📰🏟️ NFL turf wars

Good evening. Welcome back to another week of interesting and relevant sports stories. Let’s ride.

—Peter & Kyle

1) MLB fan interest continued to grow in 2025

Newly published data for the MLB’s 2025 regular season shows that viewership grew significantly YoY for all three national TV partners—ESPN (+21%), Fox (+9%), and TBS (+29%)—while regional sports networks saw a 2% increase. The MLB also saw a modest attendance bump in 2025, marking three straight years of growth for the first time since 2007. This new data comes as the MLB playoffs kicked off today with four Wild Card games.

See how the playoffs are going

2) Minnesota Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov signs richest deal in NHL history

Earlier today, the 28-year-old star left-winger signed an eight-year, $136 million contract extension with the Wild that will keep him in Minnesota through the 2033-24 season. Kaprizov’s average annual value of $17 million and total contract dollars are both the highest in NHL history—though his record isn’t likely to stand for long, with Oilers superstar Connor McDavid also expected to get ‘puck-you’ money when he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Explore Kaprizov’s deal

3) CFB analyst Paul Finebaum considers run for US Senate

On Monday, the SEC Network host said that he would consider leaving ESPN to run for one of Alabama’s two seats in the US Senate, with a final decision expected within 30-45 days. Finebaum said he hadn't previously considered entering politics, but the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk was the impetus for him to give it more thought. If he decides to do so, Finebaum would run as a Republican to fill the Senate seat vacated by former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville, who has said that he'll run for Alabama governor in 2026.

Read the Fine print

4) Malik Nabers’ injury reignites NFL grass vs. turf debate

The New York Giants star WR was confirmed to have suffered a season-ending torn ACL in Sunday’s contest at MetLife Stadium, which is one of 15 NFL stadiums that have artificial turf. The injury caused several current-and-former NFL players to reignite calls for the league to replace all turf surfaces with natural grass, which is widely considered safer for injuries but less cost-effective for stadiums. The debate also isn’t going away anytime soon: Next summer, several NFL stadiums will install natural grass to host FIFA men’s World Cup matches—and then promptly replace that grass with turf for the 2026 NFL season.

Inside the NFL’s turf wars

5) WNBA reaches 11-year media rights deal with USA Network owner

The league announced an agreement today with Versant, a new media company featuring NBCUniversal’s cable television networks, such as the sports-focused USA Network, for a media rights deal from 2026-2036. Under the terms, USA Network will air 50+ WNBA regular season games annually—typically via Wednesday night doubleheaders—as well as an unspecified number of playoff games in select years, including the WNBA Finals. It’s currently unclear how much Versant paid to obtain WNBA broadcast rights.

Read more

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