DraftKings will become a signature partner of MSG and place its logo on the WNBA Liberty's uniforms as part of a new multiyear deal. Other assets include title branding of the “DraftKings Fantasy Lounge,” a space within the arena’s SAP Madison Concourse slated to open this fall offering food, drink and a place for fans to play fantasy sports. DraftKings also will be designated as the official daily fantasy sports partner of the Knicks, Rangers, Liberty and D-League Westchester Knicks, with year-round digital and fixed signage, apron branding on the court for Knicks, Liberty and Westchester Knicks games and integration into MSG’s various digital and social media assets.

An announcement is reportedly planned for today on "money for a new arena" for the Bucks. Sources said that "key stakeholders" will hold a 3:00pm CT press conference to "announce specifics on the deal, which will include financing and how much taxpayers will be on the hook" for the $500M project. The team and private investors are "expected to finance roughly half the cost of the arena" (CHANNEL3000.com, 6/3).

Fanatics has signed a deal under which for the next 14 years, it will operate the new NBA Store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan scheduled to open this fall. The league signed a 20-year lease for 25,000 square feet of retail space at 45th St. and Fifth Ave. earlier this year. Fanatics also operates the NBA’s e-commerce site and is promising an omni-channel shopping experience, with customers in the planned store able to buy anything from the site via handheld devices. Also promised for the new store are a dedicated area for customizing licensed products, a concierge service offering personalized shopping and a 3,000-square-foot event space.

The deal continues Fanatics’ brick-and-mortar expansion, which has seen the company pick up NASCAR at-track retail rights, in addition to its 15 venue operations across college and pro sports facilities. Outgoing uniform rights holder adidas operated the current NBA Store, which is the league’s second branded retail location. The new NBA emporium will have three levels and be more than four times larger than the NBA Store that the league opened four years ago three blocks north on Fifth Avenue. That retail location, which league officials have been calling “temporary” since it opened in October '11, will be shuttered in August when its lease expires.

In a '13 Brooklyn plea proceeding, former FIFA exec Chuck Blazer “revealed a stunning level of graft among international soccer’s top management” (N.Y. POST, 6/4). Among the highlights of the court transcripts made public Wednesday:

After Judge Raymond Dearie ordered doors locked and the hallway cleared, Blazer admitted he had taken bribes from bidders seeking to host the '98 and '10 World Cups, and then “he uttered the plea that would help lead to corruption charges against top officials of FIFA: guilty.”

Former FIFA VP Jack Warner has said that he "will provide evidence to link FIFA officials, including embattled President Sepp Blatter," to the '10 election in Trinidad & Tobago. Warner, after paying for a political broadcast slot on TV in his native Trinidad, said, "I will no longer keep secrets for them who actively seek to destroy the country." Warner also appeared at his Independent Liberal Party's rally, saying, "Not even death will stop the avalanche that is coming. The die is cast. There can be no turning back. Let the chips fall where they fall" (PA, 6/3).

Chip Ganassi Racing has reached a partnership with upstart camera company 360Fly that includes primary sponsorship of cars at four Global Rallycross events this season, as well as a behind-the-scenes content initiative across all of CGR’s teams. 360Fly, which in August will bring to market a mountable camera that allows users to capture video in all directions, will be represented on the team’s Rallycross No. 00 Ford driven by Steve Arpin at the X Games, which begins today, and on the No. 38 Ford driven by Jeff Ward at three additional Red Bull Global Rallycross series races this season. Neither CGR nor 360Fly would release financial terms of the agreement, but an industry source estimated it in the low-to-mid six figures.

360Fly CEO Peter Adderton said both the digital and at-track activation components are based on giving racing fans the opportunity to experience the sport via virtual reality. The brand and CGR plan to capture behind-the-scenes content using the 360-degree cameras. At races, fans will have the chance to view video utilizing giveaway cardboard goggles, which they can then insert their smartphones into for an interactive virtual reality experience. CGR and 360Fly also will share the content online, with users able to move using either their finger on a smartphone or their mouse on a computer.

Staff writer Adam Stern contributed to this report.

The trial over Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson's succession continues in New Orleans today. Benson's granddaughter, Rita LeBlanc, finished her "marathon testimony" yesterday afternoon "as speculation grew that her grandfather ... may take the stand." LeBlanc finished her extended time on the stand at 4:00pm CT, "a little more than 24 hours after she started, although her time on the stand probably lasted eight to nine hours" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 6/4). Benson yesterday said, "Everything's going fine. Just taking a lot of my time, that's all. I got better things to do" (NOLA.com, 6/3).

2K Sports announced that Spike Lee is the "directorial force behind the next version" of its "NBA 2K" video game franchise. Lee "wrote and directed the MyCareer element" of "NBA 2K16." The goal was to "add realism" to the feature, which "introduces gamers to the social and business challenges of professional sports." Lee shot about 90 minutes of "cinematic narrative," which "translates to about 12 hours of in-game drama" (USA TODAY, 6/4).

A news conference to unveil Belmont Park rail station renovations will be held this morning, but fans attending Saturday's Belmont Stakes "should plan for delays of as much as two hours" leaving the venue. The LIRR spent about $4M and NYRA spent about $1M on the "nine-month-long renovations" meant to ease "massive congestion" (NEWSDAY, 6/4).

Boston College and Georgia Tech football "will open the 2016 season in Dublin, Ireland," with the ACC opener to be held at Aviva Stadium on Sept. 3 with a 7:30am ET kickoff. Boston College today is expected to "formally announce the game" (ESPN.com, 6/3).

Reese Smith III, who owns the Double-A Southern League Jackson Generals, has purchased the Single-A Florida State League Daytona Tortugas from Andy Rayburn, who had owned the club since ’01 (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 6/4).

U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Deborah Birx has “tapped the Nike Foundation to help craft HIV prevention messages for young women” (OREGONLIVE.com, 6/3).

The ’15 NHL Awards will be hosted by comedian Rob Riggle on June 24 and “will feature a live performance by rock band Daughtry, which will follow the two-hour show with a full concert at the MGM Grand Garden” in Las Vegas (REVIEWJOURNAL.com, 6/3).

“You almost feel like a dark cloud was lifted off this sport” – MLS Commissioner Don Garber, on Sepp Blatter’s resignation (N.Y. TIMES, 6/4).

“I’d like to invite him to Korea to drink beer-and-liquor bomb shots together” – Former FIFA VP Chung Mong-joon, who is considering running for the FIFA President post, on Blatter (WSJ.com, 6/3).

“It is difficult to move on short notice given (ESPN/ABC) have other scheduled programming, but it wasn’t just an ABC issue. … As you know, we’re broadcast in over two hundred countries, so then we’re dealing with broadcasters all around the world who have preset broadcast windows. So then it creates enormous issues for them” – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, on not moving up the Finals’ start date to avoid an eight-day break ("The Rich Eisen Show," 6/3).

“Pitch Perfect 2, which is unbelievable. Fat Amy is awesome. I love her. Wherever you are, you’re awesome” – Cavaliers F LeBron James, on recently going to see a film “at a regular movie theater” (SFGATE.com, 6/3).

Last night’s 12:00am ET editions of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” and FS1’s “Fox Sports Live” led with Blackhawks-Lightning Stanley Cup Final Game 1. ESPN followed with Reds-Phillies and Cubs-Marlins. ESPN aired French Open highlights 11 minutes into their broadcast. FS1 followed with White Sox-Rangers and an injury update on Rangers LF Josh Hamilton, while airing French Open highlights 21 minutes into their telecast.

ESPN’s Keith Olbermann called out his “world’s worst” persons in sports: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) for speaking to a crowd on Deflategate and saying Patriots QB Tom Brady was “framed.” Olbermann also criticized Indians relievers for holding Indians 1B Brandon Moss’ 100th home run ball “hostage” after he hit the home run into the bullpen, and the Lightning for “restricting sales of Stanley Cup Finals tickets to Florida residents” and banning fans from wearing Blackhawks apparel in the more expensive seats.

Under the header "Locker Rooms Full Of Gay Slurs," USA TODAY notes a new study on homophobia in sports "found 84% of gay men and 82% of lesbians have heard such language in locker rooms."

WASHINGTON POST: "Wednesday’s news that the NFL would finally live-stream a game and that Showtime would be available as a streaming service through Apple only highlight that some aspects of the cable-TV model are not going to die easily."

Also: 

• Like other Oakland teams, Warriors show city little in the way of loyalty.
• Warriors' wearable technology gives team an edge in terms of analytics.
• Negative review for new food options at Citizens Bank Park.
• Writers debate how Tom Brady should handle Deflategate appeal.
• Brandon Igdalsky helps lead renaissance of Pocono Raceway.
• Dan Gilbert's Cavaliers rebuild mirrors revival of Detroit properties.
• Long path to racing's big stage for Triple Crown announcer Larry Collmus.

Honored this morning to sit in Belmont press box spot that still has nameplate for Ed Comerford, Newsday legend

— Mark Herrmann (@markpherrmann) June 4, 2015

Mario Lemieux has EARNED right to cash in (Some or all of his stake). He saved Hockey in Pittsburgh (TWICE). His foundation has saved LIVES

— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) June 4, 2015

When I started at Yahoo some NFL teams wouldn't return our call to attend a press conference. Now broadcasting a game. Kind of incredible.

— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) June 3, 2015

Dodger fans if it makes you feel any better I saw the Entourage movie tonight and it was more painful than that ninth inning.

— Molly Knight (@molly_knight) June 4, 2015

Just as a general rule, I like the way NBC covers sports, and I really always have.

— Monte Dutton (@MonteDutton) June 4, 2015

Dish Network is reportedly in talks to merge with T-Mobile, and the two sides “are in close agreement about what the combined company would look like.” Dish Chair & CEO Charlie Ergen would become the combined company’s Chair, and T-Mobile CEO John Legere would serve as CEO. Tougher questions about a "purchase price and the mix of cash and stock that would be used to pay for a deal remain unresolved" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 6/4).

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

“The name of this southern city famous in literature is from words meaning ‘Kent people’s stronghold.’”

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon said, “Last weekend in San Diego, 92-year-old Harriette Thompson became the oldest woman to ever complete a marathon, while the guy who finished after her made history by being the first person not to brag about running a marathon” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 6/3).

Last night’s edition of NBC’s “The Tonight Show” aired their regular segment “Tonight Show Superlatives,” where Fallon awarded “superlatives” to players from the Blackhawks and the Lightning (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 6/3).

“What is Canterbury?”

Canterbury is famous in literature from Geoffrey Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales.”