The NHL Jets will host the Heritage Classic outdoor game at Investors Group Field in '16, which will mark the fifth year since the franchise left Atlanta. Jets Chair Mark Chipman said there is no "specific date" set for the event. The league was "originally interested in having the Jets host an outdoor game next season but offered Chipman a choice between the two seasons and he opted for 2016 to augment his team's fifth anniversary plans." The CFL Blue Bombers and NHL "will likely partner on expanding the capacity" of the stadium, which also will host the '15 Grey Cup (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 12/10).

Meanwhile, the NHL BOG formally approved the 12-year, C$5.2B Canadian broadcast and multimedia rights agreement with Rogers Communications (NHL).

ESPN analyst Mike Ditka had his No. 89 jersey retired by the Bears at halftime of last night's "MNF" game at Soldier Field against the Cowboys. The Pro Football HOFer "shivered through a brief ceremony in the frigid cold." The proceedings included his HOF bust and a Super Bowl trophy. Ditka said of his enduring popularity, "I'm just having fun with it. I can tell you honestly, probably the best thing that can happen is when you stop taking yourself so damn serious" (ESPNCHICAGO.com, 12/9).

MLS Cup champions Sporting KC last night held a rally at Sprint Festival Plaza to celebrate the team's second title. Fans "waited outside after being told a capacity of 3,000 had already been reached." Manager Peter Vermes said, "There's more people at this event than I think there was in 2000 when I played in the Western Conference championship at Arrowhead." Fans in attendance last night were "offered the opportunity to take their photos with the championship trophy" (K.C. STAR, 12/10).

Bloomberg Sports has struck a data analytics partnership with mobile marketing outfit Phizzle to aid its content development strategies. Bloomberg will use the newly-developed Phizzle Platform, which measures and analyzes fan interaction across multiple channels, as its builds its own content products, particularly for the fantasy sports and overseas sports wagering markets.

Bloomberg Sports co-Founder & Exec VP/Business & Products Bo Moon said, "Phizzle gives us the ability to analyze huge sets of data across all social channels to help develop the right content for the right fan at the right time – which in turn gives us an edge in the market." For Phizzle, this latest deal builds upon a recent run of activity which includes a large-scale deal with Learfield Sports to enter the college sports space and the release of the Phizzle Platform after two years of development.

The Memphis City Council last night voted after “hours of contentious debate to change dramatically the shape of the city purchase of AutoZone Park.” The council voted 5-3 to amend a plan to offer $20M for the ballpark and spend $5M on improvements, lowering the offer to $15M and $2.5M for improvements. A final vote will be held Dec. 17 (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 12/10).

Meanwhile, the Minneapolis City Council’s Zoning & Planning Commission voted to “allow the demolition of the Star Tribune’s downtown headquarters to move forward.” The building will be razed to construct a two-block public park that will be part of a development to “complement the new Vikings stadium” (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 12/10).

Baseball's Winter Meetings head into Day Two in Orlando today after there were "almost no new transactions" in the signing and trade market on Day One. MLB's "high rollers have made many of their moves already" in the days leading up to the meetings (AP, 12/9). Yesterday, there "might have been more talk than action on the Hot Stove front." But at the Winter Meetings, speculation can become news "over the course of a coffee in the lobby between the right two people" (MLB.com, 12/9).

The N.Y. City Council today is expected to vote to “officially rename a street outside Yankee Stadium” after former Yankees P Mariano Rivera. The proposal, which “is expected to pass unanimously,” would name one block of River Ave. near 161st Street after Rivera (N.Y. POST, 12/10).

Attorneys for Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez and MLB will not “battle again in court until February” after U.S. District Court Judge Linda Schofield “adjourned a conference between the sides scheduled for Jan. 23 to Feb. 18” (NJ.com, 12/9).
 
FIFA said that fans applied for more than 1.1 million World Cup tickets in “the first 24 hours after the latest sale phase opened.” The sales window was “the first to be held after the tournament draw” (AP, 12/9).

Joseph Abboud will again outfit NBA head coaches with custom tailored apparel, marking the fifth season Abboud will serve as the league's official wardrobe supplier (Joseph Abboud).

“It’s very different just trying to understand the 100 years of history and tradition. I now understand” – MLSE President & CEO Tim Leiweke, on the passion that Maple Leafs fans have for the team (L.A. TIMES, 12/10).

“After practice, I’m tired. I’m trying to be as nice as I can. They said, ‘Are you sure?’ (I said) ‘Yeah that’s all I got for you. Kind of want to go to sleep now’” – Panthers DE Greg Hardy, discussing his “SNF” intro in which he said his name was “Kraken” and he went to “Hogwarts” (CHARLOTTE.com, 12/9).

“I wouldn’t think Steve Patterson will hold the status quo. I’d expect some changes – quick changes – in Austin” – The DALLAS MORNING NEWS’ Rick Gosselin, in an online chat, on the possibility of the new Texas men's AD making a football coaching change (DALLASNEWS.com, 12/9).

“The stupidest thing I ever did was letting him get fired” – White Sox Chair Jerry Reinsdorf, on former MLB manager Tony La Russa (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 12/10).

“I told Steve Hogan, the executive director, all along that Orlando makes sense for us in so many ways. It gives our fans a great chance to see the program and be a part of the state of Florida” – Univ. of Miami AD Blake James, on the football team facing Louisville in the Russell Athletic Bowl (MIAMI HERALD, 12/10).

"I've been paying for breakfast, lunch and dinner all these years. He gets paid and he leaves, so I'll get him in Seattle, I guess" – Yankees SS Derek Jeter, on former teammate Robinson Cano, who signed a 10-year, $240M deal with the Mariners last week (ESPN.com, 12/10).

Twitter Media Head of Global Operations Ben Grossman: “LinkedIn needs a button where when people ask you to connect, you can say ‘Yes, Unless You Are Going To Email Me A Pitch Immediately.’"

CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman: “thanks to the many who gave/offered me gum after I reported, exclusively, that the Dolphin hotel doesn't sell gum #trident.”

Reuters’ Alan Baldwin: “What do F1 teams and drivers make of double points? Reaction so far could fit into one Tweet with 140 characters left over.”

Writer Kyle Bonagura: “A lot of MSU fans put down deposits for Stanford season tix today in order to buy #RoseBowltickets. Stanford upped from $100 to $200 midday.”

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

Broncos coach John Fox last month checked into the hospital under the name "Johnny Drama" for his "surgery to replace an aortic valve in his heart." Johnny Drama was the character played by Kevin Dillon on HBO's "Entourage" (DENVERPOST.com, 12/9).

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “U.S. Presidents.”

“Although born in the United States, he was the only president who spoke English as a second language.”

Rapper Snoop Lion appeared on TBS' "Conan" last night and said his son Cordell Broadus is one of the best high school football prospects in the country. Snoop said his son has received scholarship offers from USC, UCLA, LSU, Notre Dame and Florida State, but he doesn't know what school he will attend "at this second." Snoop added, "I'm kind of like having a little influence on him and trying to get him to stay home and go to SC. But whatever he chooses I'm going to roll with it" ("Conan," TBS, 12/10).

NBC’s Jay Leno: “This storm is so severe and so large they say it may snow in Vegas. … It was so cold in Dallas, the Cowboys asked Jerry Jones to address the team just for the hot air. ... In Syria, the rebels are so desperate for food they broke into the zoo and ate the lions. … I feel sorry for the lions, they had no chance. Just like the Detroit Lions against the Eagles yesterday” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 12/9).

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel: “It was fun to watch the NFL games in the snow yesterday. The players can’t see the lines on the field. It’s cold, it’s wet, it’s hard to throw the ball, it’s hard to catch the ball. I guess maybe I just like seeing people miserable” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 12/9).

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Thoughts.” CBS’ David Letterman said, “A study by the Stanford University School of Medicine – those putzes, right – shows that it is possible to eavesdrop on a person's brain activity. … I don't care, let them read my mind. I don't care. I'm not that interesting. I don't have things to think about or say” (“Late Show,” CBS, 12/9).

10) “At least I’m not as fat as that guy.”
9) “It’s probably microwave safe.”
8) “Is ‘Wheel of Fortune’ on?”
7) “Nice lawn, jackass.”
6) “Why is Stephen Colbert dressed as Mr. Peanut?”
5) “Does enjoying the live ‘Sound of Music’ mean I’m gay?”
4) “Do I look at his left eye, his right eye, or in between his eyes?”
3) “I can’t wait to talk about myself.”
2) “Will someone wake me up when it’s time to get off the plane?”
1) “I wish this new health-care plan wasn’t named after me.”

“Who was Martin Van Buren?”