St. Louis voters yesterday rejected funding for an MLS stadium but "approved a companion ballot measure imposing a half-cent sales tax increase for expanding" the MetroLink light rail system. The stadium plan, which would have provided about $60M in public funds, "lost by 3,000 votes," with 47% of voters for it and 53% opposed. Both propositions "needed to pass in order to fund the stadium." MLS Exec VP/Communications Dan Courtemanche said the defeat was “clearly a significant setback for the city's expansion opportunity and a loss for the community.” Investor Terry Matlack said, "It's unlikely St. Louis ever gets an MLS team now" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 4/5).

The Cowboys have "emerged as a favorite" to host the '18 NFL Draft at The Star, their new training facility in Frisco, according to league sources. Philadelphia is "also in contention," while K.C. and Green Bay are "longshots." At this time, "no decisions have been made." The Cowboys are "pushing to host the draft" and have the "infrastructure to get it done." The event "never has previously been held in the state of Texas" (ESPN.com, 4/5).

Amazon will replace Twitter in live-streaming the NFL’s “Thursday Night Football.” The company will stream the 10 “TNF” games carried by CBS and NBC as part of a one-year deal that the league announced late yesterday. Amazon paid $50M for the rights, substantially more than the $10M that Twitter paid for “TNF” streaming rights last season. Amazon beat out Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for the rights, and the deal marks the biggest win for Jim DeLorenzo since he joined Amazon last March to head up the company’s sports division and pick up live sports rights. The NFL deal will allow the company to put sports rights on its Amazon Prime subscription video service, essentially putting the streams behind a paywall. Amazon’s deal ends Twitter’s one-year run with the league.

MLBAM and Twitter have set the April schedule for the first live-streamed MLB games on the social media network. The non-exclusive out-of-market games will begin Friday with Cubs-Brewers in Milwaukee, continuing on Friday nights throughout this season. The free live streams will be available worldwide at mlb.twitter.com and the @MLB feed, except in select international territories, and will be accessible to both logged-in and logged-out users. The live Twitter games are an outgrowth of the large-scale deal MLBAM struck last summer with the company, and also follow the start of a similar offering in January for the NHL.

DATE	MATCHUP
4/7	Cubs-Brewers
4/14	Mets-Marlins
4/21	Red Sox-Orioles
4/28	Reds-Cardinals

A day after the NHL said it will not participate in the ’18 PyeongChang Games for the first time in five Winter Olympics, Capitals Owner Ted Leonsis yesterday said that he has not thought about what he will do if one of his players wants to play in South Korea. Previously, Leonsis has gone on record saying that he would support his team’s superstar, LW Alex Ovechkin, if he decides to play for the Russian team on his own. While Leonsis did not walk back those comments, he said he is more focused on the team’s coming playoff run. The Caps have the best record in hockey and are in line to enter the playoffs as the top seed in the East. “What the league now does with the IOC, I will wait to see what happens,” Leonsis told THE DAILY. “But I’m not going to spend five seconds thinking about what happened yesterday when the playoffs are a week away.”

Check out today's issue of the THE DAILY for more reaction from execs and players regarding the NHL's decision.

The Aloha Stadium Authority today plans to release the findings of a new report on "property development, options to keep Aloha or build a new stadium" on the 100-acre site. Stadium Authority Chair Ross Yamasaki, Stadium Manager Scott Chan and sports facility consultant Irwin Raij are "expected to be at the event" announcing the findings (BIZJOURNALS.com, 4/4). The 11-member authority will meet prior to the press conference to "receive the reports and view artist renderings" of a new facility (HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER, 4/5).

Time Inc. has struck a partnership with Vivid Seats designating the Chicago-based resale marketplace as the official ticketing partner for the SI Group portfolio of sites, including SI.com, Golf.com and Fansided.com. Financial terms were not disclosed. Vivid Seats branding, marketplace links and content will be integrated across the websites and mobile apps of all three destinations. Vivid Seats struck a similar deal in February with ESPN, so it now has access to the two most highly trafficked destinations in the most recent comScore digital sports rankings.

A deal to invest public money in the $140M renovation of Quicken Loans Arena "continued to draw fire" last night in a Cleveland City Council meeting. The deal "would ensure the Cavaliers will remain at the arena" through '34, a seven-year extension of their current lease. Opposition groups "point to deals struck over public funding of sports facilities elsewhere and argue that those cities" got "more of a financial commitment" from team ownership. The City Council will have "at least one more hearing, likely April 10, before a final vote" (CRAINSCLEVELAND.com, 4/4).

Roger Federer will play John Isner at Seattle's KeyArena on April 29 in an exhibition tennis match to support children's education in Africa. As a warm-up to the event, Federer will team up with Bill Gates for a one-set doubles match against Isner and a surprise celebrity partner. This is the fourth Match for Africa event for the Roger Federer Foundation, and it will mark the Swiss tennis star's first-ever match in Seattle (Roger Federer Foundation).

Some fans have no respect... pic.twitter.com/FQkSIr3xnh

— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 4, 2017

The Missouri Valley Conference on Sunday in St. Louis is "expected to hold an emergency meeting" with member school ADs and presidents to "likely discuss a plan for Wichita State's expected exit" to the AAC, sources indicated. AAC schools are "preparing for the Shockers to join the league next season as a basketball only member." Another source said that "potential expansion partners could also be a topic" on Sunday (FANRAGSPORTS.com, 4/4). There is "no exit fee" for the MVC, which has been WSU's home since '45 (WICHITA EAGLE, 4/5).

Did you or someone you know in sports business go to the Final Four? If so, SBJ/SBD wants to hear about your experience. Sign up here and we’ll connect with you this week.

The NFL appointed IMG as its exclusive licensing representative across select int'l markets in Europe and Asia in a multiyear deal (IMG).

MSG Networks' stock "rose more than 8%" yesterday after a report that Exec Chair James Dolan "was 'sounding out' potential buyers" of the company (MULTICHANNEL.com, 4/4).

Upper Deck has released the NHLPA-licensed Grandeur Hockey Coin Collection, available for purchase today. The first series of limited-edition coins feature 20 current and former NHLers (Upper Deck).

Warren Buffett "appeared courtside" at last night's Magic-Cavaliers game, seated with Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 4/5).

Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was at Fenway Park yesterday for the announcement of the Red Sox' eighth annual Run to Home Base, an event honoring veterans scheduled for July 15 (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/5).

"Would I do it again? After the sort of backlash I received, I'd think twice about it" – Golfer Rory McIlroy, on his decision to play golf with President Trump (USA TODAY, 4/5).

"It’s not just, ‘Oh, let’s just pay every player $5,000.’ It really requires something really radical. And maybe that’s getting rid of college athletics as we know it" – Clippers G J.J. Redick, on reforming college sports so that athletes are compensated (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 4/5).

The L.A. TIMES writes now-retired Vin Scully was "doing regular, boring stuff" on Opening Day. But hearing it from Scully, it "sounded like theater." Spending the afternoon "living a normal life with his beloved wife was, for him, the perfect opening day."

The LAS VEGAS SUN notes until the Raiders leave the Bay Area, "no authorized Las Vegas Raiders merchandise will be produced." But that has not stopped knockoff merchandise from popping up online and in some stores. In addition, reps at Lids Locker Room and Fanzz at the Galleria Mall in Las Vegas already "reported customers asking specifically for Las Vegas Raiders gear."

Also:

• Rory McIlroy's recent outing with Trump "does not constitute a full endorsement."
• Fans will get a "nostalgic kick" out of ESPN's Mike and the Mad Dog "30 for 30."
• How Golf Channel's David Feherty decided to take a "swing at stand-up comedy."
• Joe Louis Arena's final days stir up memories of other Detroit venues of old.

#Preds are wearing "social media" sweaters with hashtags and stuff in warmups. Shrug. #isles

— Neil Best (@sportswatch) April 4, 2017

Cam Bedrosian should get an endorsement deal with GoPro, and pitch with one on his head. Call it Bedrosian Cam.

— Dave Brown (@AnswerDave) April 5, 2017

Amazon must think it can sell a lot of shoes/hats/stuff for forking over $50m, 5x what Twitter paid for Thurs games https://t.co/qup4Czz9bp

— Shalini Ramachandran (@shalini) April 4, 2017

Patrick Ewing tells @JunksRadio that Georgetown has a nepotism clause and his son won't be allowed to stay on his staff

— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) April 5, 2017

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

#ShareaCoke with the 2017 NCAA Men's 🏀 National Champs. ✔

Cheers @UNC_Basketball and fans! #GoHeels 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/Zs6AXTpFHJ

— The Coca-Cola Co. (@CocaColaCo) April 4, 2017

Augusta National Chair Billy Payne will deliver his annual address to the media prior to the start of The Masters, and he "could shed some light" on "possible changes to the course." The topic of adding yardage to some holes is "certain to come up" (AUGUSTA CHRONICLE, 4/5).

St. Louis-based sports accelerator Stadia Ventures will introduce its four new startup companies at an event today. Their founders will "spend part of the next 12 weeks in St. Louis for mentoring and business development, and Stadia will invest up to $100,000 in each firm" (STLTODAY.com, 4/4).

A 3-minute hit on the stories you need to know ... Subscribe on iTunes ... Check out our podcast home.

Last night’s "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Contemporary Artists."

"Raised in industrial Yorkshire, he moved to L.A. in 1964 and thought, 'This is the place to be – in the land of swimming pools.'"

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “When in Dome.”

$200: “This Louisiana venue has hosted events featuring Barry Manilow and Leon Spinks, but not at the same time.”
$400: “Demolished in a kind of ‘Viking funeral,’ the Metrodome in this state was no longer dome sweet dome after 2014.”
$600: “In 2011 the Georgia Dome hosted this event XXVII; matches included The Undertaker vs. Triple H and The Miz vs. John Cena.”
$800: “In 1965 this baseball venue had female ushers dubbed ‘Spacettes.’”
$1000: “Lucas Oil Stadium, ‘The House That Peyton Built’ in this city, replaced the RCA Dome.”

Turner Sports’ Ernie Johnson appeared on CBS’ “The Late Show” last night, and host Stephen Colbert asked of the NCAA Tournament, "How does an announcer BS their way through a player who he has to talk about who he doesn't know jack about?" Johnson answered, "I would say there are certain fallback lines. If you don't know who the backup point guard for South Dakota State is ... you’d say, ‘He can shoot the three ball. He's not real quick, but of course, has good handles,’ and if you say it with conviction, they say, 'Well, he knows everybody on that team.'" Later, describing his role as host of "Inside the NBA," Johnson said, "I'm like the rogue traffic cop. I wave Kenny through the intersection, knowing full well Shaq will t-bone him. ... If I were an actual traffic cop I would have desk duty or something at this point."

Johnson also discussed his new book, “Unscripted,” and his wife, Cheryl. Johnson: "I'm a sportscaster. … She's the one who works with addicted women. She's the one who fights child sex trafficking and says a lot of girls aged out of foster care and get lured into that. Let's adopt one. We adopted two. It's these unscripted moments that we don't run away from. We embrace them, and it makes our life worthwhile" ("The Late Show," CBS, 4/4).

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel said North Carolina is “national champions once again. It wasn't a high-scoring game. I think there were more Capital One commercials than there were points in the game. But that didn't temper the enthusiasm of North Carolina at all. After they won, fans and students in Chapel Hill did what college students often do. They set fire to a couch. ... This is something I will never understand. That couch let you sit on it the whole tournament, supported you for every game this season, and now you win. And instead of celebrating together, you burn it? That would be like winning the Kentucky Derby and then shooting the horse” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 4/4).

“Who is David Hockney?”

Correct responses to the “When in Dome” category:

$200: “What is the Superdome?”
$400: “What is Minnesota?”
$600: “What is Wrestlemania?”
$800: “What is the Astrodome?”
$1000: “What is Indianapolis?”