Main Street Sports Group is reportedly engaged in discussions with a second potential buyer as concerns grow over its ongoing sale to DAZN. While details about this alternate bidder remain murky, sources have disclosed that the St. Louis Cardinals are among the Major League Baseball (MLB) teams contemplating a split from Main Street unless a compelling final offer is presented. This comes after the team failed to receive their December rights fee payment.
It is anticipated that six other MLB teams—including the Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, and Miami Marlins—may also opt to exit their agreements with Main Street. The Atlanta Braves are similarly weighing their options. In contrast, the Tampa Bay Rays appear to be the only franchise willing to remain loyal to Main Street, having received their 2026 rights fee payment punctually, attributed to the favorable demographics and cable ratings in their market.
Main Street has reportedly been touting Fubo TV as the potential second bidder, although this has been met with skepticism from other media sources. Meanwhile, conversations between Main Street and DAZN are believed to be falling apart due to unwillingness from NBA and NHL teams to accept key stipulations, including extending contracts through the 2028-29 season and agreeing to significant cuts in rights fee payments.
The situation is dire as Main Street has missed payments to most of its 13 NBA teams, leading it to request a 20% reduction in rights fees for the current season, while deferring those payments. Additionally, for the upcoming 2026-27 season, they are pushing for a profit-sharing agreement which has met with resistance from teams in both leagues.
Given the mounting skepticism among NBA and NHL teams regarding Main Street’s ability to sustain operations for the remainder of the season, many are proactively investigating alternative broadcasting solutions, including returning to over-the-air or direct-to-distributor arrangements, potentially through the leagues’ NextGen platforms.
Even if Main Street secures a second buyer, teams are wary due to concerns about the group’s financial stability. Both MLB and the NBA are also preparing to roll out national streaming regional sports networks by their upcoming seasons, which could threaten the long-term viability of Main Street or any new owners.
This situation highlights the ongoing struggles faced by regional sports networks and the complexities associated with broadcasting rights in a rapidly evolving media landscape. While challenges loom, this period also presents an opportunity for leagues and teams to explore innovative approaches to delivering games to fans, possibly leading to more sustainable models in the future.