, or around ₹16,600 crore, for a 100 per cent stake.
Kal Somani, Walmart and co-investors paid roughly ₹15,300 crore for the RR franchise, which reportedly had an operating income (earnings before interest and tax, or EBIT) of ₹54 crore in FY25. Given the numbers, RoI at the valuations paid is very low. Even if optimistic growth multiples are assigned to the two franchises, the RoI would remain lower than parking that money in Government of India debt.
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Every IPL franchise receives an equal payout every season – approximately ₹484 crore in 2025 – from the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI’s) central media rights pool. This is the largest chunk of franchise revenue. The rest of the income comes from ticket sales, merchandise and, above all, sponsorships.
As many people have pointed out, the valuations have expanded a lot over the two-decade timeframe. In 2007, RR was auctioned for $67 million in the original IPL auction. The $1.63 billion sale works out to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 18.5 per cent for the valuation. Similarly, the initial RCB auction price was $111.6 million, which means the $1.78 billion exit reflects a CAGR of 16.5 per cent. (There have been interim sales and transfers of ownership.)
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The financials are similar for many other sports teams. RoI tends to be low because valuations are very high, and in many cases, teams operate at a loss.
So why would hard-headed businessmen and investors buy sports teams? There are several answers to that question, and most of them are perhaps partially correct. In some cases, this is out of sheer passion. The new owners happen to be deeply interested in the sport in question, and they have the money to indulge their “hobby”.
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Second, there’s optimism. “Brand value”, however you define it, has obviously grown by leaps and bounds for all IPL outfits in the last 20 years. Maybe brand value will continue growing at similar rates in future, especially if a smart, highly connected owner (or a consortium of highly connected owners) is in charge. Hope springs eternal.
There’s also the “greater fool theory”, which is often cited by market traders. This can be roughly defined as: “It’s fine to buy something at an inflated value if you reckon you can find a greater fool who will buy it off you at an even higher value.” That attitude has triggered all sorts of financial bubbles over the centuries.
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And, of course, if valuation does continue to inflate indefinitely, you may not even need to exit for a profit. The valuation can be monetised in other ways. For example, the stock market boosted the share price of United Spirits instantly when RCB won the 2025 IPL. There are already advisories out referencing the positive stock market impact of these buyouts.
The killer application with sports and sports investments, however, is something that is hard to accurately quantify. Organised sports is all about politics and influence, and having seats at the high table. The heads of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), for example, can meet any global head of state, pretty much whenever they please. The leadership of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the BCCI have similar privileges where cricket-playing nations are concerned. That influence may be hard to quantify, but it is easy to monetise, and it is something hard-headed investors will pay for.
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