Photo: AL BELLO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/Getty Images via AFP/FileSource: AFPStaff at Sports Illustrated, the famed American sports magazine that became a fixture for athletes and fans, were laid off on Friday by publisher The Arena Group, according to the SI employees union. Arena group missed a licensing rights payment to brand owner Authentic Brands Group (ABG), which ended its deal with Arena, prompting layoff notices being sent. "This is another difficult day in what has been a difficult four years for Sports Illustrated under Arena Group stewardship. Authentic bought Sports Illustrated publishing rights for $110 million from Meredith in 2019. A notice sent to staffers by Arena said it would "be laying off staff that work on the SI brand."
