Caesars Entertainment is nearing a deal that will make the betting house the naming rights sponsor of the Superdome for the next 20 years, The Athletic reports.
Why it matters: This would be the first gaming-related naming rights deal in the NFL, which only recently loosened restrictions on teams aligning with betting companies.
The beauty of March Madness is in the diversity of its participants, evidenced by the remaining schools' total athletic department expenses.
By the numbers: The Sweet 16 runs the gamut from behemoths like FSU ($198.4 million in fiscal year 2019) to this year's Cinderella, Oral Roberts ($12.1 million).
Fitness centers are in trouble, especially in the U.S., according to a new report that surveyed nearly 12,000 gym members.
What we're hearing: "The data over the past year is clear, the situation hasn’t improved," Nick Rizzo, fitness research director at RunRepeat, says in an email.
The Tokyo Olympic torch relay began Thursday in Fukushima prefecture, Japan, one year after the world’s largest sporting event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the record: The relay underscores the Japanese government's resolve to forge ahead with the Olympics despite the pandemic. Confirmed deaths from the coronavirus in Japan remain under 9,000, but officials are still reporting more than 1,000 new cases a day — prompting health experts to warn that "a fourth wave is in sight," per the New York Times.
Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson faces 16 lawsuits in Harris County, Texas, from women alleging sexual assault and harassment, after two new suits were filed on Tuesday, the NFL announced.
Why it matters: Watson has been called a "serial predator," per a lawsuit filed Monday night. Accusers have called his behavior "part of a disturbing pattern," CNN writes, though the QB has denied the accusations.
A new era of sports fandom is upon us, one in which fans increasingly come for snacks (highlights) instead of meals (live games).
By the numbers: Among U.S. sports fans ages 18–34, 58% of MLB fans, 54% of NBA fans and 48% of NFL fans say they prefer watching highlights to full games, according to a survey by Variety Intelligence Platform.
