The Super Bowl LI broadcast officially is sold out, as Fox Sports sold the last two 30-second spots for around $5M each, sources told THE DAILY. It is not clear which advertisers bought the final two spots. The fact that Fox sold out its in-game sales inventory hardly is surprising, but the big question was whether the net would be able to hold the price or offer steep discounts to move the remaining inventory. All indications are that it held the line on price. The Super Bowl has become a showcase for TV advertisers, as the game draws the biggest TV audience every year in the U.S.

Secondary ticket prices for Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium remain behind last year’s pace, but low-end inventory has rebounded sharply in recent days after some market weakness earlier in the week. StubHub said the average selling price on its platform was $4,154, down nearly 15% from a comparable point last year, and down 12% from $4,697 at the beginning of the week. While resale prices for premium-level offerings have continued to slide downward as the game approaches, get-in pricing that briefly fell below $2,000 per ticket has rebounded to more than $2,500, and jumped 19% yesterday alone.

StubHub buyers have come from 21 different countries. Despite some market weakness following the Cowboys’ elimination from the playoffs, Texas-based buying has continued to drive overall ticket activity. “The locals have really propped up the market,” said Patrick Ryan, co-Founder of Houston-based Eventellect, “and this town has really come a long way since we last had the Super Bowl (in 2004).” Ryan later tweeted, "Super Bowl ‘get-in’ market continues to climb but (Friday) is a big day as many players (who often resell) pick up their tickets."

The Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee last night hosted a party in Houston for "about 300 committee members,Vikings representatives and guests." Also present were current and former Vikings players, and LB Chad Greenway was named "captain of Crew 52, the group of 10,000 volunteers that will be assembled." Vikings co-Owner & President Mark Wilf said, "We’re going to have a big 10-day winter festival with ice bars and snowmobiling. ... We want people to feel like they’re coming into someone’s home" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 2/3).

Super Bowl weekend is upon us, and stories related to the big game are dominating the news cycle. USA TODAY in a front-page piece notes the NFL's "hold on the popular culture, even if it has slipped a tad, remains unparalleled." Consumption trends "suggest the league may be hitting a crossroads." As a "younger generation comes of age, it will bring with it different entertainment preferences and multiple new ways of consuming media that don't always fatten the NFL's pockets." The "digital revolution" has created "fragmentation of the media" (USA TODAY, 2/3). Meanwhile, the "concussion conversation appears to have moved out of prime time during Super Bowl week" (TORONTO STAR, 2/3).

Focusing on the Super Bowl as an event, the HOUSTON CHRONICLE goes with the header, "The Super Bowl Is A Great Party, But It Leaves No Lasting Impression." The WALL STREET JOURNAL notes any "potential host city is increasingly judged on its ability to cater to the ultra-wealthy." The halftime show is also a popular topic. N.Y. TIMES: "Women Lead At The Half." NFL Chief Content Officer Jordan Levin talks about the halftime show and the league's ratings issues in a HOLLYWOOD REPORTER Q&A.

Others focused on the personalities behind the two teams involved. The BOSTON GLOBE looks at Falcons Assistant GM Scott Pioli's "deep New England ties." Also in the GLOBE, a look at Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady's ties to the Trump administration. The L.A. TIMES explores the lessons Falcons President Rich McKay learned from his late father, legendary USC coach John McKay. On the lighter side, the WALL STREET JOURNAL looks at how Super Bowl rings have become "ridiculous and unwearable," and it examines the bizarre pastime of building replica stadiums from snack foods.

TNT’s Charles Barkley last night defended his previous criticism of Cavaliers F LeBron James and responded to James' latest salvo, saying, “I have no problem with what LeBron said. ... I did some stupid things in my life. That does not make my argument less valid. … My argument with LeBron was strictly basketball-related." Barkley continued, “I have never said anything personal about a guy and I'm never going to, ever.”

Barkley said of his relationship with James, “We do not have to be friends. I'm not friends with most of these young guys. But that being said, that does not mean that we have to say positive stuff about them all the time. I do understand they are really sensitive, today's players. … Anybody that thinks my comments were unfair, I don't think they're unfair. ... Our job is to give our honest opinion. Sometimes people get mad and that's okay” (“NBA Tip-Off,” TNT, 2/2).

The NFL and NBA late yesterday filed court papers to intervene in the pending trust trial of Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson, seeking to seal what the leagues consider sensitive financial information. The case is scheduled to go to trial Monday in Louisiana federal court. The judge overseeing the case last year rejected similar requests, but left open the option of the leagues coming back on a document-by-document basis.

“The NFL has an interest ... in the subject matter of this litigation, insofar as that subject matter addresses the commercially sensitive and otherwise confidential information of nonparty NFL and the 31 nonparty NFL member clubs, which has been incorporated into the trial exhibits,” the NFL wrote in its motion. The NBA’s motion was similar. Both leagues also look to excise any testimony that would emanate from the documents, which are not identified. Benson is stripping the team shares in the trusts of his disinherited heirs and replacing them with promissory notes. But two trustees contend he is undervaluing the teams.

USL club Sacramento FC President Warren Smith and Managing Partner Kevin Nagle will meet again today following yesterday's "four-hour negotiating session" that Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg mediated. Steinberg said that the two men "made 'tremendous progress' toward settling a dispute that has threatened to derail the city's bid" for an MLS team. This marks a "sharp contrast from Wednesday's rancor, which overshadowed Sacramento submitting its official bid for an MLS franchise" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 2/3).

Auburn Univ. trustees today could approve a new $28M "game-day support facility in Jordan-Hare Stadium." The new 44,000-square-foot facility would be "built in southwest corner of the stadium, and the project will include a 16,000-square-foot renovation of Auburn's football locker rooms." The facility also will feature a "recruiting space for football and Olympic sports, a new club space for fans and a new press box for the media." If approved, the project will begin in May and end in July '18 (OPELIKA-AUBURN NEWS, 1/26).

The NHL has partnered with the You Can Play Project to "name a You Can Play ambassador for each of its 30 teams." You Can Play works with LGBTQ athletes, and the initiative also will "highlight a place in hockey for people with disabilities and people from different socio-economic statuses and ethnicities" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/3).

Disney Chair & CEO Bob Iger "will not attend" today's White House meeting between President Trump and the business leaders that comprise his Strategic & Policy Forum. Iger instead will join a "scheduled board meeting at Disney headquarters in Burbank" (DEADLINE.com, 2/2).

"Eighth time. Why does everyone say that? They forget about '96! Third year of ownership" – Patriots Owner Robert Kraft, when asked mistakenly about taking his franchise to the Super Bowl for the seventh time (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/3).

"Please, do I have to comment on that one? I mean, that should tell you how I feel about that. That would be awful" – Former NFLer LaDainian Tomlinson, when asked about the possibility of the Raiders relocating to San Diego (ESPN.com, 2/3).

"It would be a wise decision for us to be one of the teams, but there's no announcement and I don't think we'll be first in line. I think at some point though, we'll be invited" – Capitals Owner Ted Leonsis, on possibly playing an NHL preseason game in China. The franchise hosts a Chinese Cultural Night and a youth clinic for players from Beijing (WASHINGTON POST, 2/3).

The WASHINGTON POST on Warriors coach Steve Kerr being outspoken politically: "Kerr's positions, notably his gun-control position, aren't just unusual in jock world, they are remarkable because his background is tragically unique. ... He and his family were victims of Muslim terrorists."

Also: 

• Dave Hart's tenure as AD has been "mostly good" for Tennessee.
• Astros' revival starts at the top with team Owner Jim Crane.
• Former DC police chief Cathy Lanier is now NFL Head of Security.
• CBS' Phil Simms reflects on his upbringing, including playing sports early.

No one took advantage of the free-agent market more than the Cleveland #Indians, signing Edwin Encarnacion to $60M and Boone Logan for $5.5M

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 3, 2017

U ever heard Tom Brady say I need help ? Hell No. when u a great player u play the hand u dealt and u deal urself, come on folks

— Booger (@SECbooger) February 3, 2017

I know we've barely been promoted so it's hard to know for sure...but yeah we a new show. https://t.co/Qazk6zYapM

— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) February 3, 2017

.@GolfChannel doing great job right now covering Tiger WD in Dubai. Is it physical or frustration? And which is the more troubling answer.

— Ron Sirak (@ronsirak) February 3, 2017

Cubs fans can begin purchasing Wrigley Field seats removed from the ballpark over the past two seasons. The seats removed in '15 cost $799, and those removed in '16 will cost $899. Shipping will cost $132.99 per seat.

A 2-minute hit on the stories you need to know ... Subscribe on iTunes ... Check out our podcast home.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “The U.S.A.”

“The Empire State Building says that on a clear day you can see five states from the top: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and these two.”

Last night’s edition of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” aired the recurring segment, “Mean Tweets: NFL Edition 2,” where NFL players read “mean tweets” about them. ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel said, “Sports fans, especially football fans, are passionate, they’re not afraid to cheer and they don’t shy away from criticism either. So from time to time, we like to shine a light on some of the harsh words people have for sometimes their favorite players” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 2/2).

A recruit for Illinois St., OT Kobe Buffalomeat, appeared on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last night because of “all the college football recruits, one name stood out.” Kimmel said when he and his wife were having a baby, “we never even considered Kobe Buffalomeat.” Kimmel asked Buffalomeat, “Were you aware of how amazing your name is before you appeared on television?” Buffalomeat said growing up, people always asked him, “Is that really your last name?’” Kimmel asked how tall he was, with Buffalomeat noting he was 6’ 7’’ and 285 pounds. Kimmel: “So nobody’s questioning the Buffalomeat at all.” Kimmel: “Have you ever actually eaten buffalo meat or would that be like cannibalism?” Buffalomeat: “I think it would be a little bit of cannibalism” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 2/2).

Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” featured a segment with correspondent Roy Wood Jr. attending the Super Bowl Opening Night media event. Host Trevor Noah said, “The non-stop Trump insanity is wearing a lot of people down, including our correspondents, so we decided to give Roy Wood Jr. a break from the madness by sending him over to cover something wholesome, pure and innocent: the NFL.” Walking on the field at NRG Stadium for Media Day, Wood said, “In here, there’s no talk about a wall, there’s no talk about banning Muslims, just a bunch of Americans celebrating the best of the country, which is a bunch of people just (EXPLETIVE) each other up.” Wood spoke with Falcons CB Jalen Collins and asked how he “felt about those 14 fumbles that you made in Week 12.” Collins asked, “I had 14 fumbles?” Wood Jr.: “I’m using alternative stats” (“The Daily Show,” Comedy Central, 2/2).

"What are Pennsylvania and Massachusetts?"