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Today: What’s one possible takeaway from the NHL in Beijing? The Browns are at it again, and an NFL team hires a talent consultant to help improve public image.

The U.S. women's national hockey team last night agreed to a four-year contract with USA Hockey to "avert a threatened boycott" of the IIHF World Championship, which begins Friday in Michigan. The players will make "around $70,000 each per year, although they could make more than $100,000 in Olympic years if they win gold." The deal also includes the "formation of a Women's High Performance Advisory Group that will contain former and current members of the women's national team," offering "advice in helping USA Hockey advance girls and women's hockey" (USA TODAY, 3/29).

Billie Jean King tweeted, "Really glad things came together for @usahockey & the US Women's National Team. Right decision & best team is now representing our nation." The CBC's Cassie Campbell: "Congrats to @usahockey and their women's team. ... I know the game will continue to grow in the right direction." Sports writer Jessica Luther: "I'm struck by what the US women's hockey team has done but more so that they had to do it at all. Title IX is nearly 45 years old." TSN Radio's Steve Warne: "USA Hockey has been acting poorly toward its women's team for a very long time."

Several members of the women's team tweeted out this video message:

To Our Dearest Fans,
Together, WE dared to make history. And couldn't have done it without you. See you at #2017WWC#BeBoldForChange #OwnIt pic.twitter.com/WGBZByCcYI

— Hilary Knight (@Hilary_Knight) March 29, 2017

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell plans to attend the Patriots' Sept. 7 season opener at Gillette Stadium, saying, "I plan to be at the kickoff game." Goodell "hasn't been back" to the stadium since the AFC Championship game in January '15, which spawned the Deflategate scandal (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/29). The BOSTON HERALD writes, "Now we can officially bury the last remnants of Deflategate." Goodell "will be welcomed by the team," and it will be "good to get this part over with, and move on" (BOSTON HERALD, 3/29).

The MLB Rangers and Cordish Cos. today will hold an official groundbreaking ceremony for the $250M "initial phase" of Texas Live!, the mixed-use development between Globe Life Park and AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Construction is "already underway" for the project, which is pegged at $4B in total, but this marks the "official start." The first phase is "slated for completion next year, with eateries and shops opening" in spring '18 before the hotel and convention space opens "later in the fall" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 3/24).

Asics Americas is moving three key divisions to Boston, aiming to get closer to competitors, Europe and a "heritage in New England for shoe building," said CEO Gene McCarthy. Asics will retain its Americas HQ in Irvine, Calif., but is preparing space for 50 or more high-skill positions near Boston's South Station. It will shift global performance footwear creation, regional apparel creation and footwear merchandising eastward, McCarthy said. Only about 20 workers are being relocated, with the remainder to be recruited in the Northeast. Boston is already home to Reebok, New Balance and Converse, and McCarthy said he hopes to tap into the region’s critical mass of design talent.

NHL officials including Commissioner Gary Bettman and reps from the NHLPA will be in Beijing this week to "formally announce two preseason games for next fall." The games, "likely to be played in Beijing and Shanghai" between the Canucks and Kings, will "represent the first NHL contests in the world's most populous country." NHL owners "appear to agree that China is good for business," or, rather, it "has the potential to be good – and maybe very good – for business" (ESPN.com, 3/28).

The NHL also "plans to stage grassroots programs and for teams to play exhibition games against local Chinese clubs." With the NHL "signaling it is prepared to sit out" the '18 PyeongChang Games, the IOC has "dangled" the '22 Beijing Games "in front of league officials as the big prize" (REUTERS, 3/29).

Atlanta United yesterday afternoon "began its permanent residence" at its new Cobb County (Ga.) HQ. While the facility's 30,000-square-foot building is "still a work in progress, United will practice the rest of the season on its six full-length fields." Before yesterday, the team "had spent most of their practices" at the Falcons’ HQ. In addition to the team and club staff, the new 33-acre facility "will be home to the Atlanta United youth academy." The main building is "expected to be fully completed within the coming month" (MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL, 3/29).

The Oilers last night with a 2-1 win over the Kings clinched a playoff spot "for the first time in 11 seasons," and Rogers Place "was 2006 loud." Oilers Entertainment Group CEO & Vice Chair Bob Nicholson said, "We’re in a new building. We’re in a new era. We have a new leader in Connor McDavid. We have a team that is building their identity for today." Nicholson said that the Oilers will "wear orange in the playoffs," referring to the team's current third jerseys. He added, "Next year, we are mandated by the NHL to go to two uniforms without a third jersey. We will have two new uniforms, one orange and one white" (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 3/29).

An Arkansas state House committee yesterday advanced a measure to "exempt college sporting events from a state law allowing guns" after the SEC "appealed for guns to be banned from facilities such as football stadiums." SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said the measure signed into law last week by Gov. Asa Hutchinson "creates concerns for the conference and its member institutions." The NRA "opposes the exemption measure." The law takes effect Sept. 1 (AP, 3/28). 

The Irvine (Calif.) City Council has "directed staff to work with USA Water Polo and discuss ways to build a world-class aquatics center" at the city-owned Orange County Great Park. The Huntington Beach-based NGB is "looking for a permanent training facility for its national teams and a venue to host national and international tournaments." No details were presented as to "what amenities the center would feature, where in the park it would be built or how the project would be funded." The center "would also be open to other aquatic uses" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 3/29).

USF today and tomorrow hosts its third annual Sport & Entertainment Analytics Conference at the USF Alumni Center, with sponsorship from Ticketmaster. The 11 confirmed speakers include Kraft Analytics Group CEO Jessica Gelman (keynote) and 76ers VP/Strategy Akshay Khanna. The event focuses on the technical side of sports and entertainment marketing, examining the latest trends as well as the growing importance of data analytics and creativity (THE DAILY).

Are you or someone you know in sports business going to the Final Four this weekend in Phoenix? If so, SBJ/SBD wants to hear about your experience. Sign up here and we’ll connect with you after the nets are cut down.

Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance Exec Dir Scott Dupree said that North Carolina will "lose out on NCAA championship events" through '22 if legislators "don't address House Bill 2" by noon ET tomorrow (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 3/29).

The $45M renovation of the Ravens' Under Armour Performance Center will "take them out of the running" for the '17 season of HBO's "Hard Knocks," even though the team is one of eight this year subject to "mandatory inclusion" in the show (Baltimore SUN, 3/29).

Health and hospice care provider LHC Group has signed Archie Manning as its national spokesperson and ambassador (LHC Group).

More than 25,000 "drum banging, flag-waving red clad fans" attended last night's U.S.-Panama FIFA World Cup qualifier at Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City. The match ended in a 1-1 draw (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 3/29).

"There is absolutely no reason why a woman will not ascend to be a head coach in this league. We are very focused in on it" – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/29).

"That's the idea" – Warriors coach Steve Kerr, on the team's eight-game win streak dating back to his decision to sit four of his star players in a primetime TV game against the Spurs (WASHINGTON POST, 3/29).

"If I was a fan, I wouldn’t attend a game for the next three years. That’s just me. That’s ridiculous. No way I would pay my way to attend a game" – Warriors F Draymond Green, on the Raiders' remaining seasons in Oakland before moving to Las Vegas (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/29).

"The reality is I’ve got to go talk to guys that may never make it to Las Vegas about, you know, Las Vegas" – Raiders coach Jack Del Rio, on discussing the team's impending move with his current players (L.A. TIMES, 3/29).

"I don't know where that report came from. It's erroneous" – Bills Owner Terry Pegula, on a report that coach Sean McDermott could hire his own front-office employees in the near future (ESPN.com, 3/28).

"While I believe in second chances and giving players an opportunity for redemption, I also believe that playing in the NFL is a privilege, not a right. For me, personally, I believe that privilege is lost for men who have a history of abusing women" – Patriots Owner Robert Kraft, on whether the team would consider drafting former Oklahoma RB Joe Mixon (BOSTON HERALD, 3/29).

Center for Gaming Research Dir David Schwartz in a WASHINGTON POST op-ed writes Las Vegas over the years has "been sanitized a bit, and the NFL isn't as clean-cut as it once appeared." Major resorts have "made more from rooms, food and shows than their casinos" since '99. Ten years ago, Las Vegas "couldn’t buy airtime during a Super Bowl." Within another 10 years, it "will have hosted one." Meanwhile, the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL writes under the header, "Las Vegas Pro Sports Growth Mirrors Nashville's."

NFL Cardinals President Michael Bidwill in a special to the ARIZONA REPUBLIC writes, "In a span of just more than 26 months, University of Phoenix Stadium will have hosted a Pro Bowl, a Super Bowl, a College Football National Championship Game and the Final Four. It is an unprecedented and historic grand slam for a stadium and for a community."

Also: 

• NBA teams resting their "coddled multimillionaires" is a "giant middle finger to the fans."
• NASCAR's All-Star Race should be a "midweek, midsummer evening at Martinsville."
• Rams GM Les Snead "feels the pressure to build a winner in L.A."
• The NCAA's delayed justice has given Final Four-bound UNC "an extended reprieve."
• How the Warriors are "changing the way players work ... and play."
• Far from "boring fans to death," the UConn women's team has provided "a thrill."

These next few years with the lame-duck Raiders are going to be an incredible test-case for the supremacy--or not--of the NFL in this market

— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) March 29, 2017

The Edmonton Oilers end their 10-season playoff drought on the night the Detroit Red Wings 25-season playoff streak ends. Circle of life.

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) March 29, 2017

For the first time in 26 years, I can't use Detroit clinching the playoffs as a reminder to change my smoke detector batteries.

— Rob Vollman (@robvollmanNHL) March 29, 2017

Rod Wood has informed the NFL that the Lions intend to bid on the next round of Super Bowls and to host the draft

— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) March 29, 2017

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

Toronto FC players, alumni and front office staff will visit the new Wall of Honour at BMO Field for a ceremony beginning at 11:30am ET.

The Brewers will hold a ribbon cutting at 12:00pm CT for new concession areas and infrastructure at Miller Park.

The Fire will introduce newly acquired MF Bastian Schweinsteiger in a press conference at 3:00pm CT.

Huge thank you to all our fans who welcomed @BSchweinsteiger to #cf97 at O'hare this evening #CHIweinsteiger pic.twitter.com/yVbIu65P9M

— Atul Khosla (@atulkhosla) March 29, 2017

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

“In July 1938 about 2,000 people with an average age of 94 gathered at this site for a 75th and final reunion.”

TBS’ Conan O’Brien: “President Trump has turned down a chance to throw out the first pitch on Opening Day for the Washington Nationals. However, Trump said he’ll reconsider if he can also throw out all the players from other countries” (“Conan,” TBS, 3/28).

CBS’ Stephen Colbert responded to White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer saying the media would connect President Trump to the Russians if used Russian dressing on his salad. Colbert: “The President put Russian dressing on his salad tonight? That’s huge news! Trump ate a salad? … The only time he ever eats greens is when he eats $100 bills in front of Mark Cuban” (“Late Show,” CBS, 3/28).

A segment on CBS’ “Late Show” focused on Trump’s frequent visits to his golf courses. The “Trump Caddie Confessions” segment had a fictional Trump “caddie” describing his golf game. The “caddie” said, “He’s pretty good, but when he misses a putt, he blames it on Obama wiretapping his clubs” (“Late Show,” CBS, 3/28).

 Actor Hank Azaria appeared on CBS’ “Late Show” last night, where he talked about his new show on IFC, “Brockmire.” Azaria said the title character is a baseball announcer with a “generic baseball voice, especially in the 1970’s, and I really hooked onto it as a mimic. I wondered, ‘Do these guys always sound like this?’” The following video clip features Azaria teaching CBS' Colbert how to use the “baseball announcer” voice in some potentially off-color situations (“Late Show,” CBS, 3/28).

“What is Gettysburg?”