💪🏽$5 billion for a Raw deal; Mike Berry speaks, you listen; Beltre is fame-ous

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Body slam: Netflix announced a partnership to bring WWE’s flagship weekly program – Raw – to the streamer in January 2025. Raw, the No. 1 show on USA Network, is leaving network TV for the first time since its inception 31 years ago. The show attracts 17.5M unique viewers during the year. WWE has more than one billion followers across its platforms, and its 10-year deal is worth $5B.

Marty Wieder has been named executive director of the non-profit Arlington Economic Development Corporation (AEDC). The AEDC recruits business and industry, helps local companies grow and generates quality job opportunities throughout the Arlington metro area. A two-time graduate of The University of Texas at Arlington, Wieder has 30+ years of economic development experience, most recently serving as Grand Prairie’s economic development director. Wieder will begin Feb. 19: https://lnkd.in/gbV2Rj4p

Tarrant County homeowners may need to renew their homestead exemption to keep the reduction it brings to their property tax bill because of a new state law. A homestead exemption removes a portion of the home’s assessed value when calculating the property tax and sets a 10% cap on the appraised value increase in any year. The Tarrant Appraisal District has divided the county into five sectors and is conducting a systematic review and verification. However, TAD has not identified the order or timing of the section reviews.

What could be better than sitting by a cozy fireplace while looking out toward the infinity pool and sunset? This home’s outdoor living area has a dining area, an entire kitchen, and a second-story balcony with additional living space. Paired with a beautiful view of downtown and a fabulous hot tub, it’s resort living made your very own. At David Lewis Builder, we can bring your dream home to life. See our portfolio here.

The $8 billion merger between Six Flags and Cedar Fair announced in November is in the process of answering inquiries from the Department of Justice. Officials of the companies are hopeful of an early May close.

Macy's rejected a $21/share takeover offer from Arkhouse Management and Brigade Capital, citing valuation concerns and the ability of the buyers to finance the deal. In response, the private equity firms threatened to go directly to shareholders with their $5.8B buyout offer. Legacy department stores are struggling, and last week, Macy's announced it would cut 13% of staff and close five underperforming stores.

Former Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre was the leading vote-getter (95.1%) to be announced for the 2024 Baseball Hall of Fame inductions. Beltre made it in his first year of eligibility. He played eight of his 21 seasons with Texas and is the 13th Ranger in the Hall. Nolan Ryan and Pudge Rodriguez were other first-ballot Rangers. 

Lockheed Martin had fourth quarter 2023 net sales of $18.9 billion, compared to $19B in the fourth quarter of 2022. Net earnings in the fourth quarter of 2023 and 2022 were equal at $1.9B and $7.58, and $7.40 per share, respectively. Cash from operations was $2.4B in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to $1.9B in 2022. Free cash flow was $1.7B in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to $1.2B.

According to a new report, data center absorption in the D-FW market in Texas reached record levels in 2023, which means rocketing demand for cloud, AI, and machine learning services has driven rapid growth.

Deep dive: Hear Mike Berry, President of Hillwood, talk about his leadership style, emphasizing his customer-driven, entrepreneurial approach that has transformed AllianceTexas into an economic powerhouse. (ChangeMakers podcast)

Fort Worth awarded UNT Health Science Center a $310,339 grant to provide opioid intervention education to the community. Overdoses in Fort Worth reached a three-year high in 2023, and MedStar reported an average of three a day in August.

Bumble Roofing plans to enter the D-FW market with a goal of creating 300+ jobs through a franchisee model. In May 2023, Texas racked up around $1B in roofing damages, and the company cites the hailstorms for its interest in capitalizing on the market.

"One love"...of money: Todd Graves, founder of Raising Cane’s, bought the top two floors at Dallas’ Knox Street project, an ultra-luxury condo building under construction. No sale price was disclosed, but a one-story penthouse reportedly was marketed at $25 million.

Significant stat: Remote workers are 31% less likely to get promoted than their in-person counterparts, according to a new analysis of 2 million workers conducted by Live Data Technologies.

Today’s trivia: The Rubik’s Cube turns 50 in 2024. And, like some 50-year-olds these days, it’s still a force to be reckoned with. The cube claims a 42% market share in the brain teaser category, and sales (~$75 million in 2022) are still growing.

Nothing to do with business: He has fished out grenades, bikes and guns. Can fame be far behind? All day long, James Kane tosses a giant magnet into New York’s murkiest waters. There’s got to be money in there somewhere. (NYT gift article)

People on the move:

• Nolet Wealth Management: Multi-family office launched by David Nolet

• UNT Health Science Center, NEXT: Hires Lourdes Ramboa as Senior Program Manager

• WallisBronson: Names W. Sky Wallis as General Manager

• Fort Worth Sister Cities International: Names Barbara M. Williams, Managing Partner at Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, as 2024 Members Circle of Giving Campaign Chair

• Swipe Pay: Adds Liz Crosby as Consultant

Snippets:

• Time's top 100 photos of 2023.

• Home sweet home? Some of the most unusual houses around the world.

• The Top 10 scariest moments caught on GoPro.

Last issue poll results: Have you made your Valentine’s Day dinner reservation? Yes (50%), No (17%), Dining in (27%), Other (6%)