Profit Players June 12

Author

Nate Rodgers
June 12, 2024

The US Open Looks to Bounce Back

This years US Open Golf tournament is set to start on Thursday this week and it looks to bounce back after last year’s tournament at Los Angeles Country Club. The country club was criticized for being “too easy”. Overall, it fell short of expectations for a U.S. Open test, surrendering two record-breaking rounds of 62 on the first day. Setting aside it being not overly difficult, fans and players alike said that crowds for the historic tournament were smaller than usual. Matt Fitzpatrick, previous US Open winner said, “I wish it would have been louder,I wish it was a few more people. But, yeah, I'm surprised there's not been as many people out as I thought this week.” This years tournament is being held at the historic Pinehurst #2. The venue’s organizers have been doing everything in their power to make this year’s tournament a better experience than last years. This tournament also marks the 1,000th championship hosted by the United States Golf Association (USGA).

Corporate Hospitality and Premium Tickets:

Unlike the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, which had premium offerings only around the driving range, this year features 11 luxury suite boxes throughout the course. Corporate hospitality sales are expected to exceed $23 million, driven by large companies and the willingness of some fans to pay high prices for premium experiences. The USGA introduced the 1895 Club, a high-end hospitality space costing $2,500 per day, offering gourmet dining, a top-shelf open bar, and golf cart shuttle service. Tickets for Thursday and Friday are already sold out, potentially generating $1 million per day.

Broadcast Changes:

NBC Sports' coverage of the U.S. Open will feature a new approach with two lead announcing teams: Dan Hicks and Brandel Chamblee on even-numbered holes, and Mike Tirico and Brad Faxon on odd ones. This follows the departure of former lead golf analyst Paul Azinger and could be a temporary solution. NBC will use the same strategy for the Open Championship next month, with Luke Donald replacing Chamblee. NBC holds USGA rights for two more seasons under a 12-year, $1.1 billion contract. Overall, the U.S. Open promises enhanced viewing experiences and significant corporate engagement, reflecting the growing trend of high-end fan experiences in golf.

Update from Pinehurst on Tuesday:

The NHL has a historic year

The NHL is experiencing significant growth, with 2023-24 regular season attendance hitting a record 22.56 million, revenues reaching $6.2 billion, and playoff viewership averaging 1.3 million per game, the highest since 1996. Despite this, Commissioner Gary Bettman has not initiated any formal expansion process beyond the current 32 teams, though there is notable interest from at least six locations. Other key updates include the 2024-25 salary cap set at $88 million, reflecting strong league revenues, and considerations for staging an NHL game at LoanDepot Park. Additionally, the league and the NHL Players Association have a strong relationship, exemplified by the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off tournament involving players from the U.S., Canada, Finland, and Sweden.

The Utah franchise, which relocated from Arizona in April, is thriving with over 34,000 season ticket deposits and is in the final stages of selecting a team name. The Arizona franchise may be reactivated if a new arena in Phoenix is developed. Smith Entertainment Group announced Thursday the six potential nicknames Utah will take on before its inaugural season begins in 2024-25: Utah Blizzard, Utah Hockey Club (Utah HC), Utah Mammoth, Utah Outlaws, Utah Venom and Utah Yeti. The fan favorite and consensus best pick are the Utah Yeti, but we will see what happens on that front.

The Biggest Upset in Professional Sports History

Not actually, but it is close. The upset that the USA were able to pull off over Pakistan in cricket was remarkable. This was a historic win as it was the teams first T20 World Cup win. Saurabh Netravalkar, a full-time principal member of technical staff at Oracle, played a key role in the win. This upset is significant given Pakistan's stature in cricket and the match that is coming up, India, one of the sport's biggest rivalries. In the U.S., cricket is still growing, and players like power hitter Aaron Jones, who has made a strong impression, hope to raise the sport's profile. The U.S. team, ranked No. 18, will face the world No. 1 team, India, on June 12, followed by a match against Ireland on June 14. The tournament, is being held for the first time in the U.S. and features venues in Florida, Texas, and New York.

The U.S. is hosting its first T20 Cricket World Cup, and the much-anticipated India-Pakistan match will take place at the newly constructed Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in Queens, New York, on Sunday. This match has seen unprecedented demand, with over 6 million people attempting to buy tickets. Resale tickets have reached up to $2,000, with hospitality packages selling for as much as $50,000.

Quick Reads

  • Paul George will serve as a guest analyst on ESPN's NBA Countdown during Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals.

  • Joey Chestnut has been banned from the 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

  • Game 2 of Celtics-Mavericks averaged 12 million viewers on ABC—the most-watched NBA Finals Game 2 in five years.

  • Dan Hurley has turned down a six-year, $70 million offer from the Lakers to comeback to UConn to try at a three peat championship

  • Carlos Alcaraz wins the French Open and became the youngest man in history to win a Grand Slam title on all 3 surfaces

Jobs in Sports

Games of the Week

  • US Open - (Thursday-Sunday)

  • USA vs Brazil - Wednesday @ 7 PM EST

  • Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks - Wednesday @ 8:30 PM EST

  • Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers - Thursday @ 8:30 PM EST

  • Spain vs Croatia - Saturday 12 PM EST

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