Jason Coyle Steps down at CHSN | Sports Illustrated Resort Coming to Chicago

Fire's South Loop soccer stadium wins alderman's blessing — if Sox stay away The Sox have fought hard this season to avoid the dubious distinction of having the worst team in the majors two seasons in a row. Unfortunately, it’s not enough for them to be welcomed to The 78. The Sox pitched its hope last year for two stadiums within the South Loop that could complement the development of a mixed-use campus, similar to Wrigleyville on the north side. Alderman Pat Dowell of the 3rd Ward — where the heart of The 78 Project will occur — has all but shut out the Sox from a future at the 78 while supporting the Fire’s bid. For Fire owner Joe Mansueto, the latest nod caps off a huge summer. It started in June when Mansueto unveiled plans for a privately-funded, 22,000-seat stadium. After releasing renderings of the future stadium, all that was left was to gain local support. Now that the Chicago Plan Commission has OK’d a new Fire stadium along with the local alderman, Mansueto’s dream of never playing second fiddle again to the Bears at Soldier Field is a step closer to reality. To see more renderings and an expected timeline of the project’s completion, check this link out.

Chicago Sports Network president/CEO Jason Coyle steps down, former Marquee GM Mike McCarthy steps in More reshuffling was bound to happen at CHSN after a wave of layoffs began around Labor Day. Neither the announcement of Jason Coyle stepping down nor his replacement by Mike McCarthy came as much of a surprise. McCarthy had served as an advisor to Coyle when CHSN launched last October and was formerly the GM of Marquee Sports. Coyle faced a daunting task when the network launched, having to guide it to go live in under six months after years of broadcasting through NBC Chicago. CHSN’s direct-to-consumer (DTC) service launched last November, but its efforts were severely hampered due to the ongoing dispute with Xfinity. McCarthy brings years of experience in executive roles within the sports industry. He had a stint with MSG Network in New York, one of the most valuable regional sports networks (RSNs) in the nation. CHSN hasn’t really seen many bright days since its inception. Hopes are that McCarthy’s hiring and other CHSN staffing changes can help the network stabilize financially. The Sun Times details all of the specifics about the transition from Coyle to McCarthy.

Chicago medtech startup adds mHub, Endeavor Health to $10 million seed round Chicago-based Madison Scientific, or MadSci, hopes to expand its groundbreaking technology thanks to an overfunded seed round. Led by Chicago and Illinois-based investors, MadSci added an additional $3 million in funding from its initial $7 million raised back in March. The medtech startup aims to drastically improve the lives of people with Hydrocephalus, a medical condition where too much fluid builds up inside the brain and can cause damage to brain tissue. Even though its neurological research mostly happens at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, MadSci’s business operations call W. Fulton St. on the Near West Side its home. Dr. Tyler Wanke is one of its cofounders and a Northwestern adjunct professor of medical entrepreneurship. This is his second medtech startup he’s cofounded out of Northwestern, after Innoblative Designs was established in 2013. MadSci’s successes underscore a Chicago tech startup scene that is down in overall funding from 2024. But the HealthTech sector that MadSci fits into has seen strong investor activity, which is likely to continue. Crain’s discusses which Chicago-based investors helped MadSci raise $3 million.

Game On: Sports Illustrated Resorts Announces New Location in Sports-Loving Chicago With over 100 magazine covers over the years featuring Chicago athletes, Sports Illustrated and Chicago know each other very well. Travel + Leisure specializes in helping thousands of people enjoy unique vacation experiences each year. The brand is expanding its portfolio into new vacation experiences for its travelers. It’s a wise choice for the brand to dive further into sports, since it knows people are often more than willing to spend money on sports travel than other types of leisure travel. The existing hotel will remain open during construction, allowing guests to see the transformation in real time while enjoying the views along the Chicago River and Michigan Ave. The only question about the announcement is, why was Chicago the third Sports Illustrated-themed location announced instead of the first? No offense to these cities, but Nashville and Tuscaloosa can’t hold Chicago’s jock straps when it comes to iconic sports figures and teams. Find out when the resort will be transformed and what the new additions will be here.

NCAA investigating 13 ex-players at Temple, Arizona State, four others over sports betting Now that online sports betting is legal in at least 30 states, it’s easier than ever for fans to try to earn some cash within the massive sports betting market. That same ease presents a dangerous temptation for the athletes playing the sports. This latest investigation brings louder calls for a ban on prop bets. Prop bets allow bettors to wager their money on specific parts of the game outside of wins and losses, such as individual player performance. NCAA President Charlie Baker blames prop bets as the culprit behind the growing list of athletes found guilty of manipulating performance for sports betting. Sports betting companies may be hesitant to impose a blanket ban on prop bets, since they are one of their best-performing categories. Baker hopes the two sides can at least have a conversation about it. Read more on how many contests the NCAA monitors annually to keep track of sports betting suspicions and the ties to an infamous NBA gambling scheme that this one has.

Trump Push to End Quarterly Earnings Has Major Sports Ramifications Quarterly earnings reports have been a fixture among publicly traded companies for over 50 years. Before 1970, companies were only required to file annual reports with the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission). Quarterly reports were enacted to provide more security and updated information for investors. Trump wants semi-annual earnings reports, which some fear would invite more volatility and opportunities for financial wrongdoing. Trump defends the proposal as a way to get the U.S. in line with how China and Europe report their earnings and help companies focus more long-term instead of on hitting short-term quarterly goals. Regardless of opinion, the change would have massive effects on the biggest publicly traded sports-related companies like Nike and FOX. Never bashful to stir up some controversy, Trump’s proposal to end quarterly earnings could present difficulties for sports. All sports run seasonally and in tandem with the current quarterly reporting schedule. Here are some of the biggest publicly traded sports companies that would be affected by the change.

Cody Campbell’s NCAA Replacement Plan Hatched in Texas Think Tank Billionaire Cody Campbell wants to take an age-old maxim — Don’t mess with Texas — nationwide. Campbell is a powerful and influential alum of Texas Tech. We’ve mentioned how he’s helping ignite their ascension in NCAA sports thanks to the new rules governing money. Not the kind of guy to be content with making waves within the current infrastructure, Campbell wants a new organization established to replace the outdated NCAA. Inspired by the Texas Think Tank he sits on the board of, Campbell is almost single-handedly leading the charge to reimagine the NCAA through his Saving College Sports nonprofit. His efforts are in direct opposition to the SCORE Act, a bill introduced to Congress in July that would effectively restore the NCAA’s power while protecting it from antitrust lawsuits. Ever since the NIL ruling opened a can of worms within collegiate sports, different voices have emerged to the forefront, all with their own opinion on how to organize what is still pretty chaotic. Now, even think tanks that typically don’t cross into the sports realm are adding their take. Cody Campbell has the means and influence to make ideas conjured up in a think tank a reality. Sportico covers Campbell’s push to abolish the NCAA and the Texas Think Tank that influenced him.

Momentous Sports launching sports real estate investment vehicle For institutional investors looking to invest in sports assets, the most attractive types are the assets that offer multiple revenue streams. Momentous Sports is launching a multi-million-dollar fund this fall that it hopes can help it capitalize on this sector, which intertwines the world of sports with real estate. Its investors include high-profile names from the world of sports and business, like John Elway and Andrew Cathy, CEO of Chick-fil-A. Its flagship investment is in Jacksonville, involving a men’s and women’s USL soccer teams. It will employ its strategy by building a 15,000-seat stadium and surrounding it with a mixed-use district. The project marks the beginning of what Momentous Sports hopes will evolve into several deals in U.S. major pro leagues and even in Europe. Sports Business Journal establishes who will be invested in Momentous Sports and its deeper goals.