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The Long Game: Money, politics, sports and power
Feb 1, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during a press conference in preparation for Super Bowl LI at the George R. Brown Convention Center.  Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Long Game: Money, politics, sports and power

Between the box scores, the highlights and the official team Twitter accounts joking around on social media, the business side of sports often falls into the background despite sharing a common thread: all sports and politics are local.

As fans who want to stay engaged with every part of sports, we want you to be informed about the issues that not only shape your favorite teams, but the deals that also change your cities.

We recognize it can be challenging to keep up with stadium and arena referendums around the country; which teams are fighting with local officials and which leagues are going to Congress with their own lobbyists. Often by the time any news from the business side of sports has broken through the everyday updates of takeaways and turnovers, the deal has already been set.

Welcome to The Long Game. Your weekly update on what's going on in the sports world once the lights go down and the owners get to work.

This week in venue, relocation and ownership news

NFL

With all the back and forth between Raiders ownership, the city of Las Vegas and casino magnet Sheldon Adelson (who pulled out of the stadium funding deal earlier this week), NFL commissioner Roger Goodell again stated that funding was only one part of the puzzle for team relocation approvalThe commissioner also reiterated there wasn't a path for casinos or casino owners to have a stake in an NFL franchise.

With the Pro Bowl over, Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer believes the audition shows the city made a case for their own NFL franchise.

NHL

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman restated the league's commitment to the Hurricanes staying in North CarolinaThis week team owner Peter Karmanos indicated for the first time he open to selling the entire timePreviously Karmanos had said he would only sell partial interest in the club.

With the Islanders losing their lease at Brooklyn's Barclays Center this week after the 2018-2019 season, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy and Hartford Mayor Luke Broni extended an invitation to the team to join them in the Nutmeg State late on Friday.

The Devils confirmed their AHL team was moving fro Binghamton, NY from Albany with an announcement on Tuesday.

NBA

It has long been argued in some quarters that Louisville, Kentucky would make a good location for NBA expansion, but a deeper examination of the issue shows there is little actual traction for the Association to move to the Bluegrass State.

Players in the ongoing Seattle NBA expansion movement have run into opposition for their proposed arena location by the Port of Seattle over traffic issues.

MLS

Twelve cities are in contention for two MLS expansion spots to be named this year and two more to named at a later date. ESPN FC dives into the merits of each bid. Two of the twelve most aggressive bids, Charlotte and St. Louis, are still trying to find common ground with local officials over stadium projects.

In Charlotte, Marcus Smith of Speedway Motors fortune said he was going forward with his MLS bid despite the city declining to subsidize a new stadium in the past week as he believes the city will change its mind on the financing.

Despite polling that indicates the citizens of St. Louis do not want to fund a MLS new stadium and that the city's ways and means committee scrambled last week to get a measure for funding on the ballot last week, tying the funds to also improving the Scottrade Center (home of the NHL's Blues) seems to be getting momentum in their favor.

In Nashville, Mayor Megan Barry has stated she would like the city's proposal for a new stadium finalized by June for the "public-private" venture.

And as reminder that stadium funding discussions are not just an American phenomenon, a new venue for Roma of the Italian Serie A league hit another roadblock this week as the city council rejected the plan. The team has been working getting approvals on the mostly privately-funded stadium since 2014.

Other ownership updates

The LA Lakers announced that Magic Johnson has agreed to work with Jeanie Buss and the team in and advisory role.

Roger Goodell stated the Tennessee Titans ownership structure between between the late-Bud Adam's heirs is still in conflict with the NFL and the team needs to name a primary agent for league business. The NFL has fined the club in the past for not being compliance. Amy Adams Strunk and Susie Adams Smith claim their arrangement is not in violation of league bylaws.

The lawsuit between Pelicans and Saints owner Tom Benson and the trust benefitting estranged family members goes to court next week. Both the NBA and the NFL are moving to have certain financial details of both teams shielded from public view

Minor leagues update

The Milwaukee Brewers are in talks to purchase the High-A Carolina Mudcats of the Carolina League.

Politics

The NBA continues to standout among the big four of NFL, NHL, NBA and MLB as players and coaches take a stand against President Donald Trump's policies. Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, continues to blast Trump on the executive order regarding the Muslim travel ban.

Business

The 2017 NHL All-Star Game reportedly earned $20 million for LA businesses according to numbers provided by the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment commission.

The Boston Celtics became the third NBA team reach a deal for corporate sponsorship which allows for logos to appear on the club's jerseys in the 2017-2018 season.

In op-eds

The Super Bowl has become more than a game, it's become another stop in the culture wars. [Bleacher Report]

The Raiders drama is chaos which could end with nothing more than the status quo. [CSN Bay Area]

The St. Louis MLS stadium venture is a not good move for the city. [St. Louis Riverfront Times]

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