Steelers President Art Rooney II, who chairs the NFL's stadium committee, said the city of Oakland in order to keep the Raiders does not have to match the $750M in public subsidies approved by Nevada for a new stadium. NFL owners this morning will get an update on the Las Vegas and Oakland situations at their Fall meeting in Houston. Oakland has been recalcitrant about spending public dollars on a new stadium, but sources said that could change soon.  

The developments come as the NFL has begun preparing to conduct a market study of Las Vegas, said Texans Owner Bob McNair, Chair of the finance committee. The league is also preparing one for Oakland, a source said. The studies will give the league information about how much revenue can be raised from categories like PSLs and naming rights. That is believed to be why insiders like Rooney do not see the need for Oakland to match the Nevada sum. “We have a lot of work to do,” Rooney said.

Some league insiders maintain the team may stay in Oakland because that market is much larger and more vibrant than Las Vegas. No decision is planned today, or likely even at the next meeting in December. The Raiders, who are negotiating directly with Las Vegas, can file to relocate beginning Jan. 1.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon have signed multiyear extensions with ESPN to keep the two former newspaper columnists as hosts of “PTI.” As part of their contracts, the two will continue to contribute to other ESPN platforms. ESPN is expected to make a formal announcement on the new deals later this morning. Kornheiser and Wilbon launched the daily afternoon studio show 15 years ago this week on Oct. 17, 2001. It has become the net’s most-viewed studio show, though its TV viewer numbers are down this year. Kornheiser is represented by Jared Levine at Morris Yorn; Wilbon is repped CAA's Jeff Jacobs.

“I remember saying to Tony 15 years ago, ‘We got three-year contracts, two years guaranteed. So the worst case scenario is either we stink – or if we’re good and nobody cares – we got two years of guaranteed money. That’s our worst-case scenario,’” Wilbon told THE DAILY. “And Tony says, “That’s your worst-case scenario? That’s the best-case scenario.” Kornheiser: “We still like doing it. I like it every day that I do it.”

The "few tickets that remained" for the Jan. 2 Blackhawks-Blues NHL Winter Classic at Busch Stadium "sold out immediately" yesterday. The league put an "undisclosed number of tickets" on sale at 10:00am CT via Ticketmaster.com, and "minutes later hopeful fans at their computers were turned away." The ballpark will hold an estimated 50,000 fans for the event (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 10/19).

Meanwhile, the NHL "unexpectedly issued a statement" that for Sunday's Oilers-Jets Heritage Classic outdoor game in Winnipeg, the league will "follow the lead of the Jets and allow children under the age of two to enter Investors Group Field without a ticket, but they must sit on the lap of an adult." The revised policy "will also apply for other special-event games, including the All-Star Game, NHL Stadium Series and future NHL Heritage Classics" (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 10/19).

The Angels and the Anaheim City Council "gave their blessing to a developer's plan to build a massive, L.A. Live-like project near Angel Stadium." The Council yesterday unanimously approved LT Global's LT Platinum Center, a $450M development. Angels President John Carpino in a statement said LT Global has addressed the "impacts of their development on our fan experience." The team had been "seen as the final hurdle for development." Construction is slated to start next year, with completion in '22 (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 10/19).

The PGA Tour is planning a "new tournament in South Korea that will start next year," giving the Tour "three straight weeks of golf in Asia that offer at least" $7M in prize money. South Korean conglomerate CJ Group "will be the title sponsor." Details, such as the field and the size of the purse, are "expected to be announced Monday in Seoul." The PGA Tour Champions yesterday "announced its first tournament in Japan" (AP, 10/18).

Learfield is unveiling a new college football-themed Facebook Live program, the "Facebook Live College Coach's Corner Series," with presenting sponsorship from Nissan. The series will have 36 episodes from this month through the final week of the regular season, featuring head coaches, insiders and football alumni from Illinois, Iowa State, Miami, Oklahoma and Texas A&M. The 10-minute episodes are accessible on the official Facebook pages of the participating athletic programs (THE DAILY).

The Senators beat the Coyotes 7-4 last night in front of "what can only be described as a sparse mid-week gathering" at Canadian Tire Centre, where the announced crowd was 11,061. Once the Senators "win a few more" games, maybe then fans "will buy seats" (OTTAWA SUN, 10/19).  The "meagre crowd" demonstrates "how low the season ticket base is" in Ottawa (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 10/19).

The CFL Argonauts this morning will "roll out some reduced ticket prices" for the 104th Grey Cup, to be played Nov. 27 at BMO Field. Last week it "appeared nearly half of the 35,000 or so seats for the game were still unsold." The "cheapest ticket" will be C$89. About half the stadium’s seats "will have their tickets reduced." The Argos "plan to contact the approximately 3,500 people who bought tickets at prices that are being reduced and will either give them a discount or will work out another arrangement" (NATIONAL POST, 10/19).

The SEC today tips off its Basketball Media Days at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena. The two-day event was "originally scheduled to return to Charlotte, N.C., this year and then come to Nashville" in '17. But Media Days joined a "growing list of events that have been moved from North Carolina" because of its controversial HB2 (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 10/16). Nashville organizers "only recently found out" they were hosting this year's event. The arena next year will look to "roll out a well-planned fan experience" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 10/19).

Executive Editor Abe Madkour and Bill Sutton, SBJ columnist and Univ. of South Florida Sport & Entertainment Business Management MBA Founding Dir, chat about Sutton's recent roast at Robert Morris Univ., e-sports and some alarming stats for the business of sports.

Highlights of the conference will include Octagon Mindset & Culture Group Dir Andre Pinard on "What’s Next in Youth Marketing: New Era, New Expressions & New Expectations."  For more information and to register, visit www.motorsportsmarketingforum.com.

Former NASL Ft. Lauderdale Strikers Owner and Traffic Sports USA President Aaron Davidson is "set to plead guilty" tomorrow to charges of "paying bribes to FIFA officials" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 10/19).

Phil and Penny Knight "did not attend" last night's event at the Univ. of Oregon formally announcing their gift of $500M to build a science complex. The announcement featured a "packed audience of faculty, students, staff, trustees and some elected officials" (Portland OREGONIAN, 10/19).

Nelly is joining the cast of Skip Bayless, Shannon Sharpe and Joy Taylor on FS1's "Undisputed" as a contributor beginning Nov. 1 (Fox Sports). 

Sources said that Disney "decided not to pursue a bid" for Twitter "partly out of concern that bullying and other uncivil forms of communication on the social media site might soil the company’s wholesome family image" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 10/18).

Tito Ortiz "will fight Chael Sonnen in the main event of Bellator 170" at the L.A. Forum on Jan. 21 in a light heavyweight bout (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 10/19).

"I don’t know if there’s a term for what I want [to] do here. I really don’t. If you guys can come up with a slogan, let me know and we’ll go with it" – Tigers Exec VP/Baseball Operations & GM Al Avila, on the club's offseason plans (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 10/19).

“I’d like to see one or two more races in the States. There’s so much potential to tap into the American market" – NBC Sports President of Programming Jon Miller, on bringing more F1 races to the U.S. (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 10/19).

"We were so excited just to be in London, we didn’t take it as serious as we should. So the message this time is this is a business trip" – Rams G Rodger Saffold, on the team's 45-7 loss to the Patriots at Wembley Stadium in '12 (L.A. TIMES, 10/19).

"This is the greatest place to play – in Canada. If you just show effort, you’ll see the light at the end of the tunnel. People are going to embrace you forever" – Wayne Gretzky, on NHLers embracing playing in Canada (NATIONAL POST, 10/19).

“I challenge all these guys. What are they actually doing to help the cause? You can raise a fist, you can take a knee, but what are you actually doing to help the problem?” – TNT's Charles Barkley, on athletes needing to do more if they want to effect change (NEWSDAY, 10/19).

The ARIZONA REPUBLIC delves into the youth movement among GMs in the region, which carries an average age of 36. That is the "youngest mean among the 13 cities with four major professional sports teams." Many eyes "will be on a Valley sports community that has seen its share of on-field struggles in recent years." Success "could continue a shift in the way professional teams hire" GMs.

THE MMQB takes a retrospective look at 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick's rocky trip to Buffalo last weekend for his first NFL start in nearly a year. It is a tradition in Buffalo to hang QBs in effigy, but the arrival of Kaepernick and his National Anthem protest "left some fans uneasy with traditions." Political correctness "was on life support on a windy Sunday in Orchard Park, and it promises to remain so wherever Kaepernick goes."  

Also:

• How sneakers are driving adidas' comeback in America.
• Montreal, MLS live and die by designated players like Didier Drogba.
• VCU, Flying Squirrels hit homer with $55M Richmond ballpark.
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar stresses the importance of education to Howard hoops team.

Hearing that FanDuel has let go more than 60 employees (more than 10% of its workforce) this morning. Another sign that DFS is on decline?

— Stefanie Gordon (@Stefmara) October 18, 2016

Why Ledecky/Malkin are being real about NYI arena options: announced attendance tonight in Brooklyn is 10,772.

— Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL) October 19, 2016

Well aware of argument against it but NFL has to make pass interference reviewable after Sunday's major miscues.... https://t.co/RHzRZVg45D

— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) October 19, 2016

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

Here. They. Are. 🎉@Jumpman23 #GameShoes #GoBlue 〽️🏀 pic.twitter.com/njTeHomKeb

— Michigan Basketball (@umichbball) October 18, 2016

The Charlotte Business Journal hosts a panel discussion previewing the '17 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club from 3:30-6:15pm ET.

In his latest public feud with athletes, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith "uncorked a televised rant against the Redskins" yesterday on "First Take," and several Redskins players responded on Twitter. DE Chris Baker: "Sick and tired of people disrespecting my team who cares how you win the division just win it #HTTR #HAIL #SWAGGYTIME." WR Pierre Garcon: "Put some respek on it. Ain't saying it no mo." Smith then "promised to have yet more to say" about the team on today's show (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 10/18).

Barbara Romack, who died this week at the age of 83, was the "first female golfer on the cover of Sports Illustrated," appearing in a '56 issue ahead of a Curtis Cup matchup between the U.S. and Great Britain/Ireland (SACRAMENTO BEE, 10/19).

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

“He’s won four Emmys, three Grammys, an Oscar and three Tonys, and three of his films rank on AFI’s list of funniest movies of all-time.”

Hockey HOFer Wayne Gretzky appeared on CBS’ “The Late Show” last night to promote his new book, “99 Stories of the Game.” Host Stephen Colbert gave Gretzky a hockey-like introduction, featuring lots of smoke effects: “My next guest is a sports icon and possibly the greatest athlete of all time. Please give it up for the ‘White Tornado,’ the ‘Main Wayne,’ the ‘Man-ada from Canada,’ ‘The Great One’ himself.” Gretzky said he “felt” the responsibility living up to “The Great One” nickname because he knew fans across the league "paid to come see you play, so you want to play the best you can.” Gretzky, on his book: “It is the 99th anniversary of the National Hockey League right now, so I wanted kids to read about the cities and the arenas and the players and the teams, the franchises, and some of the great stories of the players. ... I loved the game so much, and it was so good to me. ... Hopefully, kids will love it” (“The Late Show,” CBS, 10/18).

Actor Nick Offerman appeared on CBS’ “The Late Show” and talked about being a Cubs fan. Offerman said of how he handles the stress of the watching the Cubs in the playoffs, “I have a compartmentalization system … so I know that something might happen in the coming weeks that would be very good for my baseball team, but I'm not attaching emotion to it.” Colbert asked, “When do you attach the emotion to it? You've loved and lost is what you're saying, and now you're afraid to feel.” Offerman: “I suppose so. I've become inured to feeling” (“The Late Show,” CBS, 10/18).

"Who is Mel Brooks?”