On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including the NBA overhauling its charter travel in a way that could lead to its teams flying on planes that are better suited to the recovery and comfort of large, professional athletes.
The NBA is nearing an agreement to lease 13 Airbus planes through a lessor, according to a report from Corporate Jet Investor. The jets, which will the operated by Delta, will include features like lie-flat beds, humidifiers, adjustable lighting and other amenities that better suit the NBA’s needs. The league’s teams currently fly on chartered aircraft that are retrofitted from commercial use—though a small number of them own their own jets.
Pro sports teams of all sorts have dedicated millions in the past decade or so to revolutionize sports science, nutrition and recovery. Air travel could soon be the next frontier for that advancement. That’s especially true in leagues like the NBA and NHL, where players are often flying daily around the country.
Next the hosts talk about the latest in the Minnesota Timberwolves sale dispute. The two sides—longtime owner Glen Taylor and a buyer group led by Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez—are set to enter arbitration in November. Sportico recently reported that Taylor’s side had subpoenaed the league as part of the lead-up to that arbitration. It’s the latest in what has already been an unprecedented sale process.
The also talk about UFC‘s first event at the Sphere, picking up on a debate from a previous episode. They close with a trivia question: What do Donald Trump, the Philedelphia 76ers and the AHL’s Utica Comets have in common?
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