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Mar 11 '19
The WWE is a very healthy business. Adidas Rickard Rakell Jersey . We actually know this because, unlike any other major North American sports league or organization, the pro wrestling body of record is a public company.Lets take a look at the eye-popping numbers.? Revenues grew by more than 20 percent last year to an all-time record of $658 million.? With its Raw and SmackDown Live franchises, combined with its developmental NXT, the company put on 273 live events in the U.S. alone, where 1.6 million people paid an average of $53.22 to get into the arena.Putting those numbers into greater perspective, the WWE -- considered to be a touring business -- sold more tickets in 2015 than Fleetwood Mac, Maroon 5, Def Leppard and Ariana Grande, according to entertainment business tracking firm Pollstar.? Two-thirds of the companys revenue comes from media, which was worth $231.1 million last year, including more than $130 million in TV rights deals that will grow to $235 million by 2018.? Raw counts as the longest-running weekly episodic program in prime-time TV history, on the air since 1993. We have more of a female audience than people think, said WWE chief strategy and financial officer George Barrios. As much as 40 percent of our fans are women, which is lower than the U.S. population at 52 percent, but if you think of sheer numbers, we have more women watching our shows than Oxygen and Lifetime.? The WWE Network has 1.5 million subscribers paying $9.99 a month to get live fight content as well as archival footage and scripted and reality shows. To put that into context, the only direct-to-consumer content businesses that surpass that are Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and Major League Baseball. Its the WWEs second-biggest business, but is its fastest growing.? Net revenues from the WWE Network rose from $69.5 million to $138.8 million from 2014 to 2015, and because pay-per-view events are included in the network subscription, pay-per-view, a $82.5 million business in 2013, dropped to $20.6 million in 2015.? WWE is the No. 1 most-subscribed-to YouTube channel in the sports category, with more than 12 million fans taking in more than 10 billion video views in the past year. In 2010, Vince [McMahon] sat down our executive team and challenged us every day to be a little bit more digital, a little by more direct to consumer and a little bit more global, Barrios said. Five years ago, our business was 5 percent digital. Its now 33 percent. Our international business is up 40 percent and now makes up 26 percent of our sales.? Vince McMahon made $3.3 million in total compensation last year, which is peanuts compared to the 39.2 million shares of stock he owns, which was worth $800 million when the market opened Wednesday. Paul Triple H Levesque, his son-in-law, made $3.1 million in 2015. Levesques wife, Stephanie McMahon, even though she is the chief brand officer, is not listed as being compensated as an executive, although she does own 1.9 million shares (as of April), which are worth $38.6 million today. According to the WWE, the average main-roster performer earns $500,000, with top performers earning in the seven figures annually.? In 2015, the WWE made $49 million off licensing and another $49 million of in-venue and online merchandise sales. Only Star Wars and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles merchandise beat out WWE in the action figure sales category. WWE, not the athletes themselves, has the rights to file to get a trademark for names used in the ring to be able to license that to merchandise producers.? John Cena is the most-followed North American athlete on Facebook. His Facebook fan page has 42.2 million likes, which is a million more than what LeBron James (23 million), Maria Sharapova (15.5 million) and Tom Brady (3.7 million) have combined.? The organization created The Rock (Dwayne Johnson), who has grown into Hollywoods biggest action hero.? Talent development has turned into a massive operation with the WWE Performance Center, where 80 percent of the current roster of athletes have been involved in some way. The company is starting to showcase more raw talent like Bin Wang of China and is using the development center to help build a character with great moves and good oratory skills. One step up is NXT, which is an ideal training ground for the wrestlers to get practical experience in front of more intimate crowds as well as allow the WWE to gauge the response of those crowds.Now lets take a look at the challenges:? The only numbers that are not public are what the WWE pays its talent. It does not break out the dollar figures either on salary or revenue split with larger stars, and Barrios said the company has no plan to do so. Theres no wrestlers union, but with Vince McMahon in ultimate control of the plot lines, its hard to believe wrestlers could rise in power enough to even create one.? McMahons longevity is the biggest material risk to the business, and the company even advises shareholders of this fact. Sure, his kids Shane and Stephanie have learned the business and have even become characters like their father. Triple H is firmly entrenched in growing the organizations talent pool. But McMahon has more singular power than any head of any sports organization on the planet. He owns nearly 50 percent of Class B voting stock, but hes getting up in years, turning 71 at the end of the month.? McMahons power understood, the WWE is under more outside pressure than any other major sports organization in that there are investors, who arent necessarily fans, who want to see the numbers grow. Shares rose to their all-time highs after the WWE Network was launched in February 2014. But two months later -- skeptical about forsaking the traditional pay-per-view model for a monthly subscription service -- shares had dropped by 63.5 percent. Today, shares are hovering around a two-year high. So why does McMahon, worth more than $1 billion, subject himself to the woes of Wall Street? Vince appreciates the rigor of what it means to be a public company, Barrios said.? The WWE boasts huge international growth numbers, especially in India. The question is, can those regions be monetized?? The risk associated with athletes is injury, like Seth Rollins recently having to give up his title after a knee injury forced him out of action, but unlike, say, the UFC, the WWE can control the narrative. That makes it easier to make transitions on bad injuries or even a fighter leaving the sport.The WWE is a robust business that has become one of the more interesting companies in the world. We dont get to see behind the curtain when it comes to plot lines, but being able to see the financials more than any organization in North American sports gives us a fascinating peek at how a juggernaut in todays world has to shift its business and cater to the whims of society. Adidas Cam Fowler Jersey . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter. http://www.cheapducksjerseys.com/?tag=adidas-antoine-morand-jersey . Their 38th instalment is arguably their biggest fight card to date, including three-title fights and a main event which was selected by the fans. The promotion boasts 14-straight years of business and is operated by MFC president Mark Pavelich, who is often overlooked in this country for the foundation hes established for MMA in Canada. Welcome back to another entertaining fantasy basketball marathon. In the Forecaster, we seek to prepare you for each week in fantasy basketball with appraisals of specific emerging assets and notable team trends. We also canvas the schedule each week with an eye on identifying matchups and metrics we can leverage toward successful lineup strategies and roster management.Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff learned this past summer that the sun rises in the east. When it comes to fantasy basketball, however, there is a rising Sun in the west, as Phoenixs Devin Booker is an ascendant playmaker. The second-year Kentucky product doesnt even turn 20 until later this month but is already emerging as a special NBA commodity.If you havent drafted yet -- I still have a few drafts over the weekend and into the first week of the season -- securing shares of Booker is highly encouraged. Booker is leading the NBA in scoring this preseason at 21.5 points per game in just 25.3 minutes. Some encouraging team trends support his undeniable breakout potential, as the Suns lead the NBA in pace this preseason, and were seeing increased drive rates and free throw production from Booker (hes hitting an astounding 95.7 percent of his free throws in the preseason).With elite upside in points, 3-pointers, free throw rate and steals, Booker is one of my favorite emergent assets in this imaginary basketball game we enjoy so much.It must be a Western Conference trend among second-year guards, because we also find star potential in DAngelo Russell of the Lakers. Coach Luke Waltons Warriors -- er, Lakers -- are mimicking Golden States up-tempo scheme this exhibition season.? Given the awesome success Walton enjoyed as the substitute head coach last season for the Warriors, its fitting to see the Lakers ranked just behind the Warriors this preseason at fourth in the NBA in 3-point attempts per game and seventh in the league in pace at 103.75 possessions per 48 minutes. Often in the doghouse and mired in former Lakers coach Byron Scotts stodgy old-school scheme, Russell is now poised to shine.Russell is ninth in the preseason in scoring and is lofting 6.6 3-pointers per game -- fourth most in the league -- thanks to the rare play-making freedom Walton is affording him. With rich potential in steals, dimes and 3-pointers, Russell is a steal as a mid-round pick. Loading up on shares of Booker -- going 52nd on average in ESPN drafts -- and Russell (55th), could prove pivotal and profitable in both season-long and daily fantasy competition this season.After perusing this abbreviated first week of the NBA schedule in the downloadable forecaster chart below, check out our trendspotting notes from the preseason below, as we delve into several rising players and intriguing new schemes.Access the downloadable forecaster chart PDF hereMatchup ratings are based on a scale from 1 (poor matchup) to 10 (excellent matchup). These are calculated using a formula that evaluates the teams year-to-date and past 10 games statistics, their opponents numbers in those categories and their performance in home/road games depending on where the game is to be played. The column to the left lists the teams total number of games scheduled, as well as home games, and lists the overall rating from 1-10 for that teams weekly schedule.Ratings roundupWe suggest you take our ratings system as merely subtle guidance this week, as its influenced by last years data and will soon populate with more accurate information as this seasons sample develops.What we can glean from this opening week is the Oklahoma City Thunder are well-positioned against three up-tempo opponents with serious defensive flaws, based on last seasons metrics. The San Antonio Spurs are the lone four-game team this week, so make note of their full weekend slate if you plan on maximizing games played in head-to-head weekly formats.The New York Knicks face a particularly unfavorable stretch in a two-game slate against sound defensive teams based on last seasons data, while the Chicago Bulls are also in a compromised setup, given they net just two games and face capable defensive foes. This doesnt mean we should avoid using our stars on these rosters, juust that these arent ideal teams to identify for streaming or maximizing games. Adidas Lukas Dostal Jersey. .Specialists to target earlyWhile Im a huge fan of sourcing players with diverse statistical skill sets, its also imperative to consider the resourceful contributions of specialists in roto games. Its fine to target a few players who only contribute in one or two categories, as long as they provide differentiating rates in those elements. Whether its shooting, boards or blocks, we need single-stat mavens, just like we rely on superstars, to deliver winning fantasy rosters.With this in mind, which widely available players could offer distinctly helpful contributions based on preseason results?As for shooting experts, Eric Gordon of the Houston Rockets is lofting 5.5 3-pointers per game in just 20.5 minutes of exposure, suggesting he could offer top-10 overall production from deep as the complementary combo guard alongside the bearded one, James Harden. Reasonably priced shares of Gordon against the pace-driven Lakers on Wednesday night could prove particularly productive in daily fantasy.For those seeking some out-of-position support from beyond, the Charlotte Hornets Frank Kaminsky III shot 37.7 from 3-point range over the last 22 games last season and is eighth in the league with six attempts per game this preseason. With Al Jefferson in Indiana, Kaminskys usage rate and shooting freedom should surge this season.Blocks are among the scarcest of stats, so finding a reliable source for the end of your roster can prove really helpful, which is why I dig Bismack Biyombo of the Magic. The defensive stalwart is third in both blocks per game and boards and earned sleeper status, given his rare rates in these helpful categories. The Rockets Clint Capela is another name of note for help in blocks and on the glass.For those seeking an assist in the assists department, the New Orleans Pelicans Tim Frazier is third behind only Harden and Chris Paul in dimes per game this preseason and should earn meaningful minutes to start the season in a depleted New Orleans backcourt. With Michael Carter-Williams shipped down I-94 to Chicago, Milwaukees Matthew Dellavedova is impressively sixth in the league in assists per game in the preseason.Team trendspottingWeve already celebrated the added value Walton and DAntoni offer their respective NBA teams, but some significant strategic shifts are also underway in two under-the-radar markets.Brooklyn bombersIts no surprise to see the space-and-pace Rockets leading the league this preseason in 3-point attempts per game in DAntonis seven-seconds-or-less offensive scheme, but it is unanticipated to find coach Kenny Atkinsons Brooklyn Nets second with 33.7 attempts from beyond in the exhibition season.The Nets are actually running at a faster pace than even Houston, as only the Suns have a higher pace -- the rate of team possessions per 48 minutes -- than Brooklyn this preseason. Loading up against the Nets could be fun this season in DFS and in season-long play, while getting cheap looks at Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Bojan Bogdanovic and Trevor Booker are fine angles for cheap production.Memphis movementCoach David Fizdale is bringing 3-point shooting and increased pace to Memphis, a team that was 28th in pace and 26th in attempts from beyond the arc last season. The Grizzlies are sixth in the league in attempts from beyond the arc and 11th in pace this preseason. I advise looking into wingman James Ennis while hes still widely available, as his 3-and-D skill set matches this new scheme well.Fantasy FreshmenThe debut of Phillys Joel Embiid is what the world needs. Or its just what makes me and other Sixers fans happy, either way; it will prove riveting to see how the 76ers find time for their talented, but murky, frontcourt rotation. I? particularly like the shooting and scoring help Buddy Hield could immediately offer, while Kris Dunn ranks in the top 20 in steals in the preseason. For more on this new class of talent, John Cregans feature on rookies offers helpful insights into the top rookies for fantasy purposes. ' ' '
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