The Federal Reserve on Wednesday approved its first interest rate hike in over three years and indicated another is to come, as inflation persists due to “spiraling oil prices and other factors,” per CNBC’s Jeff Cox. The decision brings the overnight funds rate to a target range of 3.75%-4%. The central bank says in a statement that “inflation remains elevated. Today’s policy action will support a timelier return to the Committee’s 2 percent goal. The Committee will deliver price stability.” (link)

Clearlake has agreed to acquire the ownership stakes of Todd Boehly and Mark Walter in Chelsea in a deal valuing the Premier League club at £5B ($6.5B) including debt, according to the Financial Times. Under the agreement, Clearlake will pay £950M in cash for the pair's combined 25% holding to assume full operational control. The transaction, which includes £1.4B in debt as of June 2025 alongside spending commitments and summer transfer funds, clears the path for long-delayed facility upgrades after years of friction over stadium expansion. Also of note, Evercore, Goldman Sachs, BDT & MSD, Raine Group and Bank of America were all involved as advisors on the deal. (link)

As the value of sports franchises continues to be red hot, Breach Inlet Capital Management Founder Chris Colvin is urging the Atlanta Braves to explore a sale or private buyout to capitalize on record MLB team valuations, according to The Athletic’s Evan Drellich. Here’s what you need to know…

➤ Breach Inlet, which holds 778,518 non-voting shares valued at $40M (ranking among the top 20 institutional owners), noted recent franchise sales of the San Diego Padres ($3.9B) and Los Angeles Angels ($4B at a record 10x revenue multiple on $377M in 2025 revenue). Colvin argued the Braves could command an even higher multiple given their $732M in 2025 revenue and stadium real-estate development. 

➤ Colvin highlighted financial risks driving the proposal, including an expected December owner lockout and pending tax law changes restricting player salary deductions that will cost public teams over $20M annually starting next year. 

➤ Former Liberty Media Chairman John Malone retains voting control over the club, while Chairman Terry McGuirk and President Derek Schiller previously cited prospective upside from 2029 national media contracts as reasons to maintain ownership, but Colvin remarks: "The risk is if this turns into an extended lockout, I do fear what damage that could do to baseball’s brand. Investors may not appreciate that baseball’s doing as well as it’s done in a long, long time. It’s not my base case that we’re going to have an extended lockout, and then it damages the brand of baseball and therefore the Braves. But I think it’s above a zero percent probability.” (link)

Private equity executives estimate that between 66% and 90% of buyout funds launched from 2019 to 2021 will fail to deliver their initially targeted returns, Financial Times' Alexandra Heal reports, adding that buyout firms paid steep acquisition multiples during the pandemic and are now withholding asset sales to avoid realizing losses, exiting just $386B of holdings in the first half of the year. Bain & Company notes 2025 marked the fourth consecutive year the sector returned less than 15% of net assets to investors, a steep decline from the previous decade's 25% average. Advent Managing Partner James Brocklebank explained how the frothy dealmaking climate crippled the industry's ability to hit standard internal rate of return metrics: "Particularly 2021 was such an exuberant year, and a lot of people really invested a lot of money in that year, at very high multiples. So it’s very hard to see in the current environment that they will meet their targets." (link)

The expansion of artificial intelligence and enterprise data is requiring finance leaders to balance rapid decision-making against analytical paralysis, according to CFO Dive's Grace Noto. Vena Solutions CFO Melissa Howatson explains that the modern finance chief must transition from a traditional stewardship role into a strategic catalyst, empowering staff to handle routine tasks like payroll while executives focus on business modeling and continuous planning cycles. To prevent organizational noise from stalling progress, Howatson relies on cross-departmental experts to evaluate data relevance and urges teams to execute strategy even if they only possess 80% of the target information. Howatson: “I think that’s really scary for finance people who have made their identity based on being the one who has the right answer, or doing that analysis. But I think it’s really exciting for those who want to lean into telling the story behind the numbers…helping to be part of the decisioning of the business and pushing things forward.” (link)

In a Deloitte survey of 1,434 finance leaders across 26 countries, 43% of respondents indicate they are prioritizing AI and advanced technology to automate business functions by FY27, according to CFO Brew's Natasha Piñon. The expansion of enterprise AI has added non-traditional responsibilities to finance mandates, with 54% of executives leading cross-enterprise AI capital allocation, 48% overseeing AI trust and output accuracy, and 48% managing AI cost controls—with over two-thirds inheriting these duties within the past three years. Further, 60% of respondents expect AI costs and complexity to climb in 2027, while only 35% plan to maintain their current cost management practices. From the report: “Notably, respondents who expect AI costs to rise are more likely to work at more AI-mature companies than those who expect costs to stay around current levels, according to how respondents answered questions about their organizations’ AI journeys.” (link)

More from CFO Brew on the topic, as entrenched data silos represent the primary obstacle to enterprise AI deployment for half of the 300 IT executives polled in a recent MIT Technology Review survey, Demi Lawrence reports. To overcome these barriers, Morae CEO Shahzad Bashir advises organizations to filter and migrate isolated information into a centralized, reliable shared state. A transition away from isolated data warehouses—like those traditionally utilized by companies such as General Electric—allows businesses to connect sales, supply chain, workforce, and finance metrics for real-time decision-making. Anaplan CFO Hemant Kapadia noted that rather than relying on a single overarching AI system, finance leaders should deploy and integrate specialized tools across different sub-functions: "I think if you try and build a god agent, you’re always going to suboptimize. The way we like to think about it is, you’ll have agents which will have certain skills that they can do. But then the more important part is being able to stitch together a number of these agents…and different organizations will take four different agents and build a persona out of those agents." (link)

U.S. Census Bureau economists analyzed data encompassing roughly 29% of U.S. bachelor’s degrees issued between 2016 and 2024 to determine the labor market impact of artificial intelligence on new graduates following the November 2022 release of ChatGPT, according to Bloomberg's Michael Sasso. The study found that students graduating with AI-exposed majors—heavily populated by computer science and information systems—experienced a 5% drop in initial employment likelihood and a 13% decline in starting earnings as many shifted into lower-paying retail and restaurant roles. The displacement arrives despite a modest 4.1% national unemployment rate, though Federal Reserve Bank of New York data shows recent college graduates face a 5.7% jobless rate compared to 2.9% for all graduates. From the report: "This earnings decline is comparable in magnitude to the earnings losses associated with graduating into a large recession. ... These findings suggest that the rise of AI could have long-term consequences for early career workers, especially recent college graduates who have made costly human capital investments in AI-exposed fields." (link)

Puck's William D. Cohan caught up with Financial Times bond expert Robin Wigglesworth to analyze the market reaction to inflation holding at 3.5% and the national debt reaching $40T. Wigglesworth advocated for an aggressive rate hike of up to 100 basis points to combat inflation and addressed the rapid expansion of the $40T private credit market, noting concerns over underwriting standards and potential self-dealing by firms including Apollo, KKR, Guggenheim, and Brookfield. More key takeaways…

➤ On the Federal Reserve: "It’s finding the balance between credibly committing to bringing inflation down to the target sooner rather than later, but not so much that they crush the economy. ... You don’t want bond yields falling because the economy is going into a recession. You want bond yields falling because inflation is going to moderate, and that’s the tightrope that Warsh and the rest of the Fed have to walk now."

➤ The enduring strength of the U.S. dollar as the global reserve currency: "I cannot overemphasize how much I believe the death of the dollar as a narrative has been overdone. … I think that is unassailable. The Chinese couldn’t even erode it if they wanted to. ... [I]n finance it’s unparalleled, and I genuinely cannot see anything that will challenge it. It is baked in the cake." 

➤ Moving credit away from the traditional banking system: "It would be better for the financial system as a whole if more credit were happening in the capital markets, whether it’s private or public, than in the banking system. I think that’s a healthier place for it." (link)

A mystery Polymarket user earned approximately $22K by executing a series of successful wagers on the quarterly earnings of 18 companies audited by KPMG, according to blockchain forensics firm Bubblemaps. The analysis revealed that 19 interconnected accounts placed 42 bets on whether clients such as Wells Fargo, The Home Depot, and DoorDash would beat market estimates, achieving a 98% win rate compared to just 82% on organizations utilizing different auditors. The findings follow reports that federal authorities are preparing insider trading charges against a KPMG employee tied to the prediction platform. A KPMG spokesman addressed the firm's response to the allegations and its internal compliance protocols: “We have zero tolerance for violations of our well-understood and clear policies against trading on nonpublic client information, including on prediction markets. We’ve enhanced our monitoring capabilities and continually explore emerging technology solutions to protect our capital markets from these dynamic threats.” (link)

National nonresidential construction costs rose 1.58% in Q2 2026 and 5.60% year-over-year, propelled by mega-project demand in data centers and advanced manufacturing along with union labor adjustments, according to the Mortenson Construction Cost Index. Material prices increased 1.4% during the quarter (6.0% annually) while trade partner work rose 1.6% (5.2% annually), led by cost surges in electrical systems (3.4%), miscellaneous metal fabrication (3.3%), and structural steel (3.2%). Regional price movements ranged from 0.60% in Milwaukee to 2.86% in Minneapolis, while lead times for specialized electrical equipment extended past 2 years. From the report: "Data centers, grid infrastructure and advanced manufacturing continue to create localized pressure on labor, metals and electrical capacity, while conventional projects in markets without data center activity are seeing more aggressive scope bidding from trade partners. Construction starts and planning activity remain positive over the longer term, though monthly results continue to fluctuate, and architectural billings remain below expansion levels." (link)

The U.S. hotel industry recorded its 21st consecutive week of positive YoY growth for the week of Aug. 30-Sept. 5, according to CoStar data. Driven in part by the Labor Day calendar shift, national occupancy rose 9.4% YoY to 63%, average daily rate (ADR) increased 6.1% to $159.19, and revenue per available room (RevPAR) grew 16.1% to $100.31. Among the top 25 markets, Minneapolis led with the largest gains in occupancy (+23.2% to 64.9%) and RevPAR (+35.7% to $87.52), while Las Vegas saw the highest ADR increase (+24.8% to $202.85). Conversely, St. Louis suffered the steepest declines, with occupancy down 7.4% to 57.7%, ADR dropping 4.7% to $123.10, and RevPAR falling 11.8% to $71.01. (link)

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(Posted from most recent over the last 30 days).

(NEW!) Data Analyst I (University of Alabama / Tuscaloosa, AL): The Data Analyst I gathers, audits, analyzes, and reports low- to moderate-complexity data under general supervision. More details HERE.

(NEW!) Deputy Athletic Director (University of Washington / Seattle, WA): Washington Athletics has an outstanding opportunity for a Deputy Athletic Director to join their team. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Seattle? Click HERE.

Assistant Director for Business Services (University of Connecticut / Storrs Mansfield, CT): The University of Connecticut is seeking applications for the full-time position of Assistant Director for Business Services More details HERE.

Assistant or Associate Athletic Director, Business Operations/SWA (Sacred Heart University / Fairfield, CT): Provides operational leadership for Athletics' business functions. Oversees financial management, budgeting, purchasing, contracts, revenue and expense tracking to ensure fiscal responsibility More details HERE.

Associate VP & Chief Commercial Officer/Chief Revenue Officer (Ohio State University / Columbus, OH): Responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive revenue growth strategy for the Department of Athletics and Buckeye Enterprises at The Ohio State University. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Columbus? Click HERE.

Director, Business Office (Spartan Ventures / East Lansing, MI): This role, in conjunction with the Spartan Ventures CFO, will manage all financial activity related to the organization and contribute directly to the success of Michigan State University Athletics. More details HERE.

Manager, Financial Planning and Analytics (University of Texas – Austin / Austin, TX): This position will serve as a point-of-contact for financial planning and internal control functions within the Department of Athletics. More details HERE.

Director of Athletics Budget and Finance (Syracuse University / Syracuse, NY): The Director of Athletics Budget and Finance oversees the comprehensive stewardship, fiscal integrity, and business operations of the athletic department More details HERE.

Assistant Athletic Director, Business Operations (FINANCIAL ANL SUPV 1) Job 88459. (University of California – Davis / Davis, CA): This position is responsible for overseeing all Business Office operations, including account management and oversight of an approximately $50M budget as well as all purchasing and travel activities. More details HERE.

Associate Athletic Director (California State University – Fullerton / Fullerton, CA): Assist the AD with overall organization and management of the Athletic Department, operational and strategic planning, sport supervision, policies and procedures, assist with budgetary decisions. More details HERE.

Assistant Director or Director of Business Procurement & Operations (University of Arkansas / Fayetteville, AR): The role supports the financial and operational functions of the Athletic Business Office. More details HERE.

Chief Revenue / Chief Marketing Officer (Atlantic 10 Conference / Washington, DC): Provide strategic leadership by identifying and developing new commercial opportunities, generating revenue, strengthening the A10 brand, growing audiences and building corporate partnerships. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Washington, DC? Click HERE.

Vice President - Human Resources (Atlantic Coast Conference / Charlotte, NC): Serve as the senior HR professional leading and overseeing the human resources function, including HR practices, policies, procedures, systems, and all employee-related matters. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Charlotte? Click HERE.

Athletics Business Manager (Augusta University / Augusta, GA): The Athletics Business Manager (Business Manager 1) position manages all matters of financial reporting, budgeting, contracts, and collection of funds for the Athletic Department. (DII) More details HERE.

Assistant Director, Business & Finance (University of California – Los Angeles – UCLA / Los Angeles, CA): Manage key financial operations, including departmental revenue, accounts receivable, financial reporting, budgeting, Foundation funds and procurement, in a dynamic collegiate athletics environment. More details HERE.

Associate/Senior Associate Athletic Director for Business and Administrative Operations (Ohio University / Athens, OH): Serves as a member of the Athletics Executive Team and responsible for providing strategic oversight, implementation, and management of the Athletics financial functions, procedures, and policies. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Athens? Click HERE.

Senior Associate Athletic Director/Chief Revenue Officer (Murray State University / Murray, KY): Serves as a senior leader responsible for advancing revenue generation, philanthropic development, commercial strategy, customer engagement, and business innovation for Murray State Athletics. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Murray? Click HERE.

Director of Business Operations/Assistant AD-Business Operations (University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee / Milwaukee, WI): Position performs all financial duties within the athletic department. Supports the Deputy AD in budget management and advises staff on policies. Has the potential for an Assistant AD title. More details HERE.

Director of Business Operations (Louisiana Tech University / Ruston, LA): Louisiana Tech Athletics is seeking a highly qualified and motivated individual to serve in Business Operations. More details HERE.

Operations Analyst for Roster Management (University of Minnesota / Minneapolis, MN): Support athletic roster strategy through data management, modeling, reporting, dashboards, and analytics focused on player valuation, revenue sharing, scholarships, performance, and financial planning. More details HERE.

Executive Assistant to the Director of Athletics (University of California – Los Angeles – UCLA / Los Angeles, CA): Serve as a key partner to the Director of Athletics, managing strategic priorities, executive communications, and high-level projects that support the leadership and operations of the department. More details HERE.

Executive Associate Athletics Director, Business & Finance (University of Nevada – Las Vegas / Las Vegas, NV): The University of Nevada, Las Vegas invites applications for Executive Associate Athletics Director, Business & Finance. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Las Vegas? Click HERE.

Associate or Senior Associate Athletic Director for Finance and Business Operations (Oregon State University / Corvallis, OR): The Director of Finance & Business Operations provides strategic leadership for all financial and business operations within the Department of Athletics. More details HERE. What would it cost to move to Corvallis? Click HERE.