The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

At the Athletic and New York Times, a marriage with promise and tension

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Months into their marriage, the New York Times and the Athletic are still learning to live with each other. (Washington Post illustration; iStock; AP)
15 min

Not long after the New York Times bought the Athletic this year, the founders of the popular sports website held an all-staff call.

Most Athletic staffers were pleased with the purchase. A six-year-old start-up, the Athletic had spent a year courting a buyer, discussing a merger with Axios and fielding interest from gambling companies and private equity firms. But the Times ponied up $550 million, and now the Athletic was part of America’s most storied journalism institution.