Anne Rogers KANSAS CITY — The Royals will be back on FanDuel Sports Network Kansas City in 2026. The club announced Wednesday that it exercised its mutual option with Main Street Sports Group, the owner of FanDuel Sports Network. During the 2026 season, Royals broadcasts will remain available in the same places they were over the previous season, including cable, satellite and vMVPD packages, TV Everywhere (TVE) streaming and the network’s direct-to-consumer app, which is available on iOS, Android, smart TVs, connected devices and an add-on to Amazon Prime Video subscriptions. “There is nothing more important to us than connecting with and making our games available to our great fans,” Royals chairman/CEO John Sherman said in the team’s statement. “Our viewership is growing and continues to rank among the best in baseball both through linear cable and streaming, and we look forward to continuing that strong momentum through our ownership group’s investment and the exciting team J.J. Picollo and his staff are building.” The option is for one year only, so the Royals will re-evaluate their options again next offseason. The Royals faced a decision last winter to either stay with FanDuel (previously Bally’s) or find a new way to broadcast games to fans, like joining Major League Baseball’s production group, which produces and distributes broadcasts of several teams. Kansas City decided to stay with the regional sports network due to growth and familiarity with fans. That thinking held strong this offseason, as the continuity with FanDuel Sports Network was largely expected. We have exercised our mutual option with Main Street Sports Group, the owner of FanDuel Sports Network, to remain television and streaming broadcast partners for the 2026 season. pic.twitter.com/aVQA1gzc6z According to the team, Royals games this season ranked No. 1 in primetime in the Kansas City area and top 10 in MLB in household rating. Total average minute audience, total unique streamers and total minutes streamed were all up double digits, the team said. “We’re excited to continue our partnership with the Royals,” said Sarah Tourville, FanDuel Sports Network’s executive vice president/team partnerships. “Our multiplatform strategy drove strong viewership growth last season, and we look forward to working together to expand their audience reach and drive fan engagement.” In 2025, the Royals also simulcast 10 games on local, over-the-air channels KCTV5 and KSMO-TV, making those games even more accessible. While there’s no deal in place yet for 2026, the team hopes to offer that again to fans in Kansas City. The Royals have not yet announced their full broadcast team for next season, but they expect it to be similar to their crew in the past.
Register to Drapers to read ONE FREE article and a FREE digital edition Register to Drapers to read ONE FREE article and a FREE digital edition Sports Direct opened a new flagship in Liverpool last week, demonstrating a new store concept in which consumers can both shop and exercise. By Emma Finamore20 October 2025 The new three-storey, 90,000 sq ft flagship on Liverpool’s Church Street opened on Friday 17 October, offering gym facilities alongside performance gear and trend-led athleisurewear. Since 2022, Frasers Group has invested into elevating Sports Direct as part of its wider elevation strategy across all of its brands. To date, more than 50% of Sports Direct’s stores have been remodelled under the strategy. The new Liverpool store is zoned by sport and training type, allowing customers to navigate with ease and shop by their specific interests – from running, football and swimming to outdoor adventure and racket sports. An Everlast Gym+ occupies the full third floor of the store, also featuring a reformer pilates studio and a “recovery suite” with ice baths, herbal and dry salt saunas, and a modern, elevated space for post-training reset. Michael Murray, chief executive officer at Frasers Group, said: “Liverpool is a case study of how our Elevation Strategy is winning. It’s where ambition meets execution: a destination that showcases our strategy’s momentum. With every new opening, we’re not just adding stores, we’re transforming the retail landscape, creating spaces that energise communities and redefine the high street experience. “This Sports Direct and Everlast Gyms+ opening captures everything our strategy stands for – confidence, innovation, and belief in the future of physical retail. We’re building momentum across the UK and beyond, and Liverpool is the latest example of that success.”
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Many thanks to Ballylisk Car Sales & Alan Francey Independent Family Funeral Services who were our Match Sponsors for yesterday evenings 2-0 victory over Linfield in the Sports Direct Premiership at Shamrock Park. We hope both businesses had a great night with us, we greatly appreciate their sponsorship and trust all at PFC support those businesses who back our club. We also thank our Match Ball Sponsor who were Richhill Reds Supporters Club
For the past seven years, the managers of the Villanova women’s basketball team have been led by head manager Rachel Grace, who is better known by her nickname, RG3. RG3, who has Down Syndrome, is a Special Olympics athlete in addition to her head manager duties, and has had a lifelong love of athletics. She grew up playing basketball, starting at the age of five, and later found soccer. “I’ve seen her play basketball and soccer,” Maggie Harris, friend of RG3 and Special Olympics soccer committee member, said. “She’s amazing at both of them. She’s famous for her threes in basketball… she’s amazing at everything she does.” RG3, from what she can recall, has participated in Special Olympics since she was a young teenager and hasn’t missed a single year of Villanova’s Fall Festival since she started. These days, RG3 plays soccer for the Montgomery County Knights, a local recreational soccer club. While she often moves around the field, she typically plays at striker, scoring goals and assisting teammates. “I’m a striker, so I usually have a good shot of getting some goals,” RG3 said. RG3 has an infectious energy and love for the people around her. She appreciates the little things in life. Harris has been honored to experience RG3’s bigger-than-life personality throughout her time at Villanova. “Once, after she won a game, she came up to me and hugged me, and it was just awesome. I feel like she really shows her appreciation for people through hugs,” Harris said. “I saw her in [Dougherty Dining Hall] and she literally gave me six hugs… when she feels for you, she’ll let you know, which is awesome and very heartwarming.” RG3 loves every part of Fall Fest weekend: the games, the energy and the connections she gets to make with other athletes and volunteers. She especially enjoys making new friends each year and sharing her love of athletics with others. “What I love about Special Olympics is that you get to meet new people and create friendships,” RG3 said. “It’s like the whole point of being there. To share the love of the sport, but also make friends doing it.” RG3 is known as the hype person at Villanova. She cheers everyone on, whether it’s her players, fellow managers, or teammates. “If someone makes a shot, she always hypes them up. She’ll high-five them and cheer them on, even during practice. She’s just a source of energy,” Harris said. “Whenever you see her, it’s gonna put a smile on your face. She’s always very energetic. If I were having a bad day, I would see RG3, and it would be a good day. Her energy is very contagious.” Beyond her love of the game, RG3 also emphasizes the importance of the message of inclusion that Fall Fest celebrates each year. RG3 enjoys Fall Fest because it serves as a platform for her and others to emphasize the value of inclusion and accessibility in sports. For RG3, Special Olympics is a space where she can play the sports she loves and always feel included. “For Special Olympics, for me, I’d have to say that we don’t have to be excluded now from playing sports,” RG3 said. “You don’t have to feel excluded because you get a shot of playing in Special Olympics.” That is what the Special Olympics committee strives for and values. RG3’s message can be seen across the entirety of Fall Fest sports. “So many athletes come to Fall Fest and the vibes are just embracing everyone’s abilities instead of looking at their disabilities first,” Harris said. “They worked so hard to get here… It’s just acknowledging the hard work that they put in, not just looking at their disability, but embracing them for their character.” Throughout her entire life, RG3 has felt the unyielding support of her parents, who have encouraged her to be a role model for other people with Down Syndrome. “What my parents always told me is that I’m a good role model for people with Down Syndrome,” RG3 said. “Being a role model is like putting your foot forward…and just supporting everyone.” As Fall Fest weekend is fast approaching, RG3 has a message for her fellow athletes: “Believe in yourself, show who you are, always follow your dreams, and keep living it.” Your donation will support the student journalists of The Villanovan with technological needs, training, etc! Cancel reply Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked
