Liberty Media today will "seek the approval of stockholders for its acquisition" of F1 in a deal that values the motorsports business at $8B, and what will "potentially follow is a shakeup of the sport to maximize revenue." The number of races could increase from the "present 21 a year to up to 25, with Miami and Las Vegas among the proposed new venues." One of the "first moves" new F1 Chair Chase Carey is likely to make after today’s vote is to appoint someone to head up "marketing, sponsorship and media-rights deals, with former ESPN exec Sean Bratches among the front-runners for the role" (VARIETY.com, 1/16).

The Warriors today will host the official groundbreaking ceremony for Chase Center, their new S.F. arena, at 12:00pm PT. The 18,000-seat facility is scheduled to open for the start of the '19-20 season (Warriors). The team's lease agreement at Oracle Arena is "up at the end of the season," and negotiations for next season in Oakland "are underway." The Oakland City Council will discuss the Warriors' lease today during a "closed session," and an agreement "should be finalized in the next couple of weeks." Meanwhile, the Mission Bay Alliance, which opposes the construction of Chase Center, said that "litigation is ongoing" (ABC7NEWS.com, 1/16).

Jordan Spieth is "unveiling his first signature golf shoe with Under Armour in a big way, with a four-city global tour" that kicks off today in Tokyo. The Spieth One shoe is debuting "during a two-day event in Japan, with Spieth participating in a 60-second digital spot at a Japanese cultural ceremony and then visiting several other locations throughout Tokyo." Spieth will also "travel to South Korea" on Thursday, when the first Under Armour Brand House in the region is "set to have its grand opening." The Spieth One tour will continue in L.A. on Feb. 13 and Mexico City on Feb. 28, with another launch in London in the "planning stages" (FORBES.com, 1/14).

ジョーダン・スピース選手(@JordanSpieth )初のシグネチャーモデル
『UA スピース ワン リミテッド』
『UA スピース ワン リミテッド ジャパンワイド』

日本限定モデル
2017年1月18日（水）より限定発売。
#IWILL#SpiethOne pic.twitter.com/RWhsc7caPs

— アンダーアーマー (@UnderArmourJp) January 16, 2017

IndyCar today is holding its promoters’ meeting in St. Petersburg ahead of the '17 season, which begins in mid March. The meeting is being held at the Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club, and on the agenda is development of the '18 schedule and timeline of its release; improving collaboration among venues from a fan demographic and data perspective; and an overview of technical developments in the series. Meetings will be held all day after a welcome dinner last night and ahead of a dinner cruise tonight.

IndyCar VP/Promoter Relations Stephen Starks in an email wrote: “We appreciate the opportunity to preview the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series season with the promoters of IndyCar’s 17 races. That we’re meeting in St. Petersburg is symbolic since this community is where the season kicks off March 10-12 with the Firestone Grand Prix. The topics being discussed are what’s next for IndyCar.”

Virgin Sport is announcing its inaugural series of events: four fitness festivals designed to appeal to a wide range of experience and enthusiasm levels. The first will be in the London borough of Hackney on April 30, with the first American event slated for Oct. 14-15 in S.F. The Hackney event will include a half marathon, a 5.5K fun run and an outdoor fitness bootcamp, along with a post-race festival for all attendees. CEO Mary Wittenberg said Virgin will continue to experiment with the festival concept, adding other distances, fitness events or sports – cycling is a goal – as more are developed.

Nielsen today is launching an ad campaign from Weber Shandwick and MRM McCann with the tagline, "The science behind what's next." Nielsen "provides measurement currencies that much of the global media world uses to do business," but the campaign "aims to position it as more, including a cutting-edge data-science company." Nielsen Chief Communications Officer Laura Nelson said public perception of Nielsen has often been as the "TV ratings company" (ADAGE.com, 1/17).

Minnesota Legislative Auditor James Nobles' report on the "use of two state-owned luxury suites at U.S. Bank Stadium will be delayed until February so the Legislature can hold a joint House-Senate hearing on the day of publication" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/17).

A preview of an upcoming digital marketing campaign featuring NASCAR driver Danica Patrick will be "offered to the board of directors of the Halifax Area Advertising Authority" at a meeting today at Daytona Beach Int'l Airport (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 1/17).

The Pennsylvania Rebellion "will no longer be playing" in the National Pro Fastpitch League. Team ownership "decided not to make the franchise purchase" for the '17 season and "opted out of continuing as an affiliate team of the NPF" (EXCELLESPORTS.com, 1/16).

The Chicago Sun-Times goes with a wrap-around cover marking the Cubs' trip to the Obama White House yesterday (THE DAILY).

"I still have time to screw it up" – Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein, on President Obama calling him the best exec in baseball history during the team's White House visit yesterday (ESPN.com, 1/16).

"Obviously, the fans are pretty intense about beating the Cubs" – Cardinals Chair & CEO Bill DeWitt Jr., on expectations for the upcoming MLB season (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 1/17).

"I get to have a life during the day, not just sit around and wait for the games. I would prefer if we played more afternoon games on the weekends, have the Barracuda play at night. But I don’t make those calls" – Sharks C Logan Couture, on his appreciation for afternoon games (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/17).

"It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that nobody wants to see two minutes of commercials, come back, kick the ball and then go to a minute-and-a-half of commercials. I’ve thought that was absurd since I was 20 years old" – Ravens Owner Steve Bisciotti, on TV timeouts during NFL games (BALTIMORERAVENS.com, 1/15).

In a special to the ARIZONA REPUBLIC as part of the paper's "AZ I See It" feature, former Suns owner Jerry Colangelo "looks at metro Phoenix's rise as a basketball city, including playing host to the Final Four in April."

YAHOO SPORTS notes Stars TV broadcasters Daryl Reaugh and Craig Ludwig are "quick to point out that their current setup isn't for the long haul." The "reason they were formed as a tandem was because regular play-by-play man Dave Strader was diagnosed with bile duct cancer last summer."

Also: 

• San Diego columnist pens emotional farewell to Chargers.
• Australian Open 40 years ago tried to add flashy second tourney.
• With Trump as President, activist athletes "must be more vigilant."
• Steve Kerr shares thoughts on MLK Day, NBA's culture of tolerance.

Phil Jackson is leaving everybody out to dry. He's the leader, come out and say something and don't just tell us about your damn rings!

— Anthony Donahue (@AnthonyMSG) January 17, 2017

Just got mocked by the TSA agent at SFO for my flight destination heading back to Cleveland. "Great game last night," she said.

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 17, 2017

For those who say reporting on the NFL is hard: Tennis is harder. @ESPN_Alyssa Serena oral history is so impressive. https://t.co/Iz9DaG3Akv

— Seth Wickersham (@SethWickersham) January 17, 2017

Wayne Gretzky, Joe Montana and Babe Ruth were all traded. I think the world will still spin now that Dax McCarty was traded to Chicago.

— Marc Connolly (@mconnolly10) January 17, 2017

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

North Carolina's Belmont Abbey College today is hosting its inaugural Motorsport Symposium and Wheeler Awards. Panelists include Chip Ganassi Racing President Steve Lauletta, Joe Gibbs Racing President Dave Alpern and NASCAR Managing Dir of Team Marketing Services Chris Traeger. Motorsport Management Int'l Founder Cary Agajanian will be recognized for his lifetime contribution to motorsport excellence.

Some local officials in the Miss Teen USA competition are "upset" that new pageant owner WME-IMG is "putting less emphasis on sex appeal and a greater focus in fitness." Among its first moves as the new owner, WME-IMG "eliminated the swimsuit portion" of the contest – which features competitors ages 14 to 19 – in August, replacing it with an "activewear segment" (N.Y. POST, 1/17).

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “20th Century History.”

“Villages like Zalesye, Kopachi and Lubyanka remain abandoned three decades after this event.”

Fox Sports’ Michael Strahan appeared on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” last night and talked about this weekend’s AFC and NFC Championship Games, saying the Steelers “might pull an upset” over the Patriots. This prediction elicited some boos from the studio audience, which prompted Strahan to look at the crowd and say jokingly, “You got a problem, come on down here and talk to me about it.” Host Jimmy Fallon said, “No one wants to mess with you.” Fallon congratulated Strahan for his hosting role on ABC's “$100,000 Pyramid.” Fallon: “You crushed it, and it’s been picked up for Season Two. You’re just crushing everything” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 1/16).

NBC’s Fallon noted the Packers on Sunday defeated the Cowboys 34-31 by "kicking a game-winning field goal as time expired." The Packers were "so excited they promised the kicker they’d learn his name before their next game" (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 1/16).

“What is the Chernobyl nuclear accident?”