Oct 22, 2026 · 13 min
Sports fans face lockouts, steep NBA costs and eternal fandom
10/22/26 - Rays-Brewers Can’t Stop Lockout, $771 to Watch NBA, Jaguars Fans’ Afterlife
The episode connects sports labor uncertainty, escalating media prices and increasingly personalized fan identity across the business of sports.
- 1A potential Rays-Brewers World Series has not resolved the MLB lockout’s persistence.
- 2Watching every NBA game can cost $771 when national, local and League Pass coverage are combined.
- 3The Jaguars’ Eternal Fan program turns team loyalty into a niche, stadium-linked memorial service.
Don't miss
The Jaguars’ Eternal Fan program offers a striking example of fans extending team identity into memorial spaces outside the stadium.
The brief
The episode opens with a sports-business snapshot: a potential Rays-Brewers World Series, a persistent baseball lockout, rising NBA viewing costs and a novel Jaguars memorial program.
The Jaguars’ Eternal Fan partnership offers membership tiers and private memorial spaces at the stadium, with the team receiving revenue through a licensing arrangement.
Ellyn Briggs explains why personalized funerals create room for sports-themed memorials, while selective team partnerships and limited demand keep the concept niche.
The episode closes on the price of NBA access: national broadcasts and a local team total $661, rising to $771 with League Pass under new television deals.
Weekly email
State of the Pod, every Monday
The week's most-discussed names and stories from podcasts, with the moments behind them. Free, five minutes, unsubscribe in one click.