Champions League global rights deal set to be struck by U.S. agency Relevent with UEFA, clubs

GENEVA (AP) — UEFA and top European soccer clubs are set to drop the Swiss agency that has sold Champions League rights since 1992 and replace it with the U.S. firm of Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross.

New York-based Relevent Sports has been given exclusive negotiating rights “over the global commercial rights to the UEFA men’s club competitions for the period 2027-2033,” UEFA said Tuesday, announcing the decision of its commercial joint venture with the European Club Association.

UEFA men’s club competitions — including the Champions League, Europa League, Conference League and Super Cup — have earned gross commercial revenue of at least 4.4 billion euros ($4.54 billion) for each season through 2027, almost entirely sold by established agency partner TEAM Marketing.

The 36 Champions League teams this season will share about 2.5 billion euros ($2.6 billion) in prize money from UEFA, and influential officials from those clubs pushed for the move from TEAM toward a fresh approach by Relevent.

Relevent’s first Champions League deal with UEFA was struck in 2022 during the company's long-standing legal action against FIFA to try to stage national league games from Europe in the U.S. That case was settled last April and weeks later FIFA said it would review rules blocking so-called “out-of-territory” games.

The first deal with UEFA let Relevent market just the United States rights for three Champions League seasons through 2027, in the new format with extra games.

That American deal cut into the global marketing of the marquee club competition by TEAM Marketing in Switzerland since the traditional European Cup was rebranded 33 years ago.

UEFA said the decision favoring Relevent followed a tender process “which attracted bids from a number of global and regional agencies.”

“Naturally we are disappointed, but we remain incredibly proud of the work we have done alongside UEFA over the past 35 years,” TEAM said in a statement from its base in Lucerne. “Together, we have built a world-class commercial program that has delivered over 50 billion euros ($52 billion) in revenue for European club football.”

A confirmed deal between Relevent and the UEFA-ECA joint ventures is expected within weeks, UEFA said.

Relevent becoming the exclusive sales agent for UEFA men's club competitions likely will renew speculation about one day bringing a Champions League final to the United States. It has been a regular talking point since UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin was elected in 2016.

The final is the only Champions League game played at the weekend each season and would be a lucrative option for UEFA to take to the U.S., though also likely to be opposed by fans.

The next available final for UEFA to seek bidders to host is the title match of the 2027-28 season, the first in the commercial cycle Relevent is now in exclusive talks to market.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

The group formations are shown on an electronic panel after drawing the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off draw, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)

Real Madrid's Rodrygo, left, celebrates with his teammate Kylian Mbappe after scoring his side's third goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Brest and Real Madrid at Roudourou stadium in Guingamp, France, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

The New York Rangers have hired Mike Sullivan as coach, days after he and the Pittsburgh Penguins agreed to part ways.

General manager Chris Drury announced the move Friday, bringing in the organization's top candidate who was out of work for less than a full business week.

“Mike Sullivan has established himself as one of the premier head coaches in the NHL,” Drury said. “Mike brings a championship-level presence behind the bench. ... As we began this process and Mike became an available option for us to speak with, it was immediately clear that he was the best coach to lead our team.”

Sullivan replaces Peter Laviolette, who was fired after the Rangers missed the playoffs following a trip to the Eastern Conference final last year. Sullivan, who coached Pittsburgh to the Stanley Cup back to back in 2016 and ’17, is tasked with trying to turn the Rangers back into an immediate contender.

Drury made the move to get Sullivan not long after receiving a multiyear contract extension of his own.

“Mike’s track record and success in the NHL and internationally speaks for itself, and I look forward to seeing him behind the Rangers bench," owner James Dolan said. "I would like to welcome Mike back to the Rangers organization.”

Sullivan, 57, spent four seasons as a Rangers assistant under then-coach and still close friend and confidant John Tortorella from 2009-13. He coached Drury during that time, and the two have worked together professionally through USA Hockey, most recently at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February, and are part of the U.S. contingent for the 2026 Milan Olympics.

Tortorella — who was fired as coach of the Philadelphia Flyers in late March — could be a candidate to join Sullivan on his staff, as he did at the 4 Nations, but no assistant hires were confirmed Friday and the organization is expected to discuss those openings in the coming days.

Sullivan had been with the Penguins since getting hired midseason in December 2015 when Mike Johnston was fired months into his lackluster tenure. This is his third head-coaching job in the NHL after a short stint with the Boston Bruins in 2003-04 and '05-06 sandwiched around the lockout that wiped out an entire season.

New York getting Sullivan leaves seven teams around the league with vacancies: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Anaheim, Seattle and Vancouver. Multiple teams that initially reached out to Sullivan will now have to pivot to other experienced options, including Rick Tocchet, Joel Quenneville and Laviolette, as well as a couple of college coaches with recent national championships: Denver's David Carle and Western Michigan's Pat Ferschweiler.

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FILE - Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan raises the Stanley Cup after Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the San Jose Sharks in San Jose, Calif, June 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)

FILE - Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan hoists the Stanley Cup as Bryan Rust (17) watches after defeating the Nashville Predators 2-0 in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Sunday, June 11, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, file)