Ben Fischer

Manhattan

Staff Writer at Sports Business Journal

I cover the NFL and other important sports business news for @SBJ. Iced coffee enthusiast. Opinions are my own.

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Articles

UFL enlists Pizza Hut as sponsor, plans giveaway

3 days ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Ben Fischer

Pizza Hut will give away $20,000 worth of pizzas this weekend to activate its new sponsorship of the United Football League, the parties will announce today. Pizza Hut has become the exclusive pizza and wings sponsor of the two-year old spring football league. Terms were not disclosed. It will also be the presenting sponsor of “UFL Fox Friday,” league co-owner Fox Sports’ weekly flagship UFL game broadcast window at 8pm ET.
Stifel, US Ski & Snowboard renew pact through 2034

3 days ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Ben Fischer

The investment bank Stifel will announce today that it has extended its sponsorship deal with U.S. Ski & Snowboard through the 2034 Salt Lake City Winter Games, a deal the governing body calls its “most expansive partnership” ever. Officials declined to comment on financial terms, but a source said the total price over the eight-year term -- the current contract runs through the ’26 Winter Games -- is close to $100M.
Bills lock up Verizon as second founding sponsor to new Highmark Stadium

4 days ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Ben Fischer

The Bills will announce today that Verizon has signed on as the new Highmark Stadium’s second founding sponsor, joining Ticketmaster in that premium tier. Verizon gets the category designation of official 5G network, mirroring its NFL-level deal, and is providing all wireless communications infrastructure in the new stadium, set to open in mid-2026. Long before this sponsorship deal was done, Verizon -- already a Bills sponsor -- has been involved in the design and construction.
Whitesell launching WIN Sports Group, with eye on making football players global stars

4 days ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Ben Fischer

In Patrick Whitesell’s estimation, the business potential of representing NFL players in 2025 looks like the business potential of representing music, film and TV stars in the late 2000s, when Whitesell and Ari Emanuel formed WME. In other words, the former Endeavor executive chairman says, an already-lucrative industry is undergoing changes that will give individual stars much more power and wealth.
Sources: PGA Tour also eyeing top NFL exec, former Ticketmaster chairman for CEO spot

6 days ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Josh Carpenter |Ben Fischer |Bret McCormick

Two more high-ranking sports industry executives have surfaced as possibilities for the PGA Tour’s CEO role, according to sources familiar with the search. Sources across both golf and the NFL said the tour has continued to show interest in NFL Chief Media & Business Officer Brian Rolapp, while sources said Jared Smith, the former Ticketmaster chairman, also is on the tour’s short list.
SBJ Football: David Hill’s impact on NFL coverage

1 week ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Ben Fischer

Hill made the highlight reel that helped Fox land its first deal with the NFL in 1994.
David Hill’s contributions, leadership helped shape NFL coverage for decades

1 week ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Ben Fischer

David Hill is SBJ’s Lifetime Achievement Award winner this year, and my colleague Bill King profiled the longtime Fox Sports chief this week, with numerous ties to Hill’s work with the NFL. As King writes, Hill was getting ready for a week of Premier League matches at the start of December 1993 when Rupert Murdoch summoned him to L.A. to prepare a pitch to convince the NFL’s broadcast committee that Fox had the bandwidth to not only deliver, but also elevate, a full slate of Sunday games.
Late NFL agent Jeff Sperbeck remembered for ‘genial nature,’ being ‘incredibly gracious’

1 week ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Ben Fischer

In the days leading up to the 1997 NFL Draft, then-Denver Post reporter Adam Schefter drove to Boulder for an interview with top Colorado prospect Rae Carruth. At the front door to Carruth’s apartment, Schefter met his contact for the meeting, Carruth’s agent Jeff Sperbeck. They knocked and waited. And waited some more. Several hours went by before Carruth finally appeared. With no Wi-Fi or cellphones, there was no way to find Carruth -- or even work -- while they waited.
Hawaii Tourism Authority sponsors LA Rams' minicamp in Maui

1 week ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Ben Fischer

The Rams will take their June mandatory minicamp to Maui as part of a new sponsorship deal with the Hawaii Tourism Authority, believed to be the first time a team has turned offseason practice into a revenue-generating asset. The June 16-19 trip is designed to directly drive business to the state in the form of bringing 500 people west -– including Rams players, coaches, support staff and guests -- and to give Rams fans everywhere the idea to book a trip for themselves.
Fitch Ratings issues 'A' rating for new NFL debt of $150M

1 week ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Ben Fischer

Fitch Ratings has issued an “A” rating to $150 million in additional debt taken out by unknown NFL teams in February, citing the league’s strong present-day finances, long-term contracts and conservative debt policies. Fitch rates the NFL’s outlook as stable.