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The Shifting Sports Paradigm: NIL and Emerging Technology

Before the 2021 NFL Draft, I sat down with former NFL player and current financial advisor, Adewale Ogunleye, on how the soon to be drafted players need to prepare for their windfalls responsibly. Since then, the college football landscape has been rocked with the passage of new NIL rules that allow college athletes to…

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The Shifting Sports Paradigm: NIL and Emerging Technology

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Before the 2021 NFL Draft, I sat down with former NFL player and current financial advisor, Adewale Ogunleye, on how the soon to be drafted players need to prepare for their windfalls responsibly. Since then, the college football landscape has been rocked with the passage of new NIL rules that allow college athletes to profit off their athletic ability. I checked in with Ogunleye to learn more about how athletes can leverage NIL to their benefit and what they need to keep in mind to be fiscally responsible.

In late 2019, before COVID was even twinkle in our eyes, MarketScale interviewed technology and stadium expert Tod Caflisch on what trends will define the future of sports venues. And I was surprised to learn that, according to Caflisch, most stadiums will be smaller than the current giants.

The top deck of a stadium is the most expensive to design, build, and staff accordingly. With more competition for dollar spend among entertainment options many sports teams were looking at what their best break event attendance would be in the future and often it hovered around 40,000 fans.

I also caught up with Caflish to discuss how COVID-19 has further evolved what fans expect when they visit sports arenas and stadiums.

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More Sports & Entertainment Insights

NWSL refreshes finances as teams 19 and 20 wait

NWSL refreshes finances as teams 19 and 20 wait

The NWSL has no firm date for awarding teams 19 and 20. Commissioner Jessica Berman wants to finish the season and refresh the league’s financial information first.

  • 01NWSL has set no deadline for awarding franchises 19 and 20, with expansion timing dependent on market readiness rather than a fixed schedule
  • 02The league will update its financial data after completing the 2026 season, which ownership bidders will review when evaluating expansion opportunities
  • 03Jessica Berman positioned 20 teams as a next milestone, not a maximum, citing precedent from the NFL, NBA and NHL which each have at least 30 franchises

Oct 9, 2026

Rice renames stadium in 20-year deal ahead of $120M renovation

Rice renames stadium in 20-year deal ahead of $120M renovation

Rice University renamed Rice Stadium as First Community Stadium under a 20-year deal with Houston's First Community Credit Union. The package also covers alumni banking, internships and branded cards. A $120 million renovation, expected to begin at the end of this season and continue through 2027, will cut capacity from 47,000 to 30,000 seats.

  • 01First Community signed for 20 years just before the $120M Gateway Project, which is expected to begin at the end of this season and continue through 2027 and will reduce capacity from 47,000 to 30,000. That suggests much of the deal could run in a renovated, smaller venue.
  • 02The naming deal also makes First Community the official financial institution of Rice Football, Rice Athletics and the Association of Rice Alumni, with internships, career services and branded cards attached. Rice describes it as a naming rights and campus collaboration agreement.
  • 03Rice is also pursuing a jersey patch sponsor and naming rights for other venues. George said Rice wants deals that make sense for the university as a whole.

Oct 7, 2026

Premier League and EFL are $179M apart over five years on a funding deal

Premier League and EFL are $179M apart over five years on a funding deal

The Premier League has raised its proposed annual payment to the rest of English professional soccer to about $239 million. The EFL wants $275 million, and EFL Chair Rick Parry is said to believe $239 million is still not enough. The higher offer would still need a further vote of Premier League clubs.

  • 01Over five years the reported gap is $179 million, smaller than a single year's payment under the Premier League's $239 million-a-year offer.
  • 02An EFL yes on Friday would not finish the deal. The $239 million-a-year offer still needs its own vote of Premier League clubs.
  • 03Deal length looks like the easier term to move. The EFL wants five years, the Premier League first proposed ten, and it has signaled it will compromise.

Oct 7, 2026

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