Crawford's Sports Business Weekend (2/23/2014)

By Gregory Crawford, Sports Business Analyst----on twitter @crawssportsbiz @wchoops

Big In Texas----We all know everything is big in Texas, if you do not believe that just ask any Texan and they will tell you as such. And things are about to get bigger.

Kyle Stadium, home of Texas A&M football will be getting quite the $450 million renovation. First the stadium will be expanded to 102,500 seats, which will then make Texas A&M the largest college football stadium in the state. It does not stop there, at the same time as seat expansion, the Aggies will put in the largest video board in the college football ranks, moving ahead of arch-rival Texas.

The new video board at Texas A&M will measure 55.5 feet high, 134 feet wide.

Daytona 500----With the Daytona 500 completed for the day, some interesting news on ticket prices. You could have got into one of the world's most famous auto races for $50, that is much below a month past where the average ticket price was $232 and much below the past five year average of $210.

Daytona has reduced the number of seats for the race this year to 145,000 full capacity, which is down from 168,000. By 2016 another 45,000 seats will be lopped off, making sellout capacity of the racetrack just over 100.000. Of course the most expensive seats will not be touched and the race officials are gearing future races as more of a fan total experience, by adding many more musical acts on race day and entertainment in the future.

Cheyenne Woods----With recent win by professional golfer Cheyenne Woods, the niece of the most famous athlete in the world, Tiger Woods,  propel her endorsement career? Woods recently has a big win in the Australian Ladies Masters and then backed it up last week with a great showing in the Australian Open.

Women's golf is starved for a key endorser, Woods might just be the ticket. Her current endorsement deal with Nike is for multi-years, but other sponsors are expected to jump on board soon. Cheyenne is much more engaging with fans, than her famous uncle and of course the Woods' name in golf is always going to be huge. This all keeping in mind, it would take Cheyenne 50 years of catching up, to match her uncle's mammoth fortune from endorsements.

Ed O'Bannon----Ed O' Bannon's class action lawsuit against the NCAA, is now cleared to proceed to trial on June 9th. O'Bannon is suing the NCAA over their restrictions of not allowing NCAA athletes to cash in on their likeness, age and image and this case has gotten huge publicity in the four years plus it has been in the news.

It has been 4 1/2 years since O'Bannon filed his suit and the wait will soon be over. The trial, providing their is no settlement prior is expected to be one of the most watched trials in all of sports law and for sure no matter what the verdict will have a major impact on the future of the NCAA and beyond.

Jay Paterno----Jay Paterno insists he is not going to run revenge campaign against people in government who were highly critical of his famous late father Joe Paterno, after the Jerry Sandusky scandal at Penn State.

Jay Paterno has filed the paper work to run for lieutenant governor in Pennsylvania on the Democratic ticket. The Pennsylvania primary in May is expected to dram a minimum of 10 candidates running for the lieutenant governor position. 

Since leaving the Penn State football staff in 2011, Paterno has been writing a book and also working hard on his foundation, which is helping eradicate malaria in Africa.

Coming Saturday, March 1st, the debut of an exciting new basketball website, The Alford/ Crawford East West Hoops, which will feature all basketball, all the time, with Philadelphia's own Jovan Alford as senior editor and Portland's own Gregory Crawford as the managing editor. Will the bitter rivalry between Philadelphia and Portland ever since the 1977 NBA finals continue? You will just have to check in everyday. Website, http://eastwesthoops.weebly.com

Crawford's Sports Biz 59 Seconds

By Gregory Crawford, Sports Business Analyst @crawssportsbiz

Derek Jeter will make $12 million in his last year with the Yankees, as he moves towards retirement. He will also make in 2014, just over $10 million from endorsement deals he has with companies such as Avon, Nike and Gatorade. That endorsement figure is expected to at least double in 2015, as Jeter will take on a role of top athlete product endorser after his retirement.

Gregory Crawford other sports blogs:

http://gregcrawfordbasketball.blogspot.com
http://crawfordsgolfdaily.blogspot.com

Crawford's Sports Biz 59 Seconds

By Gregory Crawford, Sports Business Analyst-------  on twitter @crawssportsbiz @wchoops

Interesting news on the NFL analyst front. CBS has dropped longtime analysts Shannon Sharpe (10 years) and Dan Marino (12 years). In their place, CBS has added Tony Gonzalez and will soon add another analyst to the fold for their studio shows. 

Do you like these moves?

For more of Gregory Crawford:

http://gregcrawfordbasketball.blogspot.com

http://crawfordsgolfdaily.blogspot.com

Crawford's Sports Biz 59 Seconds

By Gregory Crawford, sports business journalist @crawssportsbiz

Gregory Crawford will be back with Crawford's Sports Biz 59 Seconds on Monday, February 17th, everyday with even better 59 Seconds and also every Sunday, with Crawford's Sports Biz Weekend, an in-depth blog on the world of sports business and beyond.

Thanks for reading, it is greatly appreciated as is your feedback always on what you want to see in the blog. Thank you.

For more reading of Gregory Crawford, coming March 1st, the debut of Alford/Crawford East West Hoops, the most comprehensive dedicated basketball site you will see that will include the NBA, D-League, College and NBA Draft. all on one website.

Craw's Sports Biz 59 Seconds

Greg Crawford covers sports business for Comcast SportsNet and CSNNW.com, you can follow him on twitter @crawssportsbiz and/or @wchoops

Magic Johnson is now part owner of the LA Sparks of the WNBA. He will obviously move the needle in the WNBA. What you do think about this move, if you think anything, or do you not even care?

To read more of Greg Crawford , www.csnnw.com/blog/crawfords-court

Craw's Sports Biz 59 Seconds

Greg Crawford covers sports business for CSNNW.com and you can follow him @wchoops @crawssportsbiz

Today, I hope you can go to www.csnnw.com/blog/crawfords-court to read Craw's Sports Business Weekend for 2/9/2014

Thank you

Craw's Sports Biz 59 Seconds

Greg Crawford covers sports business for Comcast SportsNet and CSNNW.com @crawssportsbiz

At the their recent convention, the NCAA approved Women's Triathlon as an emerging sport, allowing  schools under title IX to give out scholarships for the sport. While this might be slow to start with, triathlons are a great sport for TV. Your thoughts?

To read more of Greg Crawford, please go to www.csnnw.com/blog/crawfords-court

Craw's Sports Biz 59 Seconds

Greg Crawford covers sports business daily for Comcast SportsNet and CSNNW.com @crawssportsbiz

Why this would help college basketball on the economic side. www.csnnw.com/blog/crawfords-court

Greg Crawford covers college basketball, sports business and golf for Comcast SportsNet

Craw's Sports Biz 59 Seconds

Greg Crawford covers sports business for Comcast SportsNet and CSNNW.com @crawssportsbiz

CBS now owns the Thursday night rights for NFL Football. At least eight games. The NFL Network will pick up the remaining six.  In a one year deal, CBS paid $300 million for those rights. Did they make a good deal to televise eight games on Thursdays?

To read more of Greg Crawford, go to CSNNW.com and www.csnnw.com/blog/crawfords-court

Craw's Sports Biz 59 Seconds

Greg Crawford covers sports business for CSNNW.com and Comcast SportsNet @crawssportsbiz

Despite a clunker of a game, the overnight rating for Fox Sports Telecast of the Super Bowl came in at 46.7, that is the fifth highest rating for a Super Bowl on TV and down one percent from last year's game.

Greg Crawford can be read at CSNNW.com, www.csnnw.com/blog/crawfords-court

Craw's Sports Biz 59 Seconds

Greg Crawford covers sports business for CSNNW.com @crawssportsbiz

It is Sunday, that means it is time for Craw's Sports Business Weekend on CSNNW.com and you can read it at www.csnnw.com/blog/crawfords-court

Craw's Sports Biz 59 Seconds

By Greg Crawford, sports business insider for CSNNW.com and Comcast SportsNet @crawssportsbiz

Legendary sports marketer and accomplished author Jon Spoelstra has done it again. The Ultimate Tool Kit is sure to move the sports business needle for years to come, www.theultimatetoolkit.com.

Greg Crawford covers sports business, golf and college basketball for CSNNW.com and Comcast SportsNet