Amy Calistri

Amy Calistri

Business and Investment Correspondent  |  AUSTIN, TX

Muck Rack profile

Amy Calistri got her high school letter in golf and hasn't golfed since. She has a collegiate letter in wrestling, but never wrestled. She was arguably the worst catcher in IBM's coed softball league. But she is a hardcore sports fan, having spent her formative years yelling from Boston Garden's second balcony and Fenway's cheap seats. She loves when she can combine her love of sports with her business acumen. Amy is published in the areas of economics, investing, statistics, poker, and the sports and gaming industries.

Las Vegas properties like the Venetian are still struggling during the pandemic, while Asian casinos are bouncing back. (Image: Venetian.com)

Las Vegas Sands in Talks to Sell Strip Properties for $6 Billion

Las Vegas Sands is considering selling its casino properties on the vaunted Las Vegas Strip. According to sources, Sheldon Adelson’s company is in talks to sell the Venetian, the Palazzo, and its convention center. Once Adelson’s crown jewels, the Venetian and Palazzo casinos are now but a small piece of […]

Red Sox and Liverpool Could Go Public in SPAC Acquisition

Red Sox and Liverpool Could Go Public in SPAC Acquisition

Billy Beane’s SPAC could acquire both the Boston Red Sox and the Liverpool Football Club. RedBall, a blank-check investment company, has been looking to buy a professional sports team. Instead of one team, however, the SPAC could end up with two world-class franchises — if it can raise more cash […]

Caesars Entertainment already owns 20 percent of William Hill US, but Apollo may have more cash. (Image: Robert Alexander/Getty)

Both Apollo and Caesars Revealed as Potential William Hill Buyers

Apollo Management International and Caesars Entertainment are each courting William Hill. William Hill has received proposals from both companies in what could be the first steps of a takeover. Shares of the sportsbook soared more than 40% on the news. On Friday, William Hill issued a statement confirming it received […]

(Image: Bill Kostroun/AP)

SPACs: How to Own a Sports Team Without Being a Billionaire

Steve Cohen needed $2.45 billion to buy the NY Mets. But with a SPAC, you don’t need to be a billionaire to own a professional sports team. Special purpose acquisition companies are a hot stock market trend, and they offer individuals an opportunity to own everything from a European football […]

Caesars already owns 20% of William Hill US.

Activist Hedge Fund Investor Could Push for William Hill Sale

The hedge fund HG Vora now owns a 5.1% stake in the sportsbook William Hill. The fund’s manager, Parag Vora, has a history of instigating gaming sector deals and, as a result, William Hill could be in play. The hedge fund’s $149 million William Hill investment was disclosed in a […]

Twenty years after the release of NSYNC's No Strings attached, Justin Timberlake (center) joins new group focused on bringing MLB to Nashville (Image: Time Roney/Getty)

Justin Timberlake Joins Group Luring MLB Team to Nashville

Justin Timberlake is joining a high-profile group, trying to score a MLB team for Nashville. Timberlake, a Grammy Award winner and Memphis Grizzlies minority owner, is a pitch-perfect addition to the Music City Baseball investment group. Timberlake, a Memphis native, is excited by the prospect of a Nashville MLB team. […]

Michael Jordan, six-time NBA Champion and Charlotte Hornets , joins fellow major league owners in DarftKings stake. (Image: Thibault Camus/AP)

Michael Jordan Takes Equity Stake in DraftKings, Stock Soars

NBA icon Michael Jordan will receive an equity stake in the sports betting company DraftKings. In exchange, Jordan will become a special advisor to the company’s board of directors. News of the deal, announced Wednesday, sent DraftKings’ stock soaring. This isn’t Jordan’s first investment in the sports betting sector. In […]

The New York Mets are looking for a new buyer after a sale to hedge fund manager Steve Cohen fell through. (Image: Jeff McIsaac/Newsday)

Cohen Nears Mets Purchase, Fans Cheer, J-Lo Laments

There might be light at the end of the tunnel for NY Mets fans. On Friday, the beleaguered team won a double-header against the Yankees. On Saturday, fans discovered that billionaire Steve Cohen is in exclusive talks — again — to buy the Mets. In a subway series for the […]

test (image: Gouldin Auctions)

$4 Million Mike Trout Rookie Card Sets Record in Hot Collectibles Market

A one-of-a-kind Mike Trout rookie card broke a record on Saturday when it sold for $3.84 million at auction. Including the buyer’s premium, the card sold for $3.94 million. Honus Wagner’s 1909 T206 card, which fetched $3.1 at auction back in 2016, was the previous record holder. While the buyer’s […]

FanDuel's retail casinos will be powered by IGT through 2024. (Image: FanDuel)

FanDuel Expands IGT Partnership, DraftKings Tests Lacrosse

Sportsbook deals continue to heat up, even as major league sports continue to struggle. In a new multi-year deal, International Gaming Technologies will provide the technology for all of FanDuel’s retail sportsbooks. Meanwhile, FanDuel rival, DraftKings, sees opportunity in the Premier Lacrosse League. Restarting sports in 2020 has been challenging, […]

Online sports betting companies may not need to partner up with existing casinos. (Image: Encore)

Massachusetts Could Offer First Untethered Online Sports Betting

Massachusetts may be the first state to allow online sports betting that isn’t tied to a brick and mortar casino. The Massachusetts House plans to add its unique sports betting proposal to an economic development bill currently making its way through the legislature. More than 20 states have successfully passed […]

A surge in COVID-19 cases in Texas prompts cancelation of F1's only US race in 2020. (Image Eric Gay/AP)

F1 Cancels Austin and Americas Races, Adds European Venues

Formula 1 officially canceled the US Grand Prix, set for Austin’s Circuit of the Americas in October. Citing health concerns, F1 canceled all four of its races in the Americas, opting to add more European stops instead. F1 was one of the first sports to grapple with the coronavirus. Back […]

After a 22-year career in the NBA, Kevin Garnett could return as the Timberwolves' new owner.

Timberwolves for Sale, Kevin Garnett and Wilf Family Among Bidders

Longtime owner Glen Taylor is looking to sell the Minnesota Timberwolves for $1.2 billion. Current bidders include the Wilf family, owners of the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, while another bidding group features Kevin Garnett, the former power forward who led the T-Wolves to eight consecutive playoff berths. The 79-year old Taylor […]

(Image: Robyn Beck/Getty)

Natalie Portman, Serena Williams Among NWSL LA Team Owners

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) awarded its Los Angeles expansion team rights to an owners group, replete with women actors, entrepreneurs and athletes. The star-studded group includes actor Natalie Portman, tennis pro Serena Williams, and 14 former USWNT players. Last month, The Athletic revealed that an LA expansion team was […]

New York Liberty and the Seattle Storm will face off for the first game of the 2020 WNBA season (Image: Katy Willens/AP)

WNBA 2020 Week 1 Schedule, Preseason Futures and Ionescu Debut

The WNBA 2020 regular season schedule gets underway on July 25 and runs through Sept. 12. The players are already bubbled (or wubbled) at the IMG Academy in Florida. Fortunately, fans won’t have to wait long for Sabrina Ionescu’s professional debut, scheduled for opening day. The players are already at […]

Atlantic City's Showboat could soon be a casino again, thanks to the conditions of the Eldorado and Caeasars merger. (Image: Timothy Clary/Getty)

Eldorado Caesars Merger Gets Final Approval After Surprise Concession

New Jersey gave its approval for the Eldorado Resorts and Caesars Entertainment merger on Friday, but with one surprising condition. Given the current environment, however, the casino companies are lucky they made it through the lengthy approval process. The New Jersey Casino Control Commission was the last regulator to review […]

Tensions between the Redskin's minority owners and Dan Snyder. (Image: Matt Rourke/AP)

Snyder at Risk Over Washington Redskins Sexual Harassment Scandal

Multiple claims of sexual harassment are upstaging the Washington Redskins’ team renaming saga. The disturbing revelations, detailed by The Washington Post on Thursday, could shake up the NFL team’s ownership ranks. According to the paper, 15 women are alleging widespread sexual harassment while working for the Washington Redskins. Although Dan […]

The clock is ticking for  the Wilpons, who need to sell the Mets by year end.

Rumors Have Steve Cohen Back as First Round Mets Bidder

Billionaire hedge fund manager Steve Cohen is apparently taking another stab at buying the New York Mets. According to rumors, Cohen is a last-minute participant in the first round of bidding for the MLB team. If the rumors are true, this would be Cohen’s second attempt to pry the Mets […]

In June, David Price paid $1,000 to more than 200 minor league players in the Dodgers' farm system. (Image:Russ D. Franklin/AP)

Dodgers Lose David Price for 2020 Season, Red Sox Save $6 Million

Citing family health concerns, MLB pitcher David Price has opted out of the 2020 season. It’s a tough break for the Dodgers, who traded for Price in February. Meanwhile, the Red Sox could get a little CBT buffer due to the pitcher’s hiatus. One of the biggest trades leading into […]

Under Armour is trying to weasel out of its 10-year $86 million Cal deal (Image; Cal Sports)

Under Armour Wants to Back Out of UCLA and Cal Contracts

Under Armour is trying to ditch its long-term contracts with two of California’s best-known college sports programs. This appears to be yet another desperate attempt by the fading apparel company to stem its mounting losses. Under Armour was struggling even before the global pandemic. Since then, things have only gotten […]