The organisers of the London Marathon are “exploring” plans to stage the event over two days in 2027, potentially allowing more than 100,000 people with the chance to take part.

The news, which was reported by The Guardian, reflects the growing popularity of running after more than a million people entered the ballot for this year’s race.

Last year’s London Marathon broke the record for the number of participants, with over 56,000 receiving a place, but ballot applications have doubled in the space of two years.

The report from The Guardian said staging the London Marathon across Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April next year could allow around 50,000 runners on the course each day.

Increasing the number of participants would also allow more people to raise money for charity. Last year’s race set a fundraising record for the event, at £87.5m.

The plans would require approval from the mayor’s office, who said Sadiq Khan “looks forward” to working with the event and considering if a two-day event could be possible.

“The TCS London Marathon is the world’s most popular marathon, and we are continually exploring innovative ways to enable more people to take part, while delivering positive benefits for London,” a spokesperson said.

“Together with our partners and stakeholders, we are looking at the intention for the 2027 TCS London Marathon to take place across two days. No approval has been given at this stage.

“Our immediate focus is on delivering an incredible 2026 TCS London Marathon on Sunday 26 April and ensuring every participant has an amazing experience.”

Jannik Sinner continues to rewrite history at the Miami Open 2026, defeating Alex Michelsen 7–5, 7–6 to reach the quarterfinals.

The win sees Sinner extend his record to 28 consecutive sets won in Masters 1000 event, the most by any man in history.

He also moves past Roger Federer for the third-highest win rate in Masters 1000 history, now sitting behind only Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

Despite the straight-sets win, Sinner admitted he had to work through difficult moments, including trailing 2–5 in the second set:

“I felt like the serve helped me quite a lot today. Especially in important moments. Tiebreak also. Happy about that.”

“At the same time I know if I want to go far in this tournament I have to improve from the back of the court.”

He also pointed to the challenge of adapting to changing conditions:

“It’s completely different conditions than yesterday night. Today’s a day match. I’m happy how I fought. We try to go improve my level and we see how it goes.”

On adjusting his positioning during the match:

“Yeah, I didn’t feel my best tennis today. So I tried to find my way through. I know myself a bit better now. I know every day can be different. We try to improve and we try to keep going.”

The result continues a dominant run of:
28 consecutive sets won in Masters 1000 events
9 consecutive wins in Miami
20th Masters 1000 quarterfinal
5th Miami quarterfinal appearance
31 wins in his last 33 matches

Sinner has now reached at least the quarterfinal stage every time he has played in Miami.

Tyson Fury is facing a distraction ahead of his professional comeback, with his father, John, having publicly declared his concerns. Now, Queensberry promoter Frank Warren has shared his thoughts on the comments.

‘The Gypsy King’ hung up the gloves for a fifth time when he announced his retirement following consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk during 2024 but, with his history of u-turn’s, fans refused to believe that Fury had truly fought for the last time.

Earlier this year, those fans were proven correct, as Fury revealed that he would fight Russian powerhouse Arslanbek Makhmudov in his comeback fight, ahead of a potential trilogy with Usyk or long-awaited showdown with Anthony Joshua.

Just three weeks out from his fight, Tyson Fury’s father, John, has controversially stated that his son is ‘finished’ and that he has had ‘nothing left’ since a brutal tilogy with Deontay Wilder.

In an interview with talkSPORT Boxing, Warren responded to John Fury’s words, believing that any disagreements between the pair should have been kept private.

“I never asked him to come back or encouraged him in any way because that has got to be his decision. He is a very wealthy guy, financially, he is set up for life probably 10 lives under, but he wants to fight and he has been in the gym, he is in tremendous shape and that is his decision.

“I understand where his family is coming from and where his Dad is coming from. However, it is Tyson’s decision and if he is going to come back, he is fighting in a couple of weeks’ time, and I’d much rather he does it now than sits around for four or five [months or years] because his powers won’t be the same.

“He has not got a lot of miles on the clock, so we will see. I think the big thing which upsets John is the training and, I’ve got to be honest and I mean this with the greatest of respect because I’m not involved in family matters, but it’s not the sort of thing you should be having a couple of weeks before a fight.

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“I am sure that Tyson would have preferred it not said and I am a big believer that you haven’t got to tell the world what you’ve got to say to your family.”

Fury-Makhmudov takes place on Saturday, April 11, as the two-time world champion seeks to prove his father wrong and build momentum ahead of a mega-fight later this year.

Just when a Bollywood blockbuster on “new India” almost stole the attention of a nation that lives and breathes cricket, the Indian Premier League (IPL) made headlines with numbers amounting to over $3 billion. Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals found new owners on Tuesday, who will pay $1.78 billion and $1.6 billion, respectively, for the teams, changing the perception around the league.

Why these deals are happening now

More than just a league

The billion-dollar valuations clearly indicate that these deals sit inside a system that combines central media revenues shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), league-wide sponsorships, local commercial deals, fan communities and content distribution. That gives each team a platform effect that goes beyond wins and losses on the field.

A conventional team business depends heavily on matchday earnings and sporting performance. By contrast, an IPL team benefits from the power of the entire league infrastructure. The franchise is a gateway into cricket’s most commercially potent ecosystem, where value is created not only through performance but through attention, content, sponsors and reach.

From vanity ownership to financial asset

The character of IPL ownership is changing as well. In the initial years, teams were associated with their promoters, celebrities or business houses. Owning an IPL team had a strong vanity component. That has not disappeared, but the focus is shifting. Today, consortia, institutional investors and private capital increasingly view IPL stakes through the lens of returns.

This reflects the growing maturity of the league. A scarce asset with predictable income, long-term appreciation potential and strong brand visibility attracts investors who think in portfolio terms. An IPL team offers scarcity because there are only a limited number of franchises. It offers yield through revenue streams tied to the league and sponsors. And it offers appreciation because the broader cricket economy continues to expand. IPL ownership is moving from passion-driven to portfolio-driven.

What new money sees in IPL teams

For newer investors, the appeal of IPL franchises goes well beyond the cricket field. These are media-facing consumer brands with multiple monetisation levers. They sit at the intersection of sport, entertainment, digital distribution and community engagement. That makes them especially attractive in an era when attention itself is a valuable asset. 

The modern investor sees an IPL team as a content engine, a sponsorship platform and a digital consumer brand. The level of social media engagement around these franchises is a testament to that appeal.

The Women’s Premier League adds another layer of long-term possibility. This is why IPL teams are being viewed less as sporting curiosities and more as expandable commercial vehicles.  IPL is no longer only sport to investors. It is becoming an alternative asset class.

Why Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals commanded premium valuations

The two deals, though linked by the same larger trend, reflect slightly different strengths. Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s premium is easier to understand at first glance. It has one of the most engaged fan bases in the league, enormous digital traction, strong commercial appeal and a visibility level amplified by star power and years of relevance in public conversation.

“RCB commands a premium because of its unmatched fan engagement, commercial pull, and the legends of the game associated with it,” said Sunil Kalra, an independent cricket analyst.

Rajasthan Royals, however, represent something equally important. Their valuation underlines the strength of the IPL as a whole. Even a franchise that may not always dominate public chatter like the most high-decibel teams can still command a premium because it owns a scarce place in one of the world’s most valuable cricket leagues.

“However, Rajasthan Royals has focused on roping in cricketing royalty and creating its brand value. Shane Warne won the first season for the team, and Rahul Dravid has been associated with RR for over a decade now. That’s cricketing royalty for you,” Kalra added.

What this means for the IPL’s future

These deals are likely to do more than generate headlines. They may reset expectations across the league. Once billion-dollar franchise valuations are established in the market, they create a new benchmark for future stake sales, minority investments and structured capital raises. That can attract more institutional money and encourage existing owners to think more strategically about capital structure, governance and monetisation.

The longer-term impact could be profound. More professional ownership structures may lead to sharper financial discipline, stronger management practices and greater focus on long-term asset building. The IPL may now be entering a more mature, finance-led phase of growth.

The significance of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals valuations goes far beyond two transactions. They show that IPL teams are no longer being judged only as sporting brands or promoter trophies. They are being treated as premium media properties, investable assets and magnets for serious capital. That changes the conversation around cricket itself. The IPL’s next phase may be shaped as much by balance sheets as by scorecards.

  
What began in 2008 as a domestic T20 competition has evolved into one of the most commercially powerful sporting properties in the world. Backed by record-breaking media rights, strong advertiser demand and unmatched audience reach, the IPL is now frequently compared with global heavyweights such as the National Football League (NFL), the English Premier League (EPL) and the National Basketball Association (NBA).
 

But where does it stand when compared with the NFL, EPL or NBA?

Is IPL among the world’s biggest sports leagues by revenue?

In absolute terms, the IPL still trails the world’s biggest leagues by a significant margin. The NFL remains the undisputed leader, generating over $20 billion annually, according to Statista data. The EPL reported revenues of £6 billion ($7.5 billion) for the 2022–23 season, while the NBA generates between $10–12 billion annually.

“Revenue-wise, the IPL is the smallest. The NFL is around $18–20 billion, the NBA $10–12 billion, the EPL around $8 billion, and the IPL is roughly $3.5–4 billion,” said Prashant Joglekar, lead sports business analyst at SportsBiznet. “It is the youngest kid on the block.”

He added that direct comparisons can be misleading.

“We should not get into this trap right now. These properties have different legacies and were built for different purposes. The EPL operates within a football system that dates back to 1888. It is not fair to compare a 150-year-old legacy with the IPL,” Joglekar said.

But total revenue alone does not capture the IPL’s unique strength.

Why IPL punches above its weight in global sports

Unlike most global leagues that run for several months, the IPL operates within a tightly packed two-month window, yet delivers extraordinary audience numbers and commercial returns within this limited timeframe.

The 2023 IPL season recorded over 449 million TV viewers, while digital viewership on JioCinema hit record highs.

This compressed format creates a distinct economic dynamic.

“If you look at the number of matches, the NFL has over 270 games, the NBA more than 1,200, and the EPL 380. The IPL has just 74 matches squeezed into two months,” Joglekar said. “If per-match revenue intensity is considered, the IPL is at the top. It is more efficient and more intense.”

Few leagues compress as much economic value into such a short window as the IPL. 

Media rights and broadcast power drive IPL’s rise 

At the heart of the IPL’s economic engine lies its media rights deal. The 2023–27 cycle fetched ₹48,390 crore ($6.2 billion), making it one of the most valuable sports media deals globally.

This translates into a per-match value of roughly $13–15 million, placing the IPL among the top leagues globally in terms of match-level monetisation.

The IPL’s twin revenue streams, the broadcast on Star Sports and the digital streaming on JioCinema, have further broadened audience reach and improved monetisation efficiency.

The format itself plays a key role in this commercial strength.

“Cricket, especially T20, is designed for brands. After every over, there is a break where ads can be inserted. Strategic time-outs and innings breaks create multiple commercial slots,” Joglekar said. “This gives it a structural advantage over sports like football, which has continuous play.”

This is why IPL teams are increasingly viewed less as conventional cricket clubs and more as scarce media-linked assets.

But Joglekar also flagged a constraint. The broadcasting market has consolidated, mainly under JioHotstar, making it harder to assume a sharp rise in rights values in the next cycle. 

Franchise valuations: Catching up with global giants? 

Recent transactions suggest IPL franchises are rapidly closing the gap with global peers. Rajasthan Royals were valued at over $1.63 billion in a recent deal, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru is valued at $1.78 billion.

In comparison, the average NFL franchise is worth $5.1 billion, while top EPL clubs such as Manchester United exceed $6 billion.

Joglekar believes the valuations are backed by strong fundamentals.

“There is a 600–700 million strong cricket fan base in India, and it is increasingly middle-class and consumption-driven,” he said. “This creates strong monetisation opportunities across media rights, sponsorships and fan engagement.”

He also pointed to structural strengths.

“One key factor is India’s strong domestic cricket ecosystem, which continuously produces talent. That is something many other leagues struggle with,” he said.

At the same time, scarcity plays a role.

“Sport is one of the few live human experiences left. There is a scarcity premium, and investors, both domestic and global, are willing to pay for it,” he added. 

What makes IPL different from global leagues? 

The IPL’s structure sets it apart from traditional leagues. While the NFL, NBA and EPL are season-long competitions embedded in sporting calendars, the IPL operates more like a high-impact annual event.

“In terms of media and entertainment, the IPL closely follows global properties. Like the NFL has the Super Bowl halftime show, the IPL has high-impact opening ceremonies and finals entertainment,” Joglekar said.

Few countries have built a sports property of this scale in such a short time.

“In simple terms, if the NFL is a season and the EPL is a calendar, the IPL is an event, and that changes everything.” 

Can IPL become a top-tier global league?

The IPL’s growth trajectory remains strong, driven by India’s expanding digital economy and rising advertiser interest.

Its model is already being replicated globally, from Australia’s Big Bash League to South Africa’s SA20 and leagues in the United States and the Caribbean.

“The IPL model is already being replicated in multiple markets. Investors are building multi-league ownership structures across countries,” Joglekar said.

However, challenges remain.

“There is pressure to expand the number of teams. If the season extends from two months to four or five months, it could dilute brand value, sponsorship intensity and audience engagement,” he warned.

Still, the broader trajectory is clear.

“Today, the IPL is no longer just a domestic league. It is a global sports property, and we are already seeing global investors coming in,” Joglekar said.

The IPL may not yet be the world’s biggest league, but it is already one of its most powerful, and arguably its most efficient.

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.

“Get ready NFL,” an X user commented.

Fans are tagging the official NFL account on X, asking them to make it happen.

Meanwhile, others believe it’s sooner than expected, with many saying it could be a “spoiler” as well.

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.

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.