How Stagflation Is Reshaping the Professional Sports Industry

Stagflation Conversations with Fexingo: High Inflation, Slow Growth, and 1970s Echoes · Jul 8, 2026 · 7m · transcript

In this episode, Lucas and Luna examine how persistent stagflation—high inflation paired with sluggish growth—is squeezing professional sports teams, leagues, and fans. With real wages barely keeping up and the Federal Reserve holding rates high, attendance is slipping, sponsorship dollars are tightening, and teams are rethinking everything from ticket pricing to stadium upgrades. Lucas highlights how the NFL's most recent collective bargaining agreement baked in cost-of-living adjustments for players, a direct response to inflation eroding contract values. Luna points to the surprising…