FanDuel Sports Network is set to reduce its local presence as parent company Main Street Sports Group plans to close its Southport office in Fairfield and eliminate 44 positions by mid-April. The company notified state and town officials that the layoffs are permanent and will include remote employees affiliated with the Southport location, affecting staff ranging from senior executives to analysts, engineers, and managers. The move comes as the network faces financial challenges, including missed rights payments and several teams shifting their local broadcast arrangements.
WARN-style filing spells out 44 planned cuts
Meredith Powers, the network’s chief human resources officer, detailed the closure and staff reductions in a formal notice to the Connecticut Department of Labor and Fairfield First Selectperson Christine Vitale. According to CT Insider, the letter states that the terminations are expected by mid-April, will not include bumping rights for affected workers and will cover the entire Southport facility.
Parent company insists games stay on air for now
Main Street Sports Group CEO David Preschlack said the company will continue airing games on FanDuel Sports Network despite plans to close its Southport office. In a statement, he said the network is continuing to broadcast NBA and NHL games while it holds discussions with partners about its future plans. The company added that the notices were issued “as required by law, and can be revoked if circumstances change, Daily Voice reports.
Missed payments, lost rights deals squeeze the network
Industry reports paint a picture of a broadcaster running low on runway. Main Street has missed rights payments, and several MLB clubs have either terminated their contracts or shifted local production to MLB Local Media, tightening the network’s finances. Sports Business Journal report that missed payments and failed sale talks have pushed teams and partners to seek alternatives, and that Main Street is expected to wind down operations after the NBA and NHL regular seasons wrap in mid-April.
What the layoff notices actually mean
The alerts function like WARN notices, which generally require covered employers to give 60 days’ advance written notice of plant closings or mass layoffs so workers and local agencies have time to prepare. The U.S. Department of Labor notes that the statute has narrow exceptions for unforeseeable business circumstances, but employers who do not provide proper notice can face penalties or liability.
Fairfield reacts as company eyes broader retreat
Town officials say they have been formally notified of the Southport shutdown. First Selectperson Christine Vitale was among local leaders to receive the filing. Main Street Sports Group has also submitted similar notices to labor departments in Minnesota and Missouri detailing planned office closures there, and the company says it remains in talks with its partners as it weighs what comes next.
