Main Street Sports Group is reportedly facing a rapidly narrowing path forward, and the consequences could ripple across professional basketball and hockey as early as this season. According to a report by The Sports Business Journal, if the company fails to secure emergency financing or complete a last-minute sale, sources tell SBJ say liquidation could begin next week, placing the local television homes of 20 NBA and NHL teams in immediate jeopardy.
Executives across multiple leagues are monitoring the situation closely as uncertainty grows around the future of FanDuel Sports Networks. Should Main Street enter Chapter 7 bankruptcy, broadcasts could abruptly cease following a short grace period, forcing teams and leagues to activate contingency plans on the fly.
Industry sources believe the turning point centers on Main Street’s nine Major League Baseball partners. Those clubs include teams in Atlanta, Detroit, St. Louis, and Tampa Bay. They are increasingly viewed as unlikely to continue operating under the current structure.
With the MLB season approaching quickly, skepticism about Main Street’s financial stability has intensified after the company emerged from Chapter 11 restructuring just one year ago.
If those baseball teams formally opt out, the fallout could be immediate. Potential buyer DAZN is widely expected to withdraw from negotiations under that scenario, removing what many see as the company’s final viable lifeline.
According to SBJ, that outcome would likely leave Main Street with no alternative but liquidation, putting NBA and NHL broadcasts at risk during the heart of their seasons.
Main Street has said it would carry games through the regular season if a sale falls through. Confidence in that plan has reportedly weakened. The company has missed rights fee payments. It has also asked teams to accept reductions and deferrals. Those moves have raised concerns among creditors and league officials.
In response, both the NBA and NHL have quietly prepared fallback strategies. League sources tell SBJ teams would shift toward local broadcast partners, including over-the-air television options. At the same time, in-market streaming would move to league-controlled platforms. The NBA would rely on League Pass and its proprietary app infrastructure. The NHL would use its Game Center service to maintain fan access.
Individual franchises are also positioning themselves for rapid change. Many have previously engaged with digital streaming vendors capable of launching direct-to-consumer platforms on short notice. Several of those companies already operate team-specific services across professional sports and could step in quickly, even on a temporary basis.
Until recently, executives believed a season-long wind-down represented the most likely scenario. That outlook now appears less certain as the timeline accelerates and negotiations continue behind closed doors.
DAZN remains the primary wild card, though sources suggest the company may prefer to pursue future league partnerships without assuming Main Street’s mounting losses.
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