Sports Illustrated’s Publisher Lays Off Most of its Staff, Union Says
The fate of Sports Illustrated hangs in the balance as the publisher of the iconic magazine and website has reportedly laid off the majority, if not all, of its guild-represented staff, according to statements from its union.
In a memo addressed to staff, the magazine’s publisher confirmed the layoffs, stating that it is “laying off staff that work on the SI brand.” Authentic Brands Group (ABG) has owned Sports Illustrated since 2019 and sold the publishing rights to Arena Group. However, a recent missed payment for these publishing rights resulted in ABG revoking them, as mentioned in the publisher’s memo.
“This is another difficult day in what has been a challenging four years for Sports Illustrated under Arena Group (previously The Maven) stewardship,” expressed the union in a statement. “We are calling on ABG to ensure the continued publication of SI and allow it to serve our audience in the way it has for nearly 70 years.”
As of now, Arena Group and Manoj Bhargava, the majority stakeholder in Arena Group and founder of 5-Hour Energy, have not responded to requests for comments.
The union emphasizes its expectation for Arena Group to honor its union contract and treat all employees fairly. Mitch Goldich, NFL editor and unit chair, stated, “We have fought together as a union to maintain the standard of this stories publication that we love, and to make sure our workers are treated fairly for the value they bring to this company. It is a fight we will continue.”
Sports Illustrated has faced a challenging period in recent months, marked by controversies and uncertainties. In December, the Arena Group dismissed Sports Illustrated’s CEO Ross Levinsohn following an embarrassing incident where the magazine published stories with fake author names and AI-generated profile photos. Interim Chief Executive Manoj Bhargava, who holds a majority stake in The Arena Group, assumed the role after Levinsohn’s departure. The developments leave the future of one of the most recognized names in sports journalism uncertain.
