The '17 WBC has set a new attendance record with a draw of 976,828 through the tournament’s second round. The figure exceeds the total attendance of 885,212 in '13. With semifinals tonight and tomorrow and the championship game Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, this year’s WBC is assured of surpassing 1 million in attendance for the first time in its four iterations. Tokyo set a record as the most attended first-round site with 206,534 and the most attended second-round site with 209,072. Saturday’s U.S.-Dominican Republic game, in which the U.S. clinched a semifinal berth, drew 43,002 at Petco Park, the largest crowd ever for a second-round WBC game played in the U.S.

A source said that Eastern Michigan AD Heather Lyke "will be Pitt's new athletic director," with a formal announcement expected today. She will be the school's third full-time AD since December '14, when Steve Pederson was fired, and the "first female" AD in school history (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 3/20). Lyke has been EMU AD since '13 after "spending 15 years at Ohio State in several administrative positions." She also has served as an Assistant AD at Cincinnati and an enforcement intern with the NCAA, and she holds a J.D. from the Univ. of Akron School of Law (TRIBLIVE.com, 3/19).

POST-GAZETTE headline: "Who Is Heather Lyke? Meet Pitt's New AD."

Levy Restaurants has re-branded its sports retail group to Rank + Rally, and it has signed the Nets and Golden Knights as its two newest clients. The company, formerly Levy Retail, now has 12 accounts at major league arenas and stadiums, as well as Arlington Park horse track in suburban Chicago. All of the merchandise deals are at venues where Levy Restaurants operates food service. Levy Senior VP Erin Jones, who has around 12 years’ experience in retail, will lead Rank + Rally out of Levy’s home office in Chicago.

USA Hockey execs and women's national team reps will meet today to discuss the wage dispute that "could lead to the players boycotting" the IIHF World Championships, which begin March 31 in Michigan. The players last week announced that they would skip the event "unless significant progress is made in negotiations on what they hope is a four-year contract." Today's meeting in Philadelphia comes "two days before the scheduled start of training camp" (AP, 3/19).

Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment COO Fred Mangione is leaving after 17 years to join the NFL Jets as Senior VP/Ticket & Premium Revenue, Strategy & Development, a new position for the team. Mangione will be responsible for ticketing strategy, including premium and suite offerings. He also will oversee the consumer sales and premium partnership departments, as well as the Jets' consumer service department. Mangione will begin April 17, reporting to Jets President Neil Glat. Mangione started with the Nets in '99 as Senior Dir of Ticket Sales and performed a variety of jobs with the team and Barclays Center, including CMO and CRO. He has held the COO title since July '14.

The $125M renovation of Vivint Smart Home Arena will begin today after the Jazz' arena hosted early-round NCAA Tournament games. Today, "fencing will be installed around the northeast corner" of the main plaza, the "main ticket box office will be closed" and work will begin to demolish the concrete bridge in front of Door 5 (DESERET NEWS, 3/14). The tourney games in Salt Lake City were "well-supported." With a "big boost" from Northwestern fans, Saturday's attendance of 18,565 was "about 2,500 bigger than the second-round crowd" in '13 (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 3/19).

About 100 NFL licensees, along with team merchandising personnel and outside retailers, are gathering today and tomorrow at Jacksonville's EverBank Field for the league's 15th Consumer Products Summit. The Summit is held annually in tandem with the NFL's Equipment Managers meeting. A total of more than 1,000 people are expected to attend both gatherings, according to NFL Senior VP/Licensing & Consumer Products Chris Halpin. Speakers will include newly appointed Jaguars Senior VP/Football Operations Tom Coughlin and Jaguars VP/Marketing & Digital Media Steve Ziff.

SportsBusiness Journal/Daily last night announced the nominees for the '17 Sports Business Awards, featuring 87 candidates across 17 categories. See the full list here (THE DAILY).

The grandstand crowd for yesterday's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Camping World 500 was estimated to be 45,000, "about the same as last season" at Phoenix Raceway (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/20).

The BNP Paribas Open men's final, in which Roger Federer defeated Stan Wawrinka, drew a "crowd of 17,382 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden." Attendees included Int'l Tennis HOFer Rod Laver (Palm Springs DESERT SUN, 3/20).

Saturday's two-session Big Ten Gymnastics Championships "drew 4,081" fans to Rutgers. This year's edition of the event was the "first staged up on a podium," which is "usually reserved for NCAA Championship meets" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 3/20).

Yesterday's L.A. Marathon drew more than 24,000 runners and an "estimated half a million spectators." Unlike the last two years, when the race was "run in uncomfortably warm conditions, this cool and slightly foggy Sunday morning was ideal" (L.A. TIMES, 3/20).

The Penguins last night honored Panthers RW Jaromir Jagr with a "video commemorating his inclusion on the NHL 100 list." Jagr previously won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 3/20).

Thank you for everything you did for us, @68jagr. pic.twitter.com/iSzo5qTTSi

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 19, 2017

"I have no retirement plans whatever" – NASCAR team owner Jack Roush, on a report that he has a three-year retirement plan in place (NBCSPORTS.com, 3/17).

"I can't do anything. Even the staff have been told they shouldn't talk to me" – Former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone, on efforts by the racing circuit's new U.S.-based owner, Liberty Media, to minimize his influence on the sport (ESPN.com, 3/20).

"In F1, we have been running a five-star Michelin restaurant, not a hamburger joint. But maybe now the cuisine will be more accessible. Maybe it will even have a better taste" – Ecclestone, on changes to F1 being explored by Liberty Media (London DAILY MAIL, 3/19).

"I would like the opportunity to get in front of people at OSU and share my vision with them and make my case for the job" – CBS Sports Radio's Doug Gottlieb, on his desire to be considered for the Oklahoma State men's basketball coaching job (OKLAHOMAN, 3/20).

"I’m going to give Sweden my best player at the risk of him being injured. Beating our Canadian team. That doesn’t make sense. Maybe if it was a Canadian going to play for Canada… maybe" – Senators Owner Eugene Melnyk, on whether he would give D Erik Karlsson permission to play in the '18 Games if the NHL does not officially participate (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/18).

"Growing up in L.A., I always saw how Magic has a lot of businesses. ... It’s dope that he really committed to the community. He’s doing all this great stuff. It kind of shows you what this job can do for you. Magic’s been doing it the smart way, by doing great investments. I’m looking at that like, wow, that’s how I want to be" – Celtics F Amir Johnson, on Lakers President of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson (BOSTON HERALD, 3/20).

The BUFFALO NEWS highlighted New Era Cap's "robust corporate wellness program," which includes "on-site yoga and massage, purified water stations, and a breast milk delivery service for new moms." The company claims that "productivity improved" and employee turnover "dropped." In addition, the effort has "helped keep health insurance premiums flat for the last three years."

The ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH's Jeremy Rutherford visited the home of Blues Owner Tom Stillman as he and his wife watched the team's road game against the Sharks last Thursday. Other than a "stack of unused Post-it notes with the Blues’ logo on a kitchen counter, there’s little that lets visitors know they’re in the home of the team’s owner." But Stillman's "passion and interest in the Blues’ success has been received by fans as genuine."

Also: 

• Proponents of a new MLS stadium in St. Louis believe the city has momentum.
• A Pittsburgh sports commission would ensure "more big events give the city a look."
• Royal Farms Arena GM is "passionate in defense" of the Baltimore building.
• Even in radio industry, it is "hard to imagine someone being as open" as Mike Stone.

Facts have deserted any conversation about why Kap hasn't signed. Another version of people just confirming their pre existing view.

— Joe Banner (@JoeBanner13) March 20, 2017

Duke can thank North Carolina’s legislature for giving South Carolina a home game.

— Matt Glenesk (@MattGlenesk) March 20, 2017

NASCAR executive Steve Phelps in the house for today's 76ers game. Brett Brown, Ben Simmons stopped by to chat.

— Dan Gelston (@APgelston) March 19, 2017

I apologize to my fans and ppl who purchased tickets to watch me play live at @MiamiOpen. Sadly, I'm injured and won't be able to compete.

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) March 19, 2017

Hey @YahooForde, how did you enjoy Lynn Marshall's company for 40 minutes? pic.twitter.com/JEX6XGo7UH

— Travis Heying (@travisheying) March 19, 2017

The Pacers today kick off their Go Green Week, which includes designating tonight's 7:00pm ET home game against the Jazz as Go Green Night. Themed activities tonight include a T-shirt toss, parachute drop and a pregame activity with nonprofit Earth Charter Indiana.

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Friday’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “20th Century Books.”

“William Goldman asked his daughters what he should write about; they said these two things, which he combined.”

“What is 'The Princess Bride'?”