Afternoon Edition

November 5, 2026

Powered By

LIV Golf announced it is officially winding down operations, ending a complicated saga that began in April when the Saudi PIF, which had spent more than $5 billion on LIV since it launched in 2022, said it would pull funding after the 2026 season. LIV filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September, and it has spent the past several months attempting to secure a lifeline. That process is now over.

—David Rumsey

First Up

Exclusive: LeBron James sent a cease and desist letter to an AI-powered sports betting app that evokes his name and uses his likeness without authorization.
First at FOS: The inaugural season of WTGL, which will have 25 players spread across five teams, will pay out $11 million in prize money.
The WTA is taking the blame for a hot-mic incident involving Jessica Pegula at the WTA Finals.

LIV Golf Is Shutting Down, Lawyers Confirm in Bankruptcy Hearing

Jerod Ringwald-Imagn Images

LIV Golf is proceeding with plans to wind down its operations and will not follow through with a “LIV 2.0” of the league.

The league officially announced the move shortly after its lawyers revealed the decision at a brief, 13-minute hearing in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case in New Jersey on Thursday morning.

LIV said that “despite extensive discussions, the relevant parties were ultimately unable to reach a consensual resolution of certain outstanding terms” of its $300 million rescue deal with BC Partners Credit, and as a result, the deal “has been terminated, and the transaction is not expected to move forward at this time.”

BC Partners pulled out of its nine-figure deal to provide LIV with post-bankruptcy financing on Wednesday, which left the league with no other option beyond heading for liquidation of its assets. The Saudi PIF spent more than $5 billion on LIV since the league launched in 2022, but cut off its funding after the 2026 season. The PIF controlled LIV’s bankruptcy process as the largest creditor. LIV intends to file its Chapter 11 plan and disclosure statement implementing the wind-down by Monday.

“BC Partners Credit supported a transaction that aligned the interests of players and investors, offering a credible path toward building a sustainable future for LIV Golf,” a spokesperson for the firm said in a statement to Front Office Sports. “While there was great support for the league, we are disappointed that mutually acceptable terms could not be reached among the various stakeholders.”

Gene Davis and Jon Zinman, chairmen of LIV’s independent board of directors, said, “In light of the current circumstances, we believe shifting toward an orderly wind-down is the most responsible path forward for the league at this time.” LIV in its announcement said it “will remain open to, and continue to consider, any value-maximizing alternatives with third parties that may arise” during the wind-down process.

Gibson Dunn partner Matthew Williams, one of LIV’s attorneys, said on Thursday morning’s hearing that the decision by LIV to wind down was “not for lack of a good-faith effort over the past several weeks. The debtors, BC Partners, the PIF, the players, the creditors committee—we all negotiated intensely and in good faith.” But “despite everyone’s best efforts, we just couldn’t get to the level of combined financial and player support necessary for a viable LIV 2.0 within the required timeline,” Williams said.

LIV’s strategic initiatives committee “concluded that a wind down is the most likely way to maximize value for creditors at this time,” Williams added. “This was not an easy conclusion for anyone who believed in what LIV Golf built, but it is the right one for these estates and the circumstances.”

LIV CEO Scott O’Neil said in a statement, “We created memories that I hope will inspire a new generation of fans to follow, play, and fall in love with this great game.” O’Neil also thanked the PIF and BC Partners for their involvement in the process.

The Chapter 11 case will take several more weeks, at least, to be sorted out. The case’s creditors committee will meet on Nov. 20, and another hearing with Judge Michael Kaplan is scheduled for Nov. 24. “I do appreciate the candor and professionalism and overall the energy and effort that went into trying to make LIV 2.0 work as a viable path for this chapter 11 case,” Kaplan said Thursday. “What I [also] appreciate is that there’s still an efficient plan to move forward as far as maximizing the return to creditors through an orderly wind down.”

Built to Grow With Microsoft

For Microsoft, sports data is table stakes. The right teammate is the real advantage.

“We were really looking for a very strong data provider that could grow with us, not just in the near term, but for the long term,” says Geraldine Russell, head of AI data partnerships at Microsoft.

Sportradar fit the bill. Its data already powers scores, summaries, and insights across Windows, MSN, Bing, and Copilot.

That was the foundation. Now the two are setting their sights on co-innovation in AI, exploring new ways to bring sports to more fans around the world.

Learn how Sportradar and Microsoft are building what’s next in sports, together. Watch Sportradar’s newest partnership story with Microsoft.

ONE BIG FIG

Ronaldo’s International Retirement

REUTERS/Phil Noble

234

That’s how many international appearances Cristiano Ronaldo made for Portugal before announcing his retirement Thursday, a record for any men’s soccer player. Ronaldo, who will still play at the club level, also holds the record for international goals with 146. He had planned to continue playing for his country beyond this summer’s World Cup, but left the September Portugal camp early after falling out with manager Jorge Jesus over being an unused substitute against Norway.

LOUD AND CLEAR

New England Homecoming

Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

“I don’t think people realize this guy was like a Beatle in Boston with how big his persona was.”

—Former Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman on Rob Gronkowski, who will be inducted into the Patriots’ Hall of Fame on Sunday. Edelman, Gronk, and the rest of the 2016 team will also be honored at the game, which Tom Brady will call for Fox—the first New England game he’ll be in the booth for in two and a half years with the network. (Patriots owner Robert Kraft will not attend as he’s recovering from back surgery.)

On getting the team back together, Edelman told Front Office Sports: “It’s just gonna be really fun to get to see guys you haven’t seen in a long time. There’s something that’s always said in the locker room when it’s your last game: ‘You’ll never be the 2016 football team ever again’—because there’s new coaches and players every year, so it will be a really good time to celebrate a larger-than-life character in Gronk.”

Your Paddock Pregame

It’s time for “Lights Out” in Las Vegas. Front Office Sports and PwC are teaming up to host the perfect paddock pregame for Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend. On Friday, Nov. 20, FOS and PwC will host Tastemakers—a curated afternoon of engaging conversations with some of sports’s most influential executives.

Join us as we bring together leaders in sports, media, and entertainment from all over the globe who are building, investing in, and shaping what comes next in the world of sports.

Limited space available—request to attend now.

STATUS REPORT

Three Down, One Push

David Butler II-Imagn Images

WNBA ⬇ The league drew criticism from fans on social media after leaving the Connecticut Sun out of a graphic promoting commemorative tickets celebrating its 30th season. All 14 other teams that competed last season were featured in the graphic, and the Sun, who will move to Houston and become the Comets in the 2027 season, were omitted despite having a commemorative ticket available for purchase.

Gianni Infantino ⬇ The embattled FIFA president has his most serious challenger to date as he seeks a fourth term at the helm of soccer’s top governing body. Japan Football Association president Kozo Tashima announced his intention to run against Infantino in next March’s election. Tashima, 68, became the second declared challenger to Infantino, after former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega. Candidates have until Nov. 18 to file to run.

Mile High Stadium ⬆⬇ The Broncos are replacing the stadium’s entire grass playing surface midway through the NFL season—for the fifth consecutive year—despite no reported complaints about its condition. The team says the move reflects ownership’s commitment to player safety and maintaining a high-quality playing surface throughout the season.

Oakland Coliseum ⬇ Venue operator Legends Global plans to lay off roughly 1,600 employees at the Coliseum and neighboring Oakland Arena when its management contract expires Dec. 31, as the properties are in the process of being sold for $240 million. The Coliseum was previously home to MLB’s Athletics and the NFL’s Raiders, while Oakland Arena was the former home of the NBA’s Warriors.