The Broncos announced that they will break ground today "on a facility expansion and renovation" at their HQs in Dove Valley, Co. Construction "will be a two-part project." The team plans to build a 115,000-square-foot indoor practice facility at a cost of more than $35M "as well as upgrade the existing structure, which was built in 1990." The renovations to the existing facility "will begin after the 2013 season" (DENVERPOST.com, 11/18).

Les Wells of The Wells Partnership is serving as the owners representative company, with Saunders Construction, Inc., being utilized as the contractor. The field house was designed by Sink Combs Dethlefs, and the facility renovations were planned by Intergroup Architects (Broncos).

The Ravens today will announce that M&T Bank Stadium has earned an LEED Gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council, the "highest rank" the nonprofit has awarded to "any existing NFL stadium." The stadium "eclipsed" Soldier Field, which earned LEED certification two years ago, as well as Lincoln Financial Field, which on Sunday received LEED Silver status (BALTIMORESUN.com, 11/18). Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and Ravens President Dick Cass will be on hand for today's announcement (BIZJOURNALS.com, 11/18).

Authentic Brands Group (ABG) today announced the acquisition of Muhammad Ali Enterprises from CORE Media Group. ABG will own and manage the intellectual property associated with Ali, in partnership with the Ali family and National Entertainment Collectibles Association Chair Joel Weinshanker. This includes rights to the world's largest library of photo images of Ali, a moving image and video collection and trademark phrases (ABG).

MLB Cardinals officials today will meet with Memphis business leaders to "pitch a plan that includes the big-league club purchasing" its Triple-A affiliate, the Memphis Redbirds. The PCL club on Friday announced a purchase deal with the Cardinals and the city of Memphis, but the agreement still "must be presented for approval to the Memphis City Council at its Dec. 3 meeting, with the deal set to be finalized by the end of the year." Cardinals Senior VP & GM John Mozeliak in an e-mail wrote that "today will bring 'clarity'" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 11/19).

A crowd of 30,397 attended last night's int'l soccer friendly at Busch Stadium between Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and there were "30,000 people rooting for the Bosnians." Fans "stood up for the entire match," which Argentina won 2-0. The crowd was the smallest for the three int'l soccer matches in St. Louis this year, but it was "a respectable turnout for a chilly Monday in November." About 130,000 people went to the matches. An MLS team is "nowhere on the horizon for St. Louis, but the city showed it is willing to support one-off games" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 11/19).

Atlanta City Council member Michael Julian Bond yesterday "sent a plea" to the Braves by introducing a bill that encourages Mayor Kasim Reed to "continue talks" with the team as it prepares to move to Cobb County. The bill "has no binding effect," but Bond said that it is "designed to send a message: Please stay." Bond has been "among the most vocal on the city council about his desire to keep the team at Turner Field" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 11/19).

Meanwhile, a group of Cobb County business owners has launched an ad campaign encouraging residents to support the proposed $672M ballpark. The effort includes a TV commercial filmed near the venue site that "will begin airing on Comcast on Wednesday." A website called CobbHomeoftheBraves.com launched yesterday, asking residents to "urge commissioners to vote yes on the proposal on Nov. 26" (MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL, 11/19).

Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) will reopen talks with MLB over a new bidding system after MLB pulled its proposal last week. Reps from the 12 Japanese teams met yesterday and "were told by NPB negotiators that they will strive to maintain a system somewhat resembling the existing one." MLB on Thursday said that it "withdrew the proposal that was on the table, arguing the Japanese took too long to act" (JAPANTIMES.co.jp, 11/18).

NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson appeared on CBS’ “Late Show” last night to discuss winning his sixth Sprint Cup Series championship. Johnson said of his upbringing into racing, “Growing up on the West Coast, my dream was to race Indy Cars.” He said he has always wanted "to compete at the Indianapolis 500." Johnson: "I’ve tried to put something together to do the double over the years but I can’t get a sponsor or a car owner to agree to that, or wife actually, either.”

Johnson said of "start and park" teams that start but do not complete races because of lack of funding: “No one’s really proud of going that route, but what we see is teams will be able to get on the map, maybe develop a driver, or a start up team is coming along, they can get some money and start racing full time.” CBS' David Letterman joked to bandleader Paul Shaffer, “Let’s you and I start doing that.” Johnson: “Is he your crew chief?” Letterman: “No, I think Paul would drive” (“Late Show,” CBS, 11/18).

A source said that MLS "plans to award a new franchise to Orlando" today. An official with USL Pro club Orlando City said that the team, “which has been working to finalize an agreement with MLS, plans to make an announcement on Wednesday” (REUTERS, 11/18).

In the latest issue of SBD Global, correspondent Richard Gillis conducts a Q&A with European Tour CEO George O’Grady addressing how the Tour is growing but still faces criticism from players over schedule requirements. Read the full story (THE DAILY).

The Clippers last night for their game against the Grizzlies sold out Staples Center "for a record 100th consecutive time" (NBA.com, 11/18).

A source said that Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez' legal team may call team President Randy Levine to the stand as soon as today in Rodriguez' ongoing appeal of his 211-game suspension (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/19).

The state of N.Y. yesterday gave $5M to organizers of Super Bowl XVIII to "encourage visitors to see New York-area attractions, boost interest among local fans and entertain journalists" (NEWSDAY, 11/19).

Serie A clubs have selected Infront “as the main advisor to negotiate a new package of television rights.” The Italian league "rejected a rival offer" from IMG (REUTERS, 11/18).

The NBA, WNBA, Africare and ExxonMobil today announced the launch of “Power Forward,” a youth engagement initiative that will use basketball to develop health, leadership and life skills in Nigeria (NBA/Africare/ExxonMobil).

"We barely made it through the first year. Had plans to close the shop" – NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick, on how the Hendrick Motorsports racing dynasty almost did not get off the ground (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 11/19).

"It makes good business sense to give our partners a platform to grow their businesses. Nobody is immune to the economy" – NASCAR VP/Partnership Marketing Norris Scott, on the sanctioning body's Fuel For Business Council (FORBES.com, 11/17).

L.A. Times’ Sam Farmer: “Best job in the NFL: transcribing a Bill Belichick press conference. It's like a NASCAR pit crew changing a tire -- 14.6 seconds.”

N.Y. Post’s Bart Hubbuch: “The NFL's decision to play through Kennedy's assassination has been debated into the ground for 50 years. Rozelle's dead. Who cares anymore?”

NFL Network’s Rich Eisen: “I'm sure Packers fans enjoying fact both Golden Tate and the Fail Mary ref took to Twitter to say there was no foul at end of MNF.”

Writer Rick Snider: “Dreamt last night the Redskins moved training camp to my alma mater Gwynn Park High. No parking, though. Yellow Jackets in state semis.”

If you see a tweet we won’t want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

The Astros and MLB will make a joint announcement at Minute Maid Park at 11:00am ET that the team is hosting the annual Civil Rights Game in '14. MLB Exec VP/Baseball Development Frank Robinson, Astros Owner Jim Crane and President Reid Ryan, and Houston Mayor Annise Parker are among those scheduled to attend.

Under Armour and Baltimore-based luxury car service Uber are partnering for a $50 promotion that includes a ride with one of three Ravens players from downtown Baltimore to the UA Brand House for a VIP experience. 

Magic players will participate in a "Trading Places" promotion with Southwest Airlines, the team's official airline, to commemorate the team's 25th anniversary.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Buildings.”

“Charles Evans Hughes laid the cornerstone for this building on October 13, 1932, and got to work in it for about 6 years.”

CBS’ David Letterman: “Anybody here from Toronto, Canada? You got a mayor up there, that Rob Ford, do you know anything about this guy? He is nothing but fun, isn’t he? The Toronto football team, the Argonauts, were playing a football game and they said, ‘Don’t go to the football game. Please, we’re begging you. Don’t go.’ Well, what does he do? He goes to the football game. Not only is he in trouble with the city council, he’s in real trouble with the Commissioner of Canadian Football. During the football game, it was a lot of fun, they found out he was there and they put his picture up on the crack-cam” (“Late Show,” CBS, 11/18).

NBC’s Jay Leno: “Did you see what happened yesterday during the Jets game up there in Buffalo? A fan accidentally fell out of the third deck of the stadium. Did you see that? I mean, he's okay, but man he took quite a fall. Now, don't confuse that with what fans of the Jacksonville Jaguars are doing. They're jumping on purpose” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 11/18).

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Words Used To Describe Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.” Letterman said, “Out of nowhere the guy is world famous. You have coverage about this guy in every newspaper, on every television, every radio broadcast around the world” (“Late Show,” CBS, 11/18).

10) “Crack-nadian.”
9) “Torontoker.”
8) “Molson-of-a-bitch.”
7) “The round mound of unwound.”
6) “Winning!”
5) “Neckless.”
4) “Shame-resistant.”
3) “Sweating enthusiast.”
2) “Chin-fo-tainment.”
1) “Large-and-no-longer-in-charge.”

“What is the Supreme Court building?”

Hughes was the Chief Justice at the time.