December 2024
Dominican slugger lands $1.2b record sports deal
Superstar Juan Soto made history after agreeing to the contract – the largest ever in professional sports – with the New York Mets, according to media reports.
- Ronald Blum
January 2024
Flooding of Saudi money into tennis is ‘inevitable’, warns Wozniacki
The former women’s No.1 is the second active player to address Rafael Nadal’s move to become an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation.
- Updated
- Gus McCubbing
Billionaires Island draws super rich to secluded Dubai enclave
Dubai’s property market recently broke a decade-long record for home sales as the local government relaxed visa laws and introduced permits for jobseekers.
- Ben Bartenstein
December 2023
This Japanese baseballer could be more valuable than Taylor Swift
Japanese star Shohei Ohtani has signed a ten-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, believed to be the largest individual sports deal in the world.
- David Brandt
September 2023
Alan Joyce failed loyal customers, and nine more great opinions reads
Companies that play hardball with customers, can’t win, Qantas chairman Richard Goyder says it’s time for humility, and understanding how the PM has diminished the Yes vote.
10 questions: John Farnham, interest rates, Burning Man
Have you been paying attention this week? Test your knowledge across politics, business and world news.
- Ingrid Fuary-Wagner
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Ronaldo’s $313m contract shows why it’s time to worry about oil
The extension of oil production cuts by Saudi Arabia has a connection to its huge investment in sports. And it could be bad news for central banks.
- James Thomson
August 2023
Neymar makes $152m Saudi switch as kingdom’s ambitions grow
The Brazilian soccer star has reportedly signed with the Saudi league after agreeing a deal with Paris St Germain.
- Fahad Abuljadayel
Why Saudi Arabia is spending a fortune on luring big sporting names
The kingdom says the splurge will help its plan to diversify its economy away from oil. But critics say it amounts to “sportswashing”.
- The Economist
June 2023
Who are the world’s highest-paid golfers?
Tiger Woods has earned roughly $US1.8 billion during his professional golf career.
- Updated
- Reuters
- Opinion
- World golf
PGA merger with LIV Golf is only the beginning
Owning a professional sports team or league is a means for wealth to project status and soft power. It was just a matter of time before Saudi Arabia joined in.
- Adam Minter
Saudi’s LIV Golf to spend billions in shock merger with PGA Tour
The surprise tie-up ends a seismic dispute and underscores how the Middle East kingdom’s money is increasingly influencing sports around the world.
- Updated
- Alan Blinder
April 2023
- Opinion
- Mergers & acquisitions
Could Manchester United be worth $9b?
The famed football club is up for sale. Even though the numbers don’t add up, it could be the most expensive sports deal ever.
- Aaron Patrick
January 2023
A-League heavyweight pours cold water on Ronaldo rumour mill
A-League club owner Paul Lederer says no local club could ever have afforded Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portuguese star’s messy exit from Manchester United.
- Gus McCubbing
December 2022
How Cristiano Ronaldo saved Piers Morgan’s new TV show
It remains to be seen whether the Ronaldo interview turns out to be a high-water mark for Rupert Murdoch’s TalkTV, or one of many viral hits.
- William Turvill
Mbappé and France put World Cup finalists on notice
In the nearly 100 years of the World Cup, only two countries have won titles back to back. Could France become the third?
- James Wagner
November 2022
Ronaldo steals credit as Portugal advance
Portugal became the third team to reach the last 16 after France and Brazil.
- Steve Douglas
Manchester United owners consider selling, Ronaldo exits
The American Glazer family confirms it is looking for outside investors or a potential disposal of the club after 17 contentious years.
- Updated
- Ken Ferris
August 2022
Why crypto companies are spending billions on sport
The big players are moving aggressively to match the marketing muscle of carmakers and beer brands but after recent market turmoil their largesse may prove fleeting.
- Kim Bhasin
September 2021
- Opinion
- Cryptocurrencies
Aussie’s investment in soccer star NFTs could be best seed deal ever
In early 2019, Chris Hitchen backed little-known electronic soccer star trading card start-up Sorare. Its growth has since exploded, and it is now worth $US4.3 billion.
- Adir Shiffman