The World Series champion Cubs host their home opener tonight against the Dodgers, and fans "will pour into the streets and the new plaza outside Wrigley before packing the ballpark for a banner-raising ceremony." Cubs P Jake Arrieta: "I expect Waveland, Addison, Sheffield and Clark to be packed." The team "will unveil gold-trimmed hats and gold-lettered jerseys" for today's banner-raising and Wednesday's ring ceremony (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/10).

The Cubs today also will open a new 8,400-square-foot store outside Wrigley Field, where fans can "view the Cubs' Gold Glove trophies, take pictures in a photo booth or buy a customized jersey or hat." Chicago-based Rank + Rally "will handle the Cubs store's operations." It also "helped create the Cubs' postseason 'Fly the W' merchandise and the Michigan Avenue pop-up shop that opened after the World Series victory" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/8).

Meanwhile, the club on Friday released videos of the "changes inside Wrigley Field, including the new bullpens, padded seats behind home plate and new bathrooms in right field." About 700 box seats behind home plate "will include padded seating, and eventually will be part of the 1914 Club, which is still under construction and will not be ready" until '18. The Cubs "also will open a new western gate, adjacent to the new Park at Wrigley" plaza area (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/8). View all five videos on MLB.com.

The Red Wings celebrated their final game at Joe Louis Arena "in style" yesterday, from "sunny walks on red carpets to one last victory to a ceremony featuring such storied past members" as Steve Yzerman, Nicklas Lidstrom and Scotty Bowman. Following the win over the Devils, fans "stood and cheered as players past and present took their seats on a red carpet" that spelled out “Joe” on the ice. One of the "most emotional moments came when Doug Brown wheeled out Vladimir Konstantinov, whose career ended after a limousine accident" in '97. The Red Wings will move into Little Caesars Arena next season "after 38 years at the Joe" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 4/10).

The event was "more than a farewell to a hockey rink." It was like "closing a door to your childhood, for both the players and fans." Red Wings LW Henrik Zetterberg said, "I've never had goosebumps this many times in a game" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 4/10). Loud, "boisterous fans tossed 31 octopuses on the ice during the game" (USA TODAY, 4/10). The DETROIT NEWS goes with the header, "Red Wings Party Like It's 1997 At The Joe."

Thanks for the memories, Joe. #Farewell2TheJoe pic.twitter.com/SikJyo60Lc

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) April 10, 2017

The NFL is "looking into an arm wrestling contest" at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas this weekend that "reportedly featured more than 30 current and former players." Participating players "could be in violation of the league's gambling policy and may face fines" (ESPN.com, 4/9). NFL Exec VP/Communications Joe Lockhart said, "No one sought pre-approval." California-based Encinal Entertainment put on the "Pro Football Arm Wrestling Championship" (USATODAY.com, 4/8).

A-B InBev's Michelob Ultra brand is the new beer sponsor of the World Surf League for U.S. events. Mich Ultra will support the deal with WSL content on social media channels, and the brewer will back branded hospitality areas and after parties at domestic WSL events. Grupo Modelo's Pacifico brand signed on in '14 as the surf tour's most recent beer corporate sponsor in the U.S. The WSL started this season without a title sponsor for the first time in four years, having lost Samsung after last season.

Soccer officials from the U.S., Mexico and Canada today are expected to formally announce that the three countries will bid jointly for the '26 FIFA World Cup. U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati, CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani and Mexican Football Federation President Decio de Maria will hold a news conference this morning in N.Y. The "formal bidding process will begin later this year" and conclude in '20 (L.A. TIMES, 4/10). It "isn't clear how" the three countries "would divide the venues and games." It is also unknown "whether all three nations would receive automatic entry to the tournament if they are selected as hosts" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/9).

Fox' Alexi Lalas said, "Don't think for a moment that the political climate in the United States didn't impact this. A joint Wolrd Cup that includes Mexico probably garners additional support and sends a message" (AP, 4/9).

U.S. women's hockey national team members Hilary Knight, Kendall Coyne and Amanda Kessel appeared on NBC’s “Today” show to discuss their OT win against Canada in the IIHF World Championship final. NBC’s Savannah Guthrie said, “It really is a storybook ending. ... It came right on the heels of this fight you had, leading the way to try to get equal pay and the same kind of treatment that the men's team got. That had to make it all the sweeter.” Coyne: “It definitely was, and we might have won Friday night, but it was a win for our sport and for girls and the future of women's hockey.” Knight: “The outpouring of support that we received, it's truly incredible and heartfelt” (“Today,” NBC, 4/10).

The AFL on Friday returned to DC "after a 27-year hiatus," with the Washington Valor beating the Baltimore Brigade 51-38 before a crowd of 15,579 at Verizon Center. Both franchises are owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment Chair Ted Leonsis. The crowd "reacted accordingly" to each touchdown, "as if arena football has been a decades-long staple" in DC. With the "league in a state of uncertainty, there appears to be enough hope for sustainability" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 4/8).

Three major prep races for the Kentucky Derby were held over the weekend. Saturday saw the 80th running of the Santa Anita Derby, which drew an "on-track crowd of 36,155" that saw Gormley secure a berth at Churchill Downs on May 6 (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 4/9). That figure was up from 27,821 last year at the track in Arcadia, Calif. (THE DAILY). Meanwhile, Keeneland on Saturday saw the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes "raced under gorgeous blue skies – while a crowd of 32,610 watched." The attendance "fell short of the record" of 40,617 in '12 (LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, 4/9). Last year's race at the track in Lexington, Ky., drew 20,848 fans amid cooler weather (THE DAILY).

The Wood Memorial also was run on Saturday at Aqueduct, drawing 10,119 fans (THE DAILY). At the race, NHL Panthers Owner Vinnie Viola saw his horse, Battalion Runner, likely earn "enough points to qualify" for the Kentucky Derby, but Viola "seemed to be leaning against running him." Viola's other horse, Already Dreaming, "will definitely go on" to compete on May 6 (DRF.com, 4/8).

VCU today is "expected to announce" an extension for AD Ed McLaughlin. A source said that McLaughlin "will receive a contraction extension" through '24 and has "withdrawn from consideration" for the Boston College AD job (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 4/10).

Stewart-Haas Racing and Nature's Bakery "will have their complaints heard by a mediator on Wednesday." The company "ended its sponsorship" of Danica Patrick's No. 10 Ford in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series before this season (USATODAY.com, 4/8).

Booking app HotelTonight has launched a partnership with AEG and will be the official hotel booking partner for the Galaxy and L.A. Live (THE DAILY).

The Univ. of Florida drew an "estimated crowd of 48,000 on Friday night" to its spring football game in Gainesville (MIAMIHERALD.com, 4/7).

Attendance for yesterday's final at the WTA Volvo Car Open in Charleston, S.C., was 7,491, "bringing the total for the week to 85,553, including last weekend's PowerShares event and a rainout of Wednesday night's feature match with Caroline Wozniacki" (POSTANDCOURIER.com, 4/9).

The Baltimore Blast defeated the Soles de Sonora yesterday in the Major Arena Soccer League championship "before 8,000-plus fans" at El Centro de Usos Multiples in Hermosillo, Mexico (Baltimore SUN, 4/10).

“I’m still hoping to see the replay. I’m hoping to see that I got that Bridgestone ‘B’ lined up just right before it trickled in the hole” – Golfer Matt Kuchar, on the hole-in-one he made yesterday during the final round of The Masters at hole No. 16 (“The Masters,” CBS, 4/9).

"Frustrated probably isn't the right word. It's not such an easy thing. You have to find something that fits" – IndyCar driver Scott Dixon, on why he and Chip Ganassi Racing having been unable to secure a full-time sponsor since Target exited last year (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 4/8).

"It's inevitable that there's going to be some kind of consolidation among the Group of Five. I don't think we're there yet, but eventually we will be" – Middle Tennessee AD Chris Massaro, whose school is part of Conference USA, on future realignment possibilities (Norfolk VIRGINIAN-PILOT, 4/9).

MLIVE.com examines the Red Wings leaving Joe Louis Arena and the Pistons bidding farewell to the Palace of Auburn Hills in the same week: "There simply hasn't been anything like this before." There is a "depth of architectural sports history that metropolitan Detroit stands to lose by effectively shuttering two arenas in two days."

SEATTLE TIMES: "With a Wednesday deadline set for proposals to renovate KeyArena – in direct competition with a since-revised Sodo project – the role of lobbyists and paid consultants in Seattle's arena debate has emerged front and center."

Also:

• In Connecticut, sting of losing Whalers still hurts after 20 years.
• Are rude Blue Jays fans the "Broad Street Bullies" of MLB?
• Why a little-known Massachusetts horse-racing fund needs new mission.
• Tim Tebow, former "enemy in shoulder pads" in S.C., now a "hero with a bat."
• Autism Awareness Night has real meaning for Red Bulls GM Marc de Grandpre.

U.S Soccer was considering option of solo bid for 2026 - joint bid avoids CONCAconflict but adds potential complications/negatives

— Simon Evans (@sgevans) April 10, 2017

I think the UA brand is strong but that 2017 will be a challenging year https://t.co/tqvhggLBRT

— Matt Powell (@NPDMattPowell) April 10, 2017

Bob Probert's family spread his ashes inside the Red Wings penalty box at Joe Louis Arena tonight, multiple players told me. pic.twitter.com/eFN7ZovT4K

— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) April 10, 2017

We’re proud to be the only Western Conference team to finish without a losing record at Joe Louis Arena. #Farewell2TheJoe

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 9, 2017

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Friday night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “British Novels.”

“The title of this 1908 novel is an allusion to the hotel in Florence where the novel starts and ends the next year.”

On "SNL" this weekend, the oft-criticized bust of Real Madrid F Cristiano Ronaldo that was unveiled at a Portuguese airport was “defended” by art restorer Cecilia Gimenez, as portrayed by cast member Kate McKinnon. Gimenez was derided for her restoration of a fresco of Jesus Christ. Gimenez said, “The first question any great sculptor must ask about his subject is, 'What would he look like if he had a stroke?'” (“SNL,” NBC, 4/8).

“What is ‘Room With a View?’”