Report: Bally Sports Parent Company Diamond Sports Filing For Bankruptcy

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Diamond Sports, the parent company of Bally Sports, will be filing for bankruptcy as soon as this Friday, March 17, according to a report from Sports Business Journal (SBJ)‘s John Ourand.

Bally Sports currently broadcasts both professional and college teams in 19 regional sports networks, including Nashville with primarily Predators coverage. SBJ notes that the days leading up to the official filing will be very intense as Diamond executives will be trying to negotiate with leagues, creditors, distributors, etc., attempting to enter bankruptcy with a restructuring plan that could be accepted by a judge.

At the moment, the biggest league that is facing issues with Bally is Major League Baseball (MLB), which has multiple teams waiting on payments for the TV rights to the likes of the Arizona Diamondbacks and more. In a new report from the New York Post, MLB plans to broadcast games of about a half-dozen teams, that usually are shown on Bally, for free so fans don’t miss out when the season starts on March 30.

The SBJ report also states that the National Hockey League (NHL) is working with Diamond to reach a solution. At the end of 2021, the NHL was the first league to cut a digital rights deal with Diamond, and sources say the league is looking to accommodate the company. Ourand goes on to claim that, “of all the leagues, the NHL is, perhaps, in the best position in the unlikely event that Diamond fails to carry its games. The NHL already has a deal that allows ESPN to carry the league’s out-of-market games on ESPN+. The league could fashion a deal that would give ESPN the in-market rights, too.”

As of now, there is no news regarding what will happen to Predators games once Diamond Sports files for bankruptcy at the end of the week.

Nashville Sounds Announce Single-Game Tickets To Go On Sale February 28

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Nashville Sounds Opening Day 2022

Single-game tickets for all 75 Nashville Sounds home games for the 2023 season at First Horizon Park will go on sale tomorrow (Feb. 28) at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online, at the First Horizon Park Ticket Office or by calling 615-690-HITS ext. 2.

Notable 2023 home games include Opening Day on Friday, March 31 against the Louisville Bats (Cincinnati Reds) at 6:35 p.m., Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 14 against the Gwinnett Stripers (Atlanta Braves) at 2:05 p.m. and Tuesday, July 4 against the Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Guardians) at 6:05 p.m.

The Sounds will see two opponents return to First Horizon Park for the first time since 2019. The Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City Royals) play the Sounds April 25-30, while the Iowa Cubs (Chicago Cubs) will be in town from May 23-28.

First Horizon Park and the Sounds will host 13 different homestands to fill the 75-game home slate. The longest homestand of the season is a 12-game, 13-day stretch from June 13-25 when the Sounds host the Gwinnett Stripers from June 13-18 and the Norfolk Tides (Baltimore Orioles) from June 20-25.

In addition to the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians and Kansas City Royals, the Sounds will also host the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, Miami Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays.

The full promotion schedule for the 2023 season at First Horizon Park can be found by clicking here.

Stephen B. Smith To Be Inducted Into The Tennessee Sports Hall Of Fame

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Stephen B. Smith. Photo: Courtesy of MTSU Athletics

MTSU Board of Trustees Chairman, former Blue Raiders pitcher and Tennessee Walking Horse Champion Stephen B. Smith has been named a member of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2023.

Smith was surprised with the news Saturday evening, prior to the MTSU Lady Raiders basketball game against UAB. MTSU President Dr. Sidney McPhee, MTSU Athletics Director Chris Massaro and Lady Raiders Coach, TSHF Inductee Rick Insell, were all present for the announcement.

“Stephen Smith’s connection to Middle Tennessee covers the last six decades, from his time at Battle Ground Academy, to MTSU, to the Tennessee Walking Horse industry, Stephen has made an impact throughout his life,” says Brad Willis, Executive Director of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. “To this day, he continues to contribute his time and efforts to athletics, and we are thrilled to be able to honor him as part of our 2023 Class.”

Stephen B. Smith. Photo: Courtesy of MTSU Athletics

Smith graduated from Battle Ground Academy as a three-sport letterman, before pitching for the MTSU baseball team. The university’s inaugural Board of Trustees Chairman played an important role as part of the 1976 OVC Championship team, and overcame a life-threatening auto accident in 1977 to lead MTSU to a Western Division OVC Championship. He also spent time as a scout with the St. Louis Cardinals. Smith was an original partner and board member of the Nashville Sounds, a board member of the Nashville Old Timers Baseball Association and winner of the association’s 2009 “Mr. Baseball” Award. He has experience coaching youth baseball, and is currently part of the Williamson County Sports Authority as well as the board for Music City Baseball, an organization dedicated to bringing MLB to Nashville. Smith led the effort to construct the first lighted college baseball stadium in Tennessee, the current 3,000 seat stadium and MTSU’s new baseball clubhouse, which is named in his honor.

Additionally, Smith has been a lifelong horseman, winning 10 World Championships as a rider. He is an award-winning Walking Horse breeder, having bred, foaled and raised 11 Tennessee Walking Horses that have won a combined 32 World Championships.

The full 2023 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Induction Class will be revealed in the coming weeks.

The induction ceremony, presented by the Tennessee Titans, will be held Saturday, July 22 at the Omni Nashville Downtown. Ticket information will be announced at a later date.

Vanderbilt Baseball Stars Named To All-SEC Preseason Teams; TV Schedule Released

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Enrique Bradfield Jr. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Vanderbilt baseball stars Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Carter Holton continue to be recognized as they have been named to the preseason All-SEC teams.

Bradfield was named to the first team and Holton earned a spot on the second team. The Commodores were picked third in the SEC East behind Tennessee and Florida.

Bradfield was a consensus All-American in his sophomore campaign in 2022. He posted a .317 average with eight home runs and 36 RBIs while leading the SEC and ranking second nationally in stolen bases, going 46-for-46 on the season. He also led the SEC with five triples and earned first team All-SEC honors.

Holton made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2022. The southpaw earned unanimous Freshman All-American recognition as well as Freshman All-SEC. Holton ranked sixth in the SEC with a 3.14 ERA and compiled an 8-4 record with a pair of complete games. His 97 strikeouts were second-most on the team.

Carter Holton. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Fans will have many chances to catch Bradfield, Hoton and the rest of the Vandy boys on television throughout the 2023 season. 10 Vanderbilt baseball games will be televised during the 2023 season on ESPN’s family of networks.

The Commodores will play on ESPNU three times, ESPN2 twice and SEC Network five times. All three games against rival Tennessee will be televised with games two and three appearing on ESPN2. The Ole Miss series along with the Alabama series will also feature multiple televised games. 

The television slate begins March 16 against defending National Champion Ole Miss. Game one will be on ESPNU and the series finale (March 18) will be on the SEC Network. The Commodores return to television April 21-23 for the Tennessee series. Game one will be televised on SEC Network with the final two contests on ESPN2.

Vanderbilt then faces Kentucky on April 30 on the SEC Network before facing Alabama on ESPNU May 4 and on the SEC Network May 5. The road contest at Louisville on May 9 will air on ESPNU. Vandy wraps up the television slate May 12 against Florida on the SEC Network.

All other home games not scheduled for a national broadcast will appear on SEC Network+.

Vanderbilt opens the 2023 season Feb. 17-19 at the College Baseball Showdown in Arlington, Texas. The Dores will kick off the season on Friday against TCU before playing Oklahoma State on Saturday and Texas on Sunday. All three games will be streamed on FloSports.

First Horizon Park To Host All 4 Lou Showdown Featuring Vanderbilt, Belmont & Lipscomb On March 14 & 21

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The Nashville Sounds and First Horizon Park have announced that the All 4 Lou Showdown, a two-game college baseball series featuring Vanderbilt, Belmont and Lipscomb, will take place on March 14 and 21.

The games between the Commodores, Bruins and Bisons will raise money for the Live Like Lou Fund for ALS Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC).

The Live Like Lou Fund focuses on defeating Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The foundation has been working with VUMC for the past two years, committing more than $3.5 million to fund ALS research.

“We’re honored to partner with the Live Like Lou Foundation to raise money and awareness to those affected by ALS,” says Sounds General Manager Adam English. “It’s always beneficial when you can host an event that helps showcase the Nashville community while also supporting a great cause.”

On Tuesday, March 14, the Commodores play the Belmont Bruins in a non-conference matchup. This marks the sixth time the two teams will play at First Horizon Park. Belmont will serve as the home team and occupy the third base dugout. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. with gates opening at 5:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, March 21, Vanderbilt will square off against the Lipscomb Bisons in a non-conference game. The Commodores will serve as the home team and occupy the third base dugout. The 2023 matchup is the fifth between the two programs at the home of the Sounds. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. with gates opening at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets start at $10 for general admission seating. With each ticket purchased, four dollars will go directly to funding ALS research at VUMC.

There are a variety of other sponsorship opportunities available which include MVP Level ($493), All-Star Level ($1,080), Iron Horse Level ($2,130) and Hall of Fame Level ($4,444). These options provide reserved Club Level seating.

Vandy’s Enrique Bradfield Jr., Carter Holton Named Preseason All-America

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Featured Top-Bottom: Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Carter Holton. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

With the season just a few weeks away, Vanderbilt baseball players continue to get recognized as outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. and pitcher Carter Holton were both named to Baseball America’s and D1 Baseball’s All-America teams.

Bradfield Jr. was named to the first team by Baseball America and the second team by D1 Baseball while Holton was named to Baseball America’s third team and D1 Baseball’s second team.

Bradfield Jr. was a consensus All-American in his sophomore campaign in 2022. He posted a .317 average with eight home runs and 36 RBIs while leading the SEC and ranking second nationally in stolen bases, going 46-for-46 on the season. He also led the SEC with five triples and earned first team All-SEC honors.

Holton made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2022. The southpaw earned unanimous Freshman All-America recognition and was Freshman All-SEC. Holton ranked sixth in the SEC with a 3.14 ERA and compiled an 8-4 record with a pair of complete games. His 97 strikeouts were second-most on the team.

The duo has also been named to the Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game preseason All-America teams.

Vandy is currently ranked No. 6 in Baseball America’s preseason poll and No. 10 in D1 Baseball’s poll.

The Commodores open the 2023 season Feb. 17-19 at the College Baseball Showdown in Arlington, Texas.

Nashville Sounds Announce Premium, All-Inclusive Season Ticket Membership For 2023

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First Horizon Park. Photo: Courtesy of the Sounds

The Nashville Sounds have announced a new, all-inclusive season ticket membership for the Houchens Insurance Group (HIG) Club seats for the upcoming 2023 season.

Available in three plans, the ticket membership includes two hours of access to a rotating, chef-inspired menu and a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks in the Brauer Lounge. Access begins when gates open and runs for two hours.

The plan includes non-alcoholic drinks, canned beer and seltzers, and access to the Club Level concession stand menu. There will also be a dessert bar which will be available mid-game that includes cookies, brownies and soft-serve ice cream.

The HIG Club, located at sections 207-210, offer fully padded, suite-style seats and offer some of the best seats at First Horizon Park.

Membership plans start at $1,250 per seat for a partial season (18 games), $2,500 per seat for a half season (38 games) and $4,500 per seat for a full season (75 games).

“Our team is always looking for ways to constantly improve the game day experience, and this premium, all-inclusive ticket membership reflects that,” says Nashville Sounds General Manager Adam English. “We are thrilled to introduce a membership that creates value for fans and gives them access to the first-class amenities that First Horizon Park has to offer.”

Season ticket memberships provide families, businesses and fans with the best seating options, game day experience, amenities and benefits First Horizon Park has to offer. Exclusive membership benefits include:

  • Significant savings – members receive up to 45% off single-game ticket prices.
  • Free parking – members can save up to $1,000 on parking fees around First Horizon Park.
  • Membership events – exclusive invites to VIP events such as batting practice on the field.
  • Pro Shop discount – receive 15% off all purchases.
  • VIP Card – Enjoy discounts at select Germantown restaurants with special membership card.

Nashville Sounds Foundation Now Accepting Scholarship Applications

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The Nashville Sounds Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2023 Scholarship Program. The foundation will award four scholarships worth $2,500 each to graduating high school seniors who plan to attend college in the fall of 2023.

The program, which began in 2016, has awarded $70,000 in scholarships and is designed to assist Nashville and Middle Tennessee students in paying for college tuition during their freshman year.

“The Nashville Sounds Foundation is grateful to support Middle Tennessee area students in their pursuit of higher education for the eighth straight year,” says Nashville Sounds General Manager Adam English. “We’re extremely thankful for our fans whose support through fundraising efforts and donations makes this scholarship program possible.”

Interested seniors must complete the application process, which includes submitting a 500-or-less word essay on mental health and bodily nutrition in the workplace. In addition to the essay, each submission must include at least two letters of recommendation from a teacher and/or coach and an official high school transcript. The scholarship will be awarded based on the culmination of the student’s schoolwork, extracurricular activities and involvement in the community.

Each winner will receive tickets to a select 2023 Nashville Sounds game and will be recognized during a pre-game ceremony. The deadline to be considered for the 2023 scholarships is Friday, Feb. 17, and winners will be notified no later than March 27.