The New York Yankees are in advanced talks to raise nearly $3B in financing from Apollo Global Management, per SBJ, which cites sources saying the two are “discussing the terms of a package comprising mostly debt and also some equity.” Some of the funds raised are expected to be utilized to refinance existing debt, with the remainder earmarked for growth opportunities. Deliberations are “ongoing and no final decisions on the size or structure of the financing have been made.” If the deal goes ahead, it would mark Apollo’s “biggest investment” in U.S. sports to date. (link)

Fox Sports EVP of Strategy and Analytics Ben Valenta joined the Digital and Social Media Sports Podcast with host Neil Horowitz to dissect the sociological framework driving modern sports fandom. Valenta detailed his research proving that fan engagement is fundamentally a "belonging engine" that facilitates stronger social connections and measurably improves wellness outcomes like happiness and confidence. He also challenged the industry's traditional "zero to one" customer acquisition strategies, arguing that networks and leagues waste resources attempting to convert non-sports fans when data indicates existing fans are highly likely to adopt additional sports. More takeaways…

➤ On why acquiring non-fans is an inefficient use of resources: "It's much easier to get someone who's already in the tent, who's already got the TV on the NFL game to watch longer, to watch the first quarter of the next game. Right? That's a much easier proposition than trying to convince someone who doesn't engage with the NFL to watch one game. That idea of going from zero to one is really difficult, right? Going from three to four is relatively much easier."

➤ Fandom operating horizontally across multiple sports: "The reality is that fandom in this country is much more helpful and accurate to think about it as a horizontal thing. ... The people who are most engaged ... are the most likely to engage with the next sport. And in fact, the more sports you add to someone's repertoire as a fan, the more likely they are to be a fan of the next sport."

➤ On the misconception that kids are no longer sports fans: "I think a lot of times what's taken hold in this conversation is like all kids these days they root for players not teams. They only watch highlights. They can't sit through a game. ... And that's because they're not by comparison to a 40-year-old really big fans. Like this is a thing. This is an activity that you are socialized into. It takes years, if not decades, to really reach peak fandom."

➤ The distinction between strong-tie and weak-tie social interactions: "When sociologists look at this, they describe two different types of connections. You have strong tie connections and weak tie connections. Strong tie connections are your family, your spouse, your partner, your closest friends. ... I would put the community you're trying to find online most likely somewhere on the periphery of that weak tie group. ... It's nowhere near as meaningful and deep and profound as the strong tie interactions." (link)

What can we learn from the massive growth of Fanatics Fest? Puck's John Ourand catches up with Fanatics Studios CEO Michael Ratner and Fanatics Events CEO Lance Fensterman for insights on the sold-out event that started today in New York City’s Javits Center…

➤ Fensterman on building a Coachella for sports fans: "There are fan fests—MLB does an amazing one at All-Star—but there was no unifying platform that brought together fans of all different leagues, sports, and teams to celebrate fandom where sports, collectibles, and culture collide. So the hypothesis was, we wanted to be the ones to build that platform—like South by Southwest, CES, Comic-Con, or Coachella—for sports fans."

➤ Ratner on integrating brands like Starbucks and Dick's Sporting Goods into content: "If you subtly integrate your brand into content that’s entertaining rather than a commercial telling someone to buy something, it lifts your brand, and you blend the audience and the customer without them even being hyperaware. So everybody wins."

➤ Ratner on the evolution of the festival from a traditional trade show: "Turning this from a trade show into an absolute sports festival and spectacle has been magical, and it keeps getting bigger organically. Every sport is there, the biggest stars in the world—LeBron, K.D., you name it—are on panels. It’s not just more commoditized content you could watch on your laptop; it’s stuff you want to be part of, a real community experience." (link)

SBJ’s Josh Carpenter breaks down The R&A's new multi-tiered hospitality structure for the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, noting the company is introducing four roaming-access categories labeled Signature, Platinum, Premium, and Select. Here’s what you need to know…

➤ R&A Chief Commercial Officer Neil Armit projects 16,000 fans will utilize the premium options as the governing body anticipates a record-breaking crowd of 300,000, eclipsing the previous 290,000 mark established at St. Andrews in 2022 and surpassing the 235,000 drawn during the course's last hosting turn in 2017. 

➤ The ticketing adjustments and multi-venue hospitality upgrades are expected to drive a 25% revenue increase over last year's event at Royal Portrush, supplemented by eight Patron sponsorships from brands like Accenture, Rolex, and Mastercard paying between $4M and $7M annually alongside nine official suppliers. 

➤ Armit on how the new strategy captures broader industry momentum: "We’ve certainly seen just an uptick in interest. Probably over the last few years you’ve seen a real, even further elevation of the majors as well and the interest and the appetite, the very best fields coming together and just I think the game being seen as being just a bit cooler now than it was probably 10 years or so ago. And so I think all of that, and I think the experience we’re delivering at the Open, that’s all contributed." (link)

➤ Carpenter also shares a drone’s-eye view of The Shop, a 24K-sq-ft retail space at Royal Birkdale. (link)

Los Angeles Dodgers President/CEO Stan Kasten joined the Sports Business Radio podcast to discuss the franchise's sustained success and the unprecedented financial impact of superstar Shohei Ohtani. Key notes…

➤ On the surge in daily offseason merchandise revenue: "We do tours in four languages 365 days a year. It's a big business. And they stop in our store. In January, our store is open every day. And before Shohei got here, we would do about $3,000 a day in the store. And Shohei's first off season, we did $30,000 a day. So he has an impact that we could not have predicted."

➤ Selling 4,000 hats per night despite existing market saturation: "I'll tell you an interesting stat that I was surprised at myself. Everyone in Los Angeles has a Dodger hat, right? I mean, everyone. If you go to the game, you have a Dodger hat. You bring it with you, right? And yet, we still sell Dodger hats every night. How many? 4,000 hats every night. That's the average over the course of a season. That's impossible." (link)

Charlotte FC will eliminate Personal Seat Licenses and reduce next year's season ticket prices by an average of 6% to combat declining attendance, according to Charlotte Business Journal’s Erik Spanberg, who notes parent company Tepper Sports & Entertainment will issue credits toward future season tickets to the 15K current PSL owners. Spanberg also reports that Charlotte FC maintains a top-five MLS attendance ranking and a sponsorship portfolio anchored by Ally Financial, but the original 2021 PSL mandate drove consumer backlash in a league where no other organization requires the fee. Home attendance dropped 16% between 2023 and 2025 to 30,664 fans per game, while season ticket sales fell between 15% and 25%. Spanberg: "PSLs are widely accepted in the NFL and other sports leagues, but remain anathema to soccer fans and clubs. ... And while Charlotte FC overcame those initial setbacks to become a top draw in MLS, fans remained frustrated and dropped off in subsequent seasons." (link)

Reddit Co-Founder & notable sports investor Alexis Ohanian joined TBPN to discuss the booming value of live sporting events and the societal impact of sports betting. Ohanian detailed how the rise of artificial intelligence will paradoxically increase the value of live, verifiable human experiences, driving his firm to invest heavily in women's sports properties like Angel City FC and the newly launched Athlos track and field league. Here’s what Ohanian had to say…

➤ "In the world of entertainment…what will remain unchanged and durable in the age of AI, even when you can have a pixel perfect highlight of Mbappe scoring a goal, it will do nothing for the soul because it never actually happened the human experience is the reason why it's valuable."

➤ On professional sports franchises operating with outdated technology: "What we've been privileged to see now for three, four, five, six years is under the hood of these organizations…the best sports teams in the world, the best sports leagues in the world are run like a tech company in like the mid odds. They are devoid of modern technology."

➤ Preferring prediction markets over traditional sportsbooks: "I have no beef with betting or gambling. I think in models where the house always wins, that does not stir my coco because now you're just weaponizing sort of slot machine tactics to bring someone back who probably shouldn't be investing that next dollar ... I think prediction markets are unique in that it is peer-to-peer and I feel less distaste around, hey, someone made a better decision than you did today." (link)

SBJ’s Austin Karp unpacks a multiyear agreement between the NBA, the WNBA, and TikTok that combines creator access to events with live-game discovery through the TikTok GamePlan suite. The partnership integrates advertising opportunities via TikTok Pulse Premiere and aims to capitalize on internal data showing fans are 42% more likely to tune into live broadcasts after viewing sports content on the application. The NBA recently utilized the product suite during the NBA Finals to generate 497M impressions on an in-app Anchor and Detail Page, alongside an NBA Finals Search Hub that delivered 426K direct referrals through the league's Tap to Watch feature. Karp notes the partnership arrives as the NBA formalizes expansion plans for NBA Europe, leaning on a digital ecosystem of 1B total users where nearly half follow basketball, one-third express specific interest in the NBA, and 64% of women seeking sports content choose TikTok. Global interest for the NBA and WNBA on the platform reached 30% and 15%, respectively, since the start of 2026, building upon the 30M combined followers currently tracking the two official league accounts. (link)

Starbucks is developing proprietary artificial intelligence platforms to replace existing Microsoft and IBM inventory and maintenance systems as part of a broader $2B operational cost-reduction initiative, according to Simply Wall St. reporter Bailey Pemberton, who notes the overhaul specifically targets Starbucks’ $400M annual software budget to establish greater internal control over data and workflows. The transition away from established enterprise vendors arrives as the company navigates a negative shareholder equity position and a tight 3.9% net margin, though the stock recently rebounded to $106.41 to post a 9.2% return over the past 30 days. Pemberton on why the change alters the corporation's financial positioning: "For you as an investor, this AI-driven rebuild is less about headline technology and more about what it could mean for Starbucks' recurring cost base and operating flexibility over time. The company's push toward digital independence may also affect how it negotiates with large vendors and how quickly it can adjust store operations as conditions change." (link)

Interested in advertising a job opening in CRO.ticker on CollegeSports.jobs? Submit your position here.

(Posted from most recent over the last 15 days)

(NEW!) Communications Intern (Big Sky Conference / Farmington, UT): Assisting staff with day-to-day video needs, which includes producing, editing, and filming content for the Big Sky's social media channels (over 150 million impressions in 2025-26). More details HERE.

(NEW!) Business Specialist (Rutgers University / Piscataway, NJ): This position will report to the Asst Director-Supervisor and assist in day to day business operations including athletics general accounting and procurement (P2P). More details HERE.

(NEW!) Coordinator, Major Gifts (University of Arizona / Tucson, AZ): Join Arizona Athletics as Coordinator of Major Gifts, creating meaningful donor recognition experiences and strengthening relationships that fuel championship excellence. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Senior Associate Athletic Director and CFO for Athletics (Georgia Southern University / Statesboro, GA): Oversee budget, financial, business, and accounting functions for the assigned division(s) to effectively ensure overall fiscal alignment with university goals, policies, and procedures. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Statesboro? Click HERE.

(NEW!) Director of Ticket Sales (University of Missouri / Columbia, MO): Leads the department's ticket sales strategy and revenue generation through ticket sales initiatives to maximize revenue across all sports through season tickets, premium, and group sales. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Assistant Director of Marketing & Fan Experience (University of Nebraska / Lincoln, NE): Assist in the planning and execution of marketing responsibilities surrounding 25 varsity sports with Nebraska Athletics. UNL ranked among the best places to work in the state and the nation! More details HERE.

(NEW!) Assistant Director of Athletic Communications (University of Colorado – Boulder / Boulder, CO): The Buffs are looking for an Assistant Director/Athletic Communications to work with our women's basketball program, be primary contact on other varsity sports and run our student assistant program. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Broadcast Engineer (San Diego State University / San Diego, CA): Play a key role in bringing the excitement of Aztec Athletics to fans while working alongside a talented team in one of the nation's premier collegiate athletics programs. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Director, Creative Media - Football (University of Wyoming / Laramie, WY): Leads, executes, and manages creative services strategy for the University of Wyoming football program. More details HERE. 

(NEW!) Video Coordinator - Athletics (Missouri State University / Springfield, MO): The Video Coordinator will plan, shoot, edit, and produce all video content used by the Athletics department in support of the promotion and success of its intercollegiate athletics programs. More details HERE. 

(NEW!) Assistant Director, Athletic Communications (Bowling Green State University / Bowling Green, OH): This individual serves as the chief media relations director for several sports within the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. More details HERE. 

(NEW!) Director of Bronco Productions, Creative Media, & Digital Strategy (Western Michigan University / Kalamazoo, MI): Develops and executes creative media and digital content strategies. Oversees video/digital content planning, production, and distribution. Directs all aspects of video content creation. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Director, Major Gifts (University of Arizona / Tucson, AZ): Join Arizona Athletics and help fuel championship excellence by building meaningful donor relationships and securing major gifts that support scholarships, programs, and facilities. More details HERE.

Manager, Ticket Sales & Service (Georgia Tech / Atlanta, GA): Strategic business leader for ticket sales, CRM, analytics, and revenue optimization across the Legends Global partnership with Georgia Tech Athletics. More details HERE.

Marketing Coordinator (College Coaches Skills Camp (CCSC) / Remote): You’ll work directly with the CEO to execute the company’s marketing vision while owning the day-to-day execution of the marketing engine that drives athlete registrations. More details HERE.  

Assistant Director of Development, Leadership Giving (University of Texas – Austin / Austin, TX): This position is in charge of maximizing revenues from leadership fundraising initiatives, including capital, DeLoss Dodds Leadership Team, the United Texas Circle, and endowed giving opportunities. More details HERE.

Ticketing and Digital Communications Specialist (Bowling Green State University / Bowling Green, OH): Oversee email marketing efforts for the BGSU Ticket Office, which includes but not limited to, development of email campaigns and ticketing communications More details HERE.

Associate Athletic Director for Development and Strategic Partnerships (University of South Carolina – Upstate / Spartanburg, SC): The Associate Athletic Director for Development and Strategic Partnerships will be responsible for the coordination and management of a comprehensive and ongoing revenue generation program. More details HERE.

Director of Business Operations (HR Title: Budget Analyst I) - (ATH00000496) (Southern Methodist University – SMU / Dallas, TX): This role will work primarily with coaches, staff and University business and finance partners to assist in financial needs and developing internal mechanisms to increase organizational efficiencies. More details HERE.

Director of Football Finance (University of Oklahoma / Norman, OK): The Director of Football Finance provides strategic financial oversight across all aspects of football operations. More details HERE. 

Deputy Athletics Director for External Operations (0089300) (University of Hawaii at Manoa / Honolulu, HI): Serves as a member of the executive leadership team and provides strategic oversight of external operations. Responsible revenue generation, brand visibility, and engagement key stakeholders. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Honolulu? Click HERE.

Assistant Athletic Director for Development (University of Central Arkansas / Conway, AR): Leading the athletic development efforts to maximize revenue for our 18 Division I programs located in Conway, Arkansas. More details HERE.

Assistant Director Tide Pride Annual Giving (University of Alabama / Tuscaloosa, AL): This position generates annual giving revenue for Tide Pride and the Crimson Tide Foundation. More details HERE.

Assistant Director of Creative Content (United States Naval Academy / Annapolis, MD): The NAAA has an opening for the Asst. Dir. of Creative Content in charge of producing high-level video content for Navy Athletics that includes shooting and editing dynamic pieces for all platforms. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Director, Marketing (MARKETING SPEC 3) jOB # 87306 (University of California – Davis / Davis, CA): The Assistant Athletic Director, Marketing serves as the primary brand steward for UC Davis Athletics and our sport programs, driving strategy that illuminates the brand and department initiatives. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletics Director for Ticket Sales and Operations (University of Arkansas / Fayetteville, AR): The Assistant Athletic Director for Ticket Sales and Operations will oversee the day-to-day operations of both the ticket sales team and the ticket operations team. More details HERE.

Deputy Athletic Director for Business Strategy/CFO (University of California – Santa Barbara / Santa Barbara, CA): Athletics CFO leads finance/operations, budgeting, controls, sustainability, campus partnerships, revenue growth, and NCAA NIL strategy. More details HERE.

Associate Athletic Director for Development (University of the Pacific / Stockton, CA): The Associate Athletic Director for Development leads Athletics fundraising with a primary focus on securing major gifts. More details HERE.

Director of Social Media (United States Naval Academy / Annapolis, MD): The NAAA is hiring a Director of Social Media who will develop and implement plans for department-wide use and advising the department on best strategies. More details HERE.

Assistant Director of VFL Films (Men's Basketball) (University of Tennessee / Knoxville, TN): The position will serve as a video content creator for Tennessee Athletics with an emphasis on Men's Basketball, as well as other department initiatives as assigned by VFL Films. More details HERE.

Assistant Director of VFL Films (Volleyball) (University of Tennessee / Knoxville, TN): The position will serve as a video content creator for Tennessee Athletics with an emphasis on Women's Volleyball, as well as other department initiatives as assigned by VFL Films. More details HERE.

Director of Photography, Athletics (Wake Forest University / Winston-Salem, NC): This position will provide leadership, organization, and direction for Wake Forest Athletics photography, including project management for gameday freelance photography role. More details HERE.

Deputy Athletic Director - Strategy & Operations (University of North Carolina at Charlotte / Charlotte, NC): The Deputy AD–Strategy & Operations is a core member of the leadership team to the Director of Athletics, managing daily operations of the AD’s office and executing departmental priorities. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Charlotte? Click HERE.

Director of Social Media, Women’s Basketball / Media Specialist II (T0001) (Longwood University / Farmville, VA): Drive the digital presence of Longwood Women’s Basketball by creating engaging social media, video, photo, and graphic content that elevates the program and its student-athletes. More details HERE.

Assistant Director Broadcasting and Video Services (Stetson University / DeLand, FL): Supports the effective operation of all aspects of broadcast video production, in-venue video display, and related services. More details HERE.

Senior Director of Strategic Communications (American Conference / Irving, TX): The Senior Director of Strategic Communications serves as the conference’s primary strategic communications leader and day-to-day media spokesperson More details HERE.

Athletic Creative Content Graduate Assistant (Ball State University / Muncie, IN): GA for Graphic Design/Multimedia to generate social media and website content for BSU Athletics. More details HERE.

Sports Information Graduate Assistant (Ball State University / Muncie, IN): GA position in Sports Information/Media Relations. Will serve as primary sports information director, for two BSU sports programs (likely soccer/softball). More details HERE.

Senior Multimedia Designer (University of Virginia / Charlottesville, VA): The Senior Designer crafts & tells the visual story of Virginia Athletics and each of its 27 sport programs and external constituencies with a focus on digital marketing, recruiting, & branding. More details HERE.

Director of Strategic Resource & Cap Management (Purdue University / West Lafayette, IN): Responsible for the administration of student-athlete revenue sharing agreements. Admin for CAPS system ensuring correct & timely payments of revenue sharing agreements through the B1G Conference. More details HERE.

Assistant Director, Athletics Marketing (Eastern Michigan University / Ypsilanti, MI): This position serves as the marketing and game presentation lead for assigned sports, which includes comprehensive efforts related to social media, advertising, and promotional planning. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Director - Social Media Strategy & Content (Illinois State University / Normal, IL): This position will oversee all social media strategy for ISU Athletics, and control all of the athletics accounts. More details HERE.

Manager of Digital Marketing and Advertising (Georgia Tech / Atlanta, GA): This position is responsible for developing, executing, and optimizing email campaigns to drive ticket sales, sponsorship revenue, fundraising, retail sales, and customer engagement. More details HERE.

Athletics Business Operations Coordinator (University of Miami / Coral Gables, FL): Reporting to the Director of Business Operations, within the Department of Athletics, this role serves as a key resource in ensuring compliance, efficiency, and accuracy across business functions. More details HERE.

Director of Athletics Communications (James Madison University / Harrisonburg, VA): JMU Athletics is seeking a Director of Athletics Communications to lead the JMU Athletics Communications team in executing strategies for the betterment of the JMU Athletics brand More details HERE.

Senior Associate Athletics Director, Chief Marketing Officer (Syracuse University / Syracuse, NY): Syracuse University Athletics is seeking a bold, innovative, and fan-centric leader to serve as Senior Associate Athletics Director, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Syracuse? Click HERE.

Account Executive, Ticket Sales (University of Arizona / Tucson, AZ): Fuel the future of Arizona Athletics by driving ticket sales, growing fan engagement, and delivering exceptional service from first contact to game day. More details HERE.

Assistant Athletics Director of Marketing and Fan Experience (Utah State University / Logan, UT): This position develops and implements strategic marketing plans to increase attendance and revenue while enhancing the fan experience through game scripting, production and in-game entertainment. More details HERE.

Strategic Communications Assistant (University of North Carolina at Charlotte / Charlotte, NC): The Charlotte 49ers are seeking a highly-motivated, organized individual to serve an internship in the area of Strategic Communications for the 2026-27 academic year. More details HERE.

Athletics Director of Business Operations and Finance (Wichita State University / Wichita, KS): Responsible for leading revenue generation, partnerships, and operational strategy to maximize performance, strengthen collaboration, & align execution with the Athletics Department’s operating model. More details HERE.

Assistant Director of Corporate Development (University of Dayton / Dayton, OH): You will be responsible for the day-to-day management and fulfillment of the Division of Athletics’ corporate partner portfolios and assisting in other revenue generating ventures. More details HERE.

Assistant Director, Marketing & Fan Engagement (University of Arizona / Tucson, AZ): Be the driving force behind game day energy! Lead marketing and promotions for assigned sports, collaborating across teams to create unforgettable fan experiences and grow the Wildcat fan base. More details HERE.

Account Executive, Premium Sales & Service (University of Central Florida / Orlando, FL): This position’s primary responsibility is to maximize attendance and revenue generation for UCF Athletics through outbound sales of various ticket products. More details HERE.

AVP and Director of Athletics (California State University – Bakersfield / Bakersfield, CA): Provide visionary leadership for CSUB's NCAA Division I athletics program, fostering competitive excellence, academic achievement, fiscal stewardship, fundraising, and community engagement. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Bakersfield? Click HERE. The D1.dossier for this position is available HERE.

Assistant Director, Marketing & Fan Engagement (University of Arizona / Tucson, AZ): Be the driving force behind game day energy! Lead marketing and promotions for assigned sports, collaborating across teams to create unforgettable fan experiences and grow the Wildcat fan base. More details HERE.

Associate Director, Strategic Communications (University of Arizona / Tucson, AZ): Join Arizona Athletics to craft impactful stories, lead media relations, and bring championship moments to life through strategic communications and digital media. (Baseball & Assigned Olympic Sports) More details HERE.

Senior Associate Athletic Director Intercollegiate Sports (United States Air Force Academy / Colorado Springs, CO): Perform sports administration duties in the Department of Athletics, United States Air Force Academy and is the Sports Administrator. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Colorado Springs? Click HERE.

Director of Marketing & Revenue Generation (University of North Carolina at Charlotte / Charlotte, NC): This position is responsible for creating a first-class marketing experience for all athletics stakeholders through the implementation of fan engagement and revenue generation strategies and tactics. More details HERE.

Senior Associate Athletic Director, External Affairs (Le Moyne College / Syracuse, NY): This position is a key member of the Athletic leadership team, responsible for the strategic vision, oversight, and execution of all external units within Le Moyne College Athletics. More details HERE.

Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs (Bradley University / Peoria, IL): This position provides executive leadership in donor engagement, departmental administration, fiscal oversight, contract management, strategic partnerships, and sport supervision. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Peoria? Click HERE.

Director of Ticket Operations - Athletics (West Virginia University / Morgantown, WV): Manages Mountaineer Ticket Office operations, including ticket sales, distribution, revenue collection, customer service, and coordination with Athletics and campus partners. More details HERE.

Assistant Ticket Office Manager (University of Montana / Missoula, MT): The Assistant Ticket Office Manager assists with the management and operation of ticketing functions for events including athletics, touring concerts, other live entertainment and special events. More details HERE.

Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications (University of San Diego / San Diego, CA): The Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications serves as the primary marketing and fan engagement leads for assigned athletics programs. More details HERE.