Turner Sports’ second annual Sports Business Innovation forum begins today at CES in Las Vegas, and the event this year has expanded significantly from a half-day in '16 to a three-day conference. Speakers will include NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, NASCAR Chair & CEO Brian France, MLS Commissioner Don Garber, NCAA President Mark Emmert, Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott, Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert and Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke. Continuing what it started at CES last year, Turner also will stage a live showcase of the ELeague and produce a live telecast of “Inside The NBA” with Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal.

CES itself formally opens today with a record of more than 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space, up 5% from a year ago, and attendance projected to rival last year’s record draw of 177,393. Other sports-related personalities slated to appear include Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban, soccer player Landon Donovan, U.S. swimmer Nathan Adrian and Pro Football HOFers Warren Moon and Joe Montana.

Under Armour is going a different direction with wearable technology, as it unveils today at CES a new product called UA Athlete Recovery Sleepwear Powered by TB12. The sleepwear, which will cost $80-100, is "essentially a commercial version" of a set of "tricked-out pajamas" endorsed by Patriots QB Tom Brady. It is "equipped with a soft bio-ceramic print, which can produce something called far infrared energy when combined with the body’s natural heat," helping the body "recover faster and fostering better sleep" (TIME.com, 1/4).

Also at CES, New Balance debuted RunIQ, the company's first smart wearable from its Digital Sport Division. The smartwatch targeted at runners was built in collaboration with Intel, Google and Strava. New Balance also will debut PaceIQ, a set of Bluetooth wireless headphones created with the help of Jabra (New Balance).

There will be "no strike" by the USWNT to "start the year," as a 10-day camp will begin Jan. 13 in Carson, Calif. The women's union and U.S. Soccer "continue to operate" under the current CBA as "negotiations on a new CBA continue" into the new year. That agreement "calls for a 60-day termination notice only after which a strike could be held," and "no such trigger has taken place" (SOCCERAMERICA.com, 1/4).

The USL Tampa Bay Rowdies could take another step forward today in their quest to join MLS, as the St. Petersburg City Council will meet for a "non-binding discussion" of Rowdies Owner Bill Edwards' plan to "transform Al Lang Stadium" into a roughly 18,000-seat stadium. The proposal "would move forward only if the Rowdies gain an MLS franchise," and it "would need to be approved by voters in a referendum." The expansion fee and venue upgrades together could cost $230M, but Edwards said that he "won't ask the city, county or state for a dime" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 1/5). The Rowdies "aren't to be taken lightly in the MLS expansion race" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 1/4).

Meanwhile, Las Vegas is "renewing its drive to attract" an MLS franchise. The City Council yesterday voted 5-2 to pay Inner Circle Sports up to $80,000 to "market Las Vegas to possible investors" as an MLS market (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 1/5).

National and L.A.-area transportation officials yesterday announced nearly $1.6B in federal funds for a "rail link through the Westside that could bolster" L.A.'s chances of landing the '24 Games. The Purple Line is a "key part" of the bid. LA 2024 picked UCLA as the "possible site for the Olympic Village." L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti said, "For those of us who have driven this part of Los Angeles, it can take 20 minutes to go three blocks. Now, when this is done, it will be 20 minutes to downtown." Garcetti said he believes the project "will be ready in time" for the '24 Games (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 1/4).

Seahawks sponsor Delta announced that it has extended its 12status activation program through the team's playoff run. The program began at the start of the '16 season, allowing fans to earn miles, merchandise and other perks. Since the launch, nearly 30,000 Delta members have earned about 50 million SkyMiles based on the team's home passing yards. The Seahawks' postseason begins with Saturday's NFC Wild Card game against the Lions at CenturyLink Field (THE DAILY).

U2 could be "returning to Pasadena" this year for a show at the Rose Bowl. A "cryptic message" on the band's website, a "scheduled concert without an attached band at the Rose Bowl and swirling rumors among U2's biggest fans all seem to suggest" a show at the venue in May (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE, 1/5).

Meanwhile, Lady Gaga is "expected to tour next summer," and a date at Fenway Park is reportedly a "distinct possibility" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/5).

The Penguins announced that fans can enter PPG Paints Arena for Sunday's home game against the Lightning as early as 3:30pm ET, "90 minutes before puck drop," to watch the Dolphins-Steelers AFC Wild Card game on the video board and "other TVs throughout the arena" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 1/5).

Golfer Daniel Berger has signed a "new deal" to play Callaway clubs after playing TaylorMade clubs and a Titleist ball last season. Berger is playing this week at the PGA Tour SBS Tournament of Champions in Hawaii (GOLFWEEK.com, 1/4).

Vandals "broke into LSU's Tiger Stadium and damaged the grass football field late Tuesday night" (NOLA.com, 1/4).

Golf Channel and Virtual Green have partnered to integrate Virtual Green's indoor golf tech into the network's studio shows (THE DAILY).

New USA Basketball Chair Martin Dempsey presented UConn women's coach Geno Auriemma with the NGB's Coach of the Year award before last night's home game against ECU. Prior to that, Auriemma "addressed about 1,400 fans at the annual season ticket holder reception" (HARTFORD COURANT, 1/5).

“I’m not gonna tell them they can’t. I will encourage my kids to do whatever [they] want to do and love to, whatever it is. Hopefully it’s golf though” – Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, on "The Dan Patrick Show," on whether he would allow his children to play football (GOLF.com, 1/4).

"We talked over three years about things we might work together on (with the Pac-12). I had the same conversation about the SEC and the ACC. We're always looking for those kinds of things. There's probably a dozen topics about whether aggregation might make some sense" – Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby, on talks for a scheduling alliance with other conferences (CBSSPORTS.com, 1/4).

“I don’t want to use the word concerned. But I think we need to watch where pay-per-view is going and be very careful as we move forward. We have to really watch the consumers’ appetite to pay for events” – Roc Nation President & Chief of Branding Strategy Michael Yormark, on the role of PPV in boxing (RINGTV.com, 1/4).

The N.Y. TIMES notes, "Grooming the next Ronaldo or Messi has become a national project in China, where the country’s No. 1 fan, President Xi Jinping, is bent on transforming the country into a great soccer power."

The WALL STREET JOURNAL goes with the header, "Abuse Allegations Rock Gymnastics." After a "banner year for the U.S. women’s gymnastics program in which it dominated" the Rio Games, the sport’s governing body is "facing a tumultuous 2017, stemming from sex abuse allegations."

Also: 

• CFP Exec Dir Bill Hancock may be the "nicest guy in college sports."
• Nike, adidas, Under Armour take retail arms race to Manhattan.
• An oral history of the Eagles ejecting reporter Jeff McLane from game.
• Sharks to honor NHL forebears Golden Seals, who had more fun than success.
• Panthers QB Cam Newton's fashion choices add to charismatic presence.
• Columnist: sportswriters do not belong in Baseball HOF balloting process.
• Should the Chargers look to stay in San Diego or relocate to L.A.?
• NHL should do better job of marketing All-Star Game, other big events.
• Capitals' T.J. Oshie uses electrical current machine to improve performance.

Hey @MountainDew I know a great former Internet meme who'd probably be willing to do a Super Bowl commercial cheap! #WorthaShot

— Ken Bone (@kenbone18) January 4, 2017

Michael Wilbon called the 49ers the "biggest mess in pro football." I think all us Jet fans can take at least a little comfort in that.

— Tim McGhee (@tpmcghee) January 5, 2017

Listening to Bill Walton's color commentary on taped Washington-Oregon game. As always, verbal gold.

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) January 5, 2017

Awesome environment for 'Nova-Butler last night. I was lucky to attend the Bulldogs' lone other win over a No. 1 team--Indiana in 2012.

— Dave Miller (@Miller_Dave) January 5, 2017

The MLB Rangers at Globe Life Park will formally announce the architectural firm chosen to design their new retractable-roof ballpark. SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL reported in November the franchise had selected Dallas-based HKS.

The USTA will opens its 64-acre national campus in Orlando's Lake Nona development.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Classic Movie Roles.”

“A letter to the director that said, ‘Dear sir, I am fat and wear spectacles’ got a young actor a role in this 1963 film.”

Actor Kevin Costner appeared on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last night and was asked if he would ever do a sequel to “Bull Durham” in the future. Costner said, “If Ron Shelton wrote it and we both saw it really clearly, I’d put myself in his hands.” Host Jimmy Kimmel noted Costner loves doing western films, so he “should do a western baseball movie, which would be an interesting film” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 1/4).

“What is ‘Lord of the Flies’?”