Former Mercedes Team Principal Ross Brawn is "set to become F1's new boss and replace current CEO Bernie Ecclestone." Brawn reportedly already has "signed a deal with new F1 owners Liberty Media," and motorsports governing body FIA is understood to have approved the move. It is not yet known when the move will be formally announced and what role Ecclestone will play in F1's future (AUTOBILD, 10/31). See the next issue of SBD Global for more.

Sources said that DraftKings and FanDuel are "close to joining forces" in a merger of the two largest daily fantasy brands. DraftKings co-Founder & CEO Jason Robins is "expected to serve" as CEO of the combined firm. FanDuel CEO Nigel Eccles "will be chairman of the board, which will draw members evenly from both companies." Sources said that the merger plan also "leaves open the possibility of hiring an outside executive to lead the new venture." The new company "will likely seek to raise money shortly after the merger" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 10/31).

Secondary ticket prices for two potential World Series-clinching games at Progressive Field "have surged" since the Cubs won Game 5 last night to extend the series. Online broker TicketCity showed the median unsold price for tomorrow's Game 6 "more than doubled" to $3,840, up from $1,570 before Game 5 was played. The Game 7 median price has "also gone up, albeit not as much" from $1,700 before Game 5 to its current $2,055. That price likely will "skyrocket if a Game 7 becomes guaranteed" (CBSSPORTS.com, 10/31).

Meanwhile, a StubHub spokesperson said that about 27% of the "tickets being sold on the site for Tuesday went to credit cards associated with Illinois Zip codes" (AP, 10/31).

Timbers Owner & CEO Merritt Paulson said that he is "'cautiously optimistic' about a stadium expansion plan that would add 4,000 seats to Providence Park." He said that the $50M plan, which the club "started to hone in on" over the summer, would be "privately funded and bring the stadium capacity up to about 25,000." The club has been "working with Allied Works Architecture to explore the feasibility of the plan." Paulson added that the club would "aim to complete the new construction in two phases in back-to-back offseasons" (OREGONLIVE.com, 10/31).

The Ohio State athletic department announced that tickets to '17 home football games against Oklahoma and Michigan State would cost $190 each, "representing the highest tier for tickets" under the school's variable pricing system. This season's most expensive ticket is $195 for OSU's home game against Michigan. Variable pricing has been in effect at OSU since '13. Tickets for games "deemed likely to be the most uncompetitive are discounted and those for games against big-name opponents are premium-priced" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 10/31).

Did you dress up for Halloween over the weekend? Are you saving your spookiest outfit for trick-or-treating tonight? Either way, THE DAILY wants to see and share your creative costume pictures. Send us your best Halloween photo, along with a brief caption, and we’ll publish them later this week.

If interested, please send your picture to asilverman@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

We are taking nominations for the Forty Under 40 Class of '17 with a deadline of Sunday, Nov. 6, at 11:59pm ET. If you know of someone you feel deserves to be nominated, submit their name for consideration by completing an on-line nomination form on their behalf.

The NBA has "moved up the start time" for tomorrow night's Cavaliers game at Quicken Loans Arena "because of the World Series." The game against the Rockets will now begin at 6:00pm ET, with Game 6 of the Cubs-Indians World Series beginning at 8:08pm ET at Progressive Field (AP, 10/31).

Geico today was named the presenting sponsor of the inaugural Never Forget Tribute Classic, a Dec. 10 men's college basketball doubleheader at Newark's Prudential Center featuring Villanova-Notre Dame and Pitt-Penn State (Geico).

Goodyear today announced a deal to sponsor the Pro Football HOF (Pro Football HOF).

"This is an example of where the technology is too good. Where, in this case, we're kind of victims of the technology. It works too well. It wasn't put in place to look at 10 different angles of whether a guy came off the bag by a millimeter. It bothers me" – Former MLB manager Jim Leyland, on the effectiveness of instant replay (ESPN.com, 10/31).

"I'm attracted by the sport itself, which is a digital play, millennial play, it's an over-the-top play in a sense. ... It has all the components that makes it a viral activity" – Warriors co-Owner Peter Guber, on his decision to invest in e-sports (ESPN.com, 10/31).

Worth noting: Guaranteed Rate will have naming rights to the stadium's home plate club. Sox went the last 3 seasons without a sponsor there.

— Danny Ecker (@DannyEcker) October 31, 2016

CLE, we fought hard to move @cavs tip to 6pm tomorrow so you wouldn't be torn. @cavs game should end by 2nd inning. Can't wait, @Indians!

— Dan Gilbert (@cavsdan) October 31, 2016

Why does E. Manning, other players have to answer questions about Josh Brown release when GM Jerry Reece refuses to? He extended Brown deal!

— Linda Cohn (@lindacohn) October 31, 2016

Idea: Whoever gets most wins in the Chase is champ. Points are tiebreaker. It’d be Harvick 2, Truex 2, Johnson 2, Logano 1 w/3 races to go.

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) October 31, 2016

Sources said that ABC "has been pressing" for more than $2.1M "for its remaining handful of 30-second ads" during its February broadcast of the Oscars. ABC has "shown a small amount of room for flexibility: One media buyer said the network was recently willing to do a deal" with a $2M price tag (VARIETY.com, 10/31).

A Redskins official shoves a German TV reporter attempting to interview Redskins K Dustin Hopkins on the field following the team's 27-27 tie against the Bengals in London.

A Redskins PR person shoved a German TV interviewer after the game in London. pic.twitter.com/YUgZPBYqcS

— Joe Giglio (@JoeGiglioSports) October 31, 2016

$23,275 – Selling price at auction for former NFLer Sammy Williams' '01 Ravens Super Bowl ring. The ring was described on GoldinAuctions.com as a "Jostens 14K-gold, size 14-1/2 ring" (BALTIMORESUN.com, 10/31).