Oct 8, 2026 · 10 min
Disney+ expands sports reach as golf and stadium deals shift
SBJ Morning Buzzcast: October 8, 2026
The episode tracks how streaming, team ownership, venue financing, and sports-rights businesses are reshaping the industry.
- 1Disney+ will stream the Super Bowl and two Monday Night Football games as Disney broadens its sports offering.
- 2Jon Rahm’s LIV Golf departure raises questions about player retention and possible routes back into professional golf.
- 3Kansas City advances a $1.9 billion Royals stadium plan while Colorado’s Rockies defend ownership and ticket-price decisions.
Don't miss
Disney+’s planned Super Bowl simulcast illustrates how major sports broadcasts are moving beyond traditional television.
The brief
Joe Lemire opens with Jon Rahm’s departure from LIV Golf, examining his contract, possible return routes to professional golf, and LIV’s efforts to retain players during restructuring.
The LPGA’s 2027 schedule brings a $5 million tournament back to Corning, New York, while expanding and reshaping its Hawaii events, including a new tournament and a move to Kapalua.
Disney+ will stream ESPN’s first Super Bowl broadcast in the United States and numerous international markets, adding two Monday Night Football games to its sports lineup.
The business stakes turn local as Walker Monfort rejects reports of a Rockies control transfer, while Kansas City advances a tax plan supporting the Royals’ proposed $1.9 billion downtown ballpark.
The episode closes with Genius Sports’ market debut, a Chris Paul-backed data-driven digital sports series, Love Volleyball’s Miami ownership, and SportRadar’s $170 million Atrium Sports sale.
Books & mentions
SBJ Sports Media Podcast
Its previewed coverage extends the episode’s discussion of Skydance, Fox Sports, Barstool, Disney+, and a Steph Curry film.
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