Main Street Sports Group Fails To Pay Multiple NBA Teams
If you’re an NBA fan who thought the regional sports network (RSN) drama was finally in the rearview mirror, I have some bad news. You might want to sit down. Just when we thought the dust had settled, Main Street Sports Group has decided to kick off 2026 by ghosting 13 NBA franchises on their January rent checks.
It is a situation that feels all too familiar, giving everyone from team owners to the average fan on the couch a nasty case of déjà vu. The precarious house of cards that is local sports broadcasting is wobbling again, and this time, the fallout could change how you watch your favorite team before the playoffs even start.
A Financial Airball For Main Street Sports Group
Here is the reality on the ground: Main Street Sports Group reportedly stiffed a massive roster of teams this month. We aren’t talking about a small market change here. We are talking about the checks owed to the Hawks, Hornets, Cavaliers, Pistons, Pacers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Heat, Bucks, Timberwolves, Thunder, Magic, and Spurs.
According to insiders, the league’s lawyers at Proskauer have already drafted the default notices. This triggers a 15-day “cure period.” In plain English? Main Street has two weeks to find the cash, or they are in breach of contract. It is the corporate equivalent of your landlord posting an eviction notice on the door because the check bounced.
This wasn’t exactly a surprise, though. The writing was on the wall in December when Main Street missed a payment to the St. Louis Cardinals. The NBA league office, seeing the storm clouds gathering, actually called these 13 teams last month to warn them that the January money might not show up. It turns out, they were right.
The DAZN Deal: A Lifeline Or a Pipe Dream?
So, is there a white knight riding in to save the day? Maybe, but it’s complicated. Main Street Sports Group is currently trying to sell itself to streaming giant DAZN. It’s the only play they have left to avoid total collapse.
However, DAZN isn’t running a charity. Sources say they are driving a hard bargain. They want digital rights to all the teams, they want the teams to accept lower rights fees, and they want contract extensions through at least 2028. Considering Main Street Sports Group purportedly lost around $200 million in 2025, DAZN holds all the cards here. They know Main Street is desperate, and they are squeezing them.
If this sale doesn’t close, Main Street says it will wind down operations after the NBA and NHL regular seasons.
The “Nuclear Option” For NBA Franchises
This is where the human emotion kicks in for the front offices. Imagine trying to manage a salary cap and trade for a superstar while your broadcast partner is insolvent. It is a nightmare.
If Main Street Sports Group implodes mid-season, the NBA has a backup plan. They can stream the games nationally and help teams set up over-the-air deals with local stations. That ensures fans still get to see the games, but it crushes the team’s revenue.
One team source put it bluntly: “You’ll never get the rest of that money back.” We are talking about taking a 50% haircut on revenue in a league where every dollar counts toward the luxury tax.
What the Main Street Sports Group Collapse Means For You
For the fan sitting at home in Miami, Milwaukee, or Memphis, this is just another headache in the streaming wars. The good news? The games will likely stay on the air for now. The bad news? The stability of your local broadcast is hanging by a thread.
If Main Street Sports Group can’t complete a deal with DAZN, we might see a mid-season scramble that forces fans to download new apps or hunt for new channels to watch your favorite team.
