Front Office Sports

Sports Illustrated’s Publisher Guts Staff. Future Unclear.

The fallout: On Friday Arena told SI employees in an email “… We were notified by Authentic Brands Group (ABG) that the license under which the Arena Group operates the Sports Illustrated (SI) brand and SI related properties has been officially revoked by ABG. As a result of this license revocation, we will be laying off staff that work on the SI brand.” According to SI union sources, severed guild members will be given 90 days’ notice (during which time there remains the chance that the licensing deal is resolved); and laid-off non-guild employees will be let go immediately. As of midday Friday, there remained massive confusion about the depth of the layoffs, but at a 2 p.m. staff call it was made clear: Anyone left in 90 days would be laid off, unless the licensing issue was resolved.

Read the article at:

https://frontofficesports.com/sports-illustrateds-publisher-lays-off-entire-staff-future-unclear/

(My bet is that some other magazine or publishing company will purchase the magazine.)