The NBA and Nike formally announced an eight-year global merchandising and marketing partnership that will make Nike the official on-court apparel provider beginning with the ’17-18 season. Nike will become the first NBA apparel partner to have its logo appear on NBA uniforms and will have global rights to design and manufacture Swingman jerseys, warm-ups and shooting shirts. The deal expands Nike’s WNBA presence and adds rights to the NBA D-League (NBA/Nike). The deal was first reported by THE DAILY in April.

The Glendale City Council last night voted 5-2 to “void a 15-year agreement” with the Coyotes “just two years after the city approved the $225 million deal" to manage Gila River Arena. The decision creates “uncertainty for the Coyotes’ upcoming season and likely will trigger a legal challenge” from the team. Coyotes’ attorneys are expected to “start work on claims seeking $200 million from Glendale” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 6/11).

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said during an interview on “Hockey Night in Canada” before the vote: “I’m not concerned about the Coyotes. If I lived in Glendale, I’d be concerned about my government” (“Hockey Night In Canada,” CBC, 6/10).

Maryland President Wallace Loh has “approved a trial plan for the school to sell beer at its football stadium and other athletic venues beginning this fall.” Loh will announce the plans today in an open letter to students and faculty. The student-initiated plan must be approved by the Prince George’s County liquor board, “an endorsement that is hardly guaranteed.” During the first year of the plan, the school would “sell beer only and allow people to purchase just one per transaction, under what it called a ‘provisional’ plan” (Baltimore SUN, 6/11).

The Jaguars and Dream Finders Homes today will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for a 2,400-square-foot home being built inside EverBank Stadium. Construction on the home will begin this week and is “set to be complete by the first pre-season game” against the Steelers on Aug. 14. The home will be “used for special events, promotions and tours” while in the stadium over the next two years. The home eventually “will be moved off site and donated to a local military veteran” (JACKSONVILLE.com, 6/10).

The World Baseball Softball Confederation today officially applied for the two sports to be added to the ’20 Tokyo Games as “they look to earn back their spot in the Games they lost" after the ’08 Beijing Olympics. A special Tokyo panel will “evaluate the proposals submitted and will announce a shortlist of sports on June 22.” Billiards and snooker “launched a surprise move to take part” in the Tokyo Games, while karate is also “thought to be a strong contender for inclusion” (REUTERS, 6/11).

Gayle Benson, wife of Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson, yesterday “took the witness stand” in her husband’s competency case in New Orleans. Gayle spent “more than four hours on the witness stand.” When asked if her time on the stand was contentious, Randy Smith, attorney for Benson’s estranged heirs, said that “the ‘family reunion’ was civil.” Testimony will not resume until 1:00pm CT today “due to scheduling conflicts for Judge Reese” (NOLA.com, 6/10).

The Veritix Sports Facilities & Franchises conference presented by SBJ/SBD begins today and more than 350 people are in attendance at the Hyatt Regency. We’ll open today with some of the top team leaders in sports. Among the talking points:

•  Dolphins president & CEO Tom Garfinkel on massive renovations and enhancements to Sun Life Stadium
•  Cardinals President Michael Bidwill on the benefits of hosting Super Bowl 49
•  Celtics President Rich Gotham’s perspective on balancing tradition with innovation
•  Dodgers President & CEO Stan Kasten making some of his first remarks since Charter Communications began carrying Dodgers games on Sports Net LA
•  Real Salt Lake President Bill Manning on the team’s lucrative local media and jersey sponsorship
•  Hornets COO Fred Whitfield on what made that franchise a nominee for Sports Team of the Year.

See our On The Ground blog for continuing updates from the event.

The NFL’s committee on L.A. opportunities met in N.Y. yesterday and “heard updated presentations from backers of stadium proposals in Carson and Inglewood” (L.A. TIMES, 6/11).

The Detroit Historic District commission yesterday voted 3-1 to approve plans to “tear down a vacant historic hotel as part of construction” of the Red Wings downtown arena. The Park Avenue Hotel was built in the ‘20s (CRAINSDETROIT.com, 6/11).

The U.S. Open Merchandise Pavilion will open to the public starting today and running through Sunday. Access to the pavilion beginning Monday “will be available only to those people with tickets” to the tournament at Chambers Bay (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 6/11).

MLL is “on the cusp of announcing Atlanta will soon be home to another club,” after the NLL Swarm recently announced plans to relocate to The Arena at Gwinnett Center (BIZJOURNALS.com, 6/10).

“All kinds of tracks are calling, asking us to please think about bringing him. We’ll figure out a schedule and try to keep him happy” – American Pharoah trainer Bob Baffert, on the demand for the horse (UNIONTRIB.com, 6/10).

“For our tour, we get the most media, we get the most eyeballs, five weeks out of the year, so those five weeks need to be our biggest and our best. They all talk about, when we are on network TV, it needs to look like a big event. So that’s why we need it to be the way it is this week” – Golfer Stacy Lewis, on the magnitude of this week’s KPMG Women's PGA Championship (N.Y. TIMES, 6/11).

“It was an honor for this young man to pay tribute to an old soldier” – Pro Football HOFer Jim Brown, on Cavaliers F LeBron James bowing to him prior to NBA Finals Game 3 (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 6/11).

“We realize the fan experience has evolved. So we’re stepping up our focus on the socializing of events, new technologies, and the creation of unique experiences” – ISC CEO & NASCAR Vice Chair Lesa France Kennedy, on the Daytona Rising project (THE DAILY).

Last night’s 11:00pm ET editions of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” and FS1’s “Fox Sports Live” led with Lightning-Blackhawks. ESPN followed with Royals-Twins and Giants-Mets. FS1’s followed with the U.S. men's national soccer team defeating Germany and Giants-Mets.

ESPN’s Keith Olbermann called out his “world’s worst” persons in sports: The Chicago Museum of Science and Industry for pushing out a robot to throw out the first pitch at a White Sox game. Olbermann also criticized SportsGrid.com, “which offers you one of those quizzes to help you figure out the kind of TV sports commentator you would be” -- after taking the quiz, Olbermann was ESPN’s Ryen Russillo -- and the Texas high school softball catcher that was knocking down runners as they crossed home plate.

Glendale has won the Western Conference of ineptitude by a local government. Take on Nassau in final.

— Ted Starkey (@TedStarkey) June 11, 2015

My biggest question after tonight: Where was Andrew Barroway? Why wouldn't the majority owner be the face of the team?!?

— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) June 11, 2015

Nike NBA deal: Get ready for sleeves and ads!

— Matt Powell (@NPDMattPowell) June 10, 2015

Trying to figure out how to find time to sleep with WWC, Copa América, U20 WC & MLS going on this week.

— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) June 11, 2015

While in DC, .@BusterPosey, @HunterPence & @SergioRomo joined @FLOTUS to help promote Fruits & Vegetables #FNV pic.twitter.com/Vm6h66xbir

— San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) June 10, 2015

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

“During the 1976 presidential campaign, Ronald Reagan said of this, ‘We built it. We paid for it, it’s ours and we are going to keep it.’”

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon opened the broadcast by saying, “Welcome to the show. I’m Jimmy Fallon and if just one more of LeBron’s teammates gets hurt, I’m the new power forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers. … Next time you see someone fighting this hard for Ohio won’t be until next year’s presidential election. In addition to 40 points from LeBron James, the Cavs got another big game from guard Matthew Dellavedova, who had 20. Then Dellavedova pulled off his mask and was like, ‘Psych, I’m still LeBron’” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 6/10).

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel said, “Did you guys watch that basketball game last night? What a great series this has been. This NBA Finals, and I never thought I would say this, it might even be better than ‘The Bachelorette.’” Kimmel said of Dellavedova, “He plays like a shelter dog that just got adopted by Ellen DeGeneres. Very enthusiastic. He’s the kind of guy you’d like to bring with you to Walmart on Black Friday. You would definitely get an Xbox with him there.” More Kimmel: “The Women’s World Cup is under way in Canada. Soccer, of course, is the sport where you’re only allowed to use your hands if you’re the goalie or you’re taking a bribe. This year, it’s interesting. In the event of a tie, the winner of each group will be decided by the country that bought the president of FIFA the nicest yacht” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 6/10).

“What is the Panama Canal?”