The GLOBE & MAIL's Eric Duhatschek writes the "expectation seems to be" that Las Vegas will get an NHL team while Quebec City "probably won't." Former NHLer Murray Craven "would assume a leadership role, maybe even as team president" of the Vegas franchise. Craven has a "previous relationship" with Fidelity National Financial Chair Bill Foley, who is behind the NHL expansion effort in Las Vegas. Craven "has been acting as his unofficial adviser throughout this process." Former NHLer Scott Mellanby, a former teammate of Craven, is "one of a handful of candidates for a position in hockey operations, maybe even" as GM (GLOBE & MAIL, 4/22).
EYEING EXPANSION? NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Thursday said that a "'shovel ready' arena in the Sodo District will not speed up Seattle's chances of landing an expansion team to meet" a November '17 public-funding deadline. In Seattle, Geoff Baker notes hedge fund manager Chris Hansen's supporters "argue that getting all permitting finalized so the arena plans are 'shovel ready' could cause the league to speed up its expansion timeframe." However, Silver "shot down that notion." He said that he "likes the idea of expanding, and knows there is big support for the league in Seattle." But, right now, expansion "is not seen by owners as an urgent issue" (SEATTLE TIMES, 4/22).
CHANGES COMING: In N.Y., Andrew Das notes it is a "core fact" that USWNT players "earn less money than their counterparts on the men's national team." But "after that truth, things are muddier." Both sides had an "opportunity to make their case using U.S. Soccer's public (and private) financial data." And "what we found suggests a complicated battlefield." U.S. Soccer "possibly very soon" could address the discrepancies in things like per diems and sponsor payments. U.S. Soccer officials "have had discussions in recent weeks about moving to make the per diem and appearance payments match immediately, even before a new CBA is negotiated." USSF Senior Communications Manager Neil Buethe said, "The per diems will be returned to the same amount as the men in the upcoming negotiating cycle" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/22).
THREE OF A KIND: NFL officials on Thursday said that Houston is "under consideration to host" the '17 Pro Bowl. In Houston, Reid Laymance notes a decision is "expected within 30 days," while other cities under consideration "include Honolulu and Orlando" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 4/22).
