Sep 25, 2026 · 9 min
Senate advances college sports bill as venues chase seamless fandom
SBJ Morning Buzzcast: September 25, 2026
The episode connects federal college-sports policy with the commercial and technological changes reshaping how venues operate and generate revenue.
- 1The Protect College Sports Act advances in the Senate as college athletics confronts unresolved policy and business questions.
- 2Cal Athletics sells naming rights for its football stadium, underscoring the expanding commercial value of venue identity.
- 3Venue operators are pairing mixed-use development, mobile ordering, and high-tech presentation to make events more flexible and immersive.
Don't miss
The hosts highlight St. Louis City SC’s unusually high mobile-ordering adoption, which accounts for roughly 30% of its business.
The brief
Joe Lemire, Ethan Joyce, and Bret McCormick open with the Protect College Sports Act advancing in the Senate and Cal Athletics selling naming rights for its football stadium.
The conversation then turns to AXS Drive and the growing role of mixed-use development, with contrasting generations of ownership shaping how sports venues are planned.
Bret McCormick examines frictionless fan experiences at St. Louis City SC’s Energizer Park, where concessions, retail, and design give fans more ways to navigate events.
St. Louis City SC’s mobile ordering accounts for roughly 30% of its business, illustrating how convenience can become a meaningful part of the venue model.
The episode closes on high-tech live presentation, including Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s video capabilities and efforts to keep venues active throughout the year.