On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including a breakdown of the Super Bowl. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs rallied to beat the San Francisco 49ers in overtime on Sunday, as pop star Taylor Swift watched from a luxury box.
It was the perfect scenario for CBS, which broadcast the game. Not only did Swift’s relationship with Chiefs star Travis Kelce bring new people to the NFL this season, but the game was one of the most dramatic Super Bowls in recent memory. No team led by more than two scores, and the Chiefs sent it to overtime with a field goal at the very end of regulation. After the 49ers scored a field goal to open overtime, Mahomes led the Chiefs down the field for the game-winning touchdown. (This episode was recorded before the final viewership numbers were in.)
The hosts talk about the on-field winners from the game. In defeat, both Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey shined. For the Chiefs, the win cemented Mahomes’ legacy as the face of stardom in the league. Not only has he dominated in the NFL postseason in his career, he’s also doing a lot off the field. He’s an investor in the MLB’s Kansas City Royals and a handful of other sports team; and he’s a popular endorser for big brands like State Farm.
Next the hosts talk about the halftime show. Usher—who himself is an investor in the Cleveland Cavaliers—brought out a number of fellow music stars for his performance. This is the second year of Apple’s five-year deal for the show, which pays the NFL about $50 million per year.
They also talk about the commercials. Dunkin’ Donuts and Paramount+ drew high praise for their Super Bowl spots, but perhaps the most interesting business case study was Chinese ecommerce platform Temu. The company’s ad—which used a slogan more than a year old—was panned by critics, but the Temu app was the No. 1 trending app in both Google and Apple’s app stores on Monday morning.
Lastly, they discuss some sports betting news. Barstool Sports announced its new partnership with DraftKings less than 30 minutes after the Super Bowl ended. That timing is not a coincidence—Dave Portnoy’s company was restricted from re-entering gaming until after the NFL playoffs ended, part of its 2023 separation from Penn Entertainment.
(You can subscribe to Sporticast through Apple, Google, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever else you get your podcasts.)
