After slow-playing its hand for years, Disney is ready to ratchet up its presence in the sports betting industry.

CEO Bob Chapek, speaking at a Goldman Sachs investor conference, recently said that the Mouse will be more “aggressive” in sports betting, namely by exploring partnerships for ESPN.

• ESPN has so far avoided operating its own sportsbook, but is reportedly seeking around $3 billion in a multiyear deal to attach its name to an existing sportsbook.
• Sports Illustrated struck a deal along those lines with 888 Holdings, which included the magazine’s parent company Authentic Brands gaining a 4.9% stake in 888’s U.S. business.
• The U.S. sports betting market could grow to $37 billion by 2025, according to investment manager Ark Invest.

Disney’s broadcast rights include NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, Wimbledon, PGA Tour, and LaLiga. The company is spreading its sports broadcasts beyond ESPN to ABC and Hulu.

Chapek also said that subscription growth had tapered due to pandemic-related production delays, a slow rollout of a new streaming product in Latin America, and the end of a promotion in India. 

Disney had nearly 174 million subscribers across its services — 14.9 million for ESPN+ — at the end of the second quarter.

FIFA’s push to double the frequency of the World Cup to every two years has provoked pushback across Europe.

The European Club Association, a body representing 234 clubs, issued a statement on Friday condemning the proposal and efforts to promote it.

“FIFA’s proposals would lead to a direct and destructive impact on the club game, both domestically and internationally,” the ECA said. “In addition, the proposals would put players’ health and wellbeing at risk.”

The ECA said that FIFA was trying to “railroad” the idea, and that it would “dilute the value and meaning of club and country competitions” and “diminish and conflict with women’s and youth football.”

European soccer’s governing body, UEFA, and South America’s, CONMEBOL, also oppose the idea. UEFA oversees the Euro Cup every four years, which is timed to fall in between World Cups. Both organizations have threatened to boycott extra World Cups.

• The World Cup is by far FIFA’s biggest revenue driver.
• The organization earned $6.4 billion from 2017-2020, over 70% of which came in 2018 when Russia hosted the quadrennial tournament.

The World Cup cost Russia an estimated $14 billion, but added a reported $15 billion to its economy.

Qatar expects a $20 billion economic boost from hosting the 2022 World Cup.

The Chicago Bears could be looking to leave Soldier Field, and sports betting may be at the heart of the move. 

The Bears, who have called Soldier Field home since 1971, submitted a bid in June to purchase Arlington International Racecourse as a potential site for a new stadium. The 326-acre facility is roughly 30 miles north of downtown Chicago. 

Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot says she wants to keep the Bears in the city and is willing to work with the team to improve Soldier Field’s viability as a year-round venue.

The benefits of the Arlington site include expanding stadium capacity, an option to have an enclosed stadium, and a sports betting lounge. 

Bears president Ted Phillips stated that the Chicago Park District has refused “to engage in good faith discussions” about integrating sports betting opportunities at Soldier Field.

Multi-billion dollar, state-of-the-art complexes are becoming more prevalent in the NFL. 

• The $1.15 billion AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, is the largest covered stadium in the world. 
• The Los Angeles Rams and Chargers have called the $5.5 billion SoFi Stadium home since 2020. 
• The Pegulas, owners of the Buffalo Bills, proposed $1.4 billion in total funding for a new stadium, according to Associated Press.

The Bears’ current lease at Soldier Field runs through 2033.

Asaf Peled, CEO of The Players’ Tribune and The Big Lead’s parent company, Minute Media, told Axios the company raised “tens of millions of dollars” in an unreported round, with investments from FanDuel and Wynn.

The funding, which was reportedly raised several quarters ago, builds upon an existing relationship.

• Minute Media launched fantasy sports and sports betting platform The Duel in partnership with FanDuel in 2018. 
• Adam Kaplan, FanDuel’s general manager and vice president, says readers of The Duel have bet over $10 million through FanDuel since 2020.

Minute Media raised $40 million at a valuation thought to be north of $400 million in February 2020. Peled would not disclose the company’s current valuation, but hinted it could be more than $1 billion.

FanDuel recently launched a sports betting partnership with the Associated Press, extending its list of content deals across media. Kaplan said it’s “definitely” looking for more that are similar.

In the first half of 2021, FanDuel’s parent company Flutter recorded a 159% year-over-year increase in revenue to $902.89 million, with the FanDuel brand investing more than $1 billion in marketing since 2018.