Sports News

Orlando, Fla. and Dallas – September 22, 2026 -- Topgolf has partnered with Spark Golf to launch a new six-week, 9-hole league at its venues nationwide, giving golfers a casual, social way to compete this fall.

The league runs every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. from October 6 through November 10

The season kicks off this October and plays out over six weeks at Topgolf locations across the country. Each round uses Toptracer technology, letting players score their 9 holes on virtual courses while tracking performance in real time.

Each round costs $44 per player

The fee covers a 9-hole round on Toptracer's virtual courses. Players register and manage their league play through the Spark Golf app, which lets them connect with other members, keep score, and track handicaps and stats.

Windham, N.H. – September 21, 2026 -- SQAIRZ has added Black and White colorways to its 2026 XRZ2 Pickleball footwear line, available now at SQAIRZ.com in both men's and women's sizing. The two new looks join four existing color options already offered across both lines.

The shoe features a roomier toe box designed for lateral stability

The XRZ2 includes a patented toe box built to let toes spread naturally, aimed at improving balance and enabling sharper cuts during pickleball play. Four stability outriggers support lateral movement and rapid direction changes, while Blumaka cushioning technology is designed to provide energy return. Sta-Put traction is intended to help players maintain a secure grip on the court.

Chicago – September 19, 2026 -- United Airlines passengers can now watch live football games on seatback screens during flights, thanks to a new partnership with DISH announced this week. The service launches on more than 220 Starlink-equipped mainline aircraft, covering roughly 700 flights per day, and will run through the Super Bowl in February.

Live broadcasts span nine networks including ABC, CBS, NBC and ESPN.

Travelers in every class of service can stream ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, FS1, ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network and Thursday Night Football on Prime Video directly from their seat. United expects to expand Starlink to nearly 700 mainline aircraft by early next year, with full installation completed before the end of 2027. The service is free for MileagePlus members.

Beijing – September 19, 2026 -- Chinese outdoor footwear brand CGX has launched two dedicated obstacle racing shoes, the R1020 and R1010, debuting them at the UIPM 2026 Obstacle World Championships held in Beijing from September 2 to 6. The shoes went on sale in China on September 7 at RMB 1,099 per pair.

Two models target different race distances

The R1020 is built for the explosive 100-metre sprint format, while the R1010 is designed for 400-metre and 3-kilometre obstacle races. Both use a Vibram outsole with Megagrip compound, Traction Lug technology and Litebase construction, paired with a dual-zone midsole, heel-lock structure and performance-woven upper to handle running, climbing, jumping and rapid direction changes.

Houston – September 18, 2026 -- Electrolit, the hydration beverage brand, has signed street football performer Jack Downer, known online as Street Panna, as its newest athlete partner.

Downer specializes in panna, a one-on-one street football format where a successful nutmeg can instantly end a match. He built a global following by turning quick, high-skill moves into viral content.

Downer switched from traditional football to street play after an injury

Downer originally played traditional 11-a-side football before an injury pushed him toward street football, a format built on creativity, control, and instinct. He has since become a proven competitor, earning two top finishes at the Superball Panna World Championships and building a reputation as one of the most respected players in the discipline.

Austin – September 18, 2026 -- Bruce Bolt, the brand known for reshaping the baseball batting glove market, is launching its first football gear on October 12, with a skill glove and arm sleeve priced from $60 to $85.

The BOLTGRIP SYSTEM pairs a skill glove with the first SFIA-approved tackified arm sleeve.

The two products are designed to work together, extending tackified material from the palm up through the forearm and bicep to create three connected grip points for catching, carrying and protecting the ball.

Bear Mayer says the expansion fulfills a longtime personal goal.

"Although I grew up playing baseball, football has always been a deep passion of mine, and expanding into the sport is something I've wanted to do for a long time," said Bear Mayer, Founder and CEO of Bruce Bolt. The company previously moved into golf gloves last summer, nearly a decade after entering baseball.

Ta' Qali, Malta – September 18, 2026 -- The Thunderpick World Championship 2026 Finals will run Oct. 14 to 18 at BLAST Studios Malta, with eight Counter-Strike 2 teams competing for a $1 million USD prize pool.

Defending champions FURIA headline a field stacked with top-20 talent

2025 champions FURIA, ranked #8 globally, return to defend their title. Seven of the eight qualified teams sit inside the Global VRS top 20.

The full lineup includes Legacy (#3), Brazil's top-ranked team; Falcons (#4), a star-heavy European roster; FURIA (#8); BETBOOM (#9), a Russian squad known for upsets; 9z (#10), one of South America's strongest sides; Aurora (#12), a European org built around international talent; PARIVISION (#17), a rising European team; and Virtus.pro, which enters at #30 after winning the TWC closed qualifier.

Loveland, Colo. – September 18, 2026 -- X-Golf America has launched X-League: Fall Season, a nationwide 3v3 indoor golf competition open to players of every skill level, with a $10,000 grand prize on the line. The league runs at all 138 X-Golf locations across 38 states, using a handicapped scoring format so beginners and low-handicappers can compete on equal footing.

Players compete on digital re-creations of Pebble Beach and Oakmont

Local qualifying rounds take place on newly remastered, enhanced-graphic simulator versions of famous American courses, including Pebble Beach, Kapalua, and Oakmont. Every shot is captured digitally, and players must physically chip and putt to finish each hole rather than relying on auto-converted results near the green.

Indianapolis – September 18, 2026 -- LA Fitness has reopened its Lawrence-Pendleton Pike club at 9930 Pendleton Pike in Indianapolis following a $1.4 million renovation, giving members new training spaces and upgraded amenities as of August 21.

New training zones target strength and coaching

The club now features dedicated Functional Training and Personal Training areas for guided workouts and individualized coaching. The LIFT free weights section has been expanded with a new multi-station rig system and specialized glute training equipment.

Pilates studio joins the fitness lineup

A new Pilates by LA Fitness studio has been added, aimed at helping members build strength and improve mobility. New cardio and strength machines have also been installed across the fitness floor.

Purchase, N.Y. – September 18, 2026 -- Pepsi is marking the Buffalo Bills' first regular-season home game at the new Highmark Stadium with a free fan tailgate and thousands of limited-edition commemorative cans, the company announced.

The celebration lands on the Bills' season opener at their new venue

On September 17, Pepsi will host a free "Tailgating Deserves Pepsi" event outside Highmark Stadium, offering ice-cold Pepsi, gameday food from Wegmans, premium giveaways and a meet-and-greet with a Bills legend.

The cans carry Josh Allen's signature and the team's rallying cry

Each limited-edition can features exclusive Pepsi and Buffalo Bills artwork, Josh Allen's printed signature, and Bills Mafia's "BILLIEVE" slogan. Fans can grab one at the tailgate or as they exit the stadium after the game, while supplies last.