📰🏟️ Walk in the park

Good afternoon. The top-five sports stories of the day are at your fingertips. Let’s get right to it.

—Kyle

1) World Cup sees low demand, high ticket prices

Close to 80% of hotels across the 11 US host cities for the 2026 World Cup say bookings are “tracking below initial forecasts,” per new industry group data.

• The report comes as other tourist industry leaders warn that international turnout for the US-hosted World Cup could be lower than initially projected.
• At the same time, FIFA is facing growing backlash over high ticket prices across the entire tournament, with just 25% of tickets priced below $300.
• The high prices appear to have affected sales, with the US squad’s opening match vs. Paraguay selling just ~60% of available seats thus far at LA’s SoFi Stadium.

How FIFA defends high ticket prices

2) Spurs hand T’Wolves worst playoff loss ever

San Antonio handed Minnesota its worst playoff defeat in franchise history last night, beating the Timberwolves 133-95 to even the series at 1-1.

• Spurs C Victor Wembanyama dropped 19 pts and 15 rebounds, as San Antonio delivered its highest-scoring playoff game since 1983.
• In the East, the Knicks outlasted the 76ers to take a 2-0 series lead, in a contest that featured 25 lead changes—the most in an NBA playoff game since 2015.
• Action continues tonight with the Pistons (1-0) vs. Cavs and Thunder (1-0) vs. Lakers.

Takeaways from the conference semis

3) PWHL expands to Hockeytown

The Professional Women's Hockey League announced plans to launch an expansion team in Detroit (aka “Hockeytown”), bringing the league to 9 teams.

• Detroit’s new PWHL franchise will be owned by the Ilitch family (Tigers, Red Wings) and begin play with the 2026-27 season.
• League officials say Detroit is the 1st of what could become 4 new PWHL expansion markets for next season, with other top options including Denver and Las Vegas.

Women’s hockey is in expansion mode

4) Cubs win 3rd straight walk-off

Chicago pulled off a rare feat at Wrigley Field last night, beating Cincinnati on a walk-off walk to win their 3rd straight game via walk-off.

• All 3 wins came against the Reds, making Chicago the 1st team to win 3 consecutive walk-offs against the same team since the Dodgers (vs. Rockies) in 2019.
• It also marked the Cubs’ 14th straight victory at home, the 2nd-longest streak ever at Wrigley Field.
• Overall, the Cubs have won 8 consecutive games to improve to 25-12, just behind the Atlanta Braves (26-12) for best MLB record.

It’s a walk in the park for Chicago

5) No Triple Crown winner (again)

Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo is skipping the Preakness Stakes and won’t compete for horse racing's Triple Crown, per trainer Cherie DeVaux's stable.

• Golden Tempo is the 3rd Derby winner in the past 5 years to skip the Preakness, which is historically held just two weeks afterwards.
• Some analysts say this trend indicates the Triple Crown’s 3-race-in-5-week sprint is too intense for modern horse racing, and should be spread out more.

Is the Triple Crown irrelevant? 

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