Calgary residents today will get a "first glimpse at the 'Plan B' officials have been considering" as an "alternative to the hypothetical CalgaryNEXT project that's faced hurdles since renderings and details were made public" in August '15. A new report to go before the Calgary City Council today outlines a substitute plan calling for a Flames arena in Victoria Park, on land "currently occupied by parking lots and roadways." Calgary Sports & Entertainment, city administration and the city’s land developer "have met more than 25 times to discuss" the substitute plan in recent months (CALGARY HERALD, 4/22).

Meanwhile, a citywide poll looks to answer the question, "Under what circumstances, if any, should public dollars go into a new arena?" The poll, "paid out of the existing budgets of individual city councillors," will ask if the city "should give out money for a new arena with no strings, lend cash or get a share of the profits in a new arena." The survey "will begin within days throughout Calgary with final results next month" (CALGARY SUN, 4/22).

The Cleveland City Council today is scheduled for a "final vote" on an estimated $88M in tax funding for Quicken Loans Arena upgrades, "clearing the way" for a a total of $140M in improvements to The Q. The project, a partnership among the Cavaliers, Cuyahoga County, Destination Cleveland and the city, is expected to cost about $282M by the "time the construction debt is repaid." Proponents "hope to get 12 votes from City Council so that the ordinance will be approved on an emergency basis and take effect immediately" (CLEVELAND.com, 4/22).

The NFLPA’s business accelerator arm, OneTeam Collective, has formed a partnership with wearable technology company WHOOP, in which it will receive an equity stake in the company. WHOOP will become the Officially Licensed Recovery Wearable of the NFLPA, as part of the agreement. It is the first agreement by OneTeam Collective, which the union formed late last year. As part of the deal, every NFL player will get a sensor wristband which measures the user’s heart rate that they can use at home.

See more in today's issue of THE DAILY.

Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird today will deliver Indianapolis' bid for the '21 NBA All-Star weekend. Bird and other Pacers Sports & Entertainment reps "will combine two of Indiana's biggest sports loves – IndyCar and basketball – in delivering the bid, using a specially themed and retrofitted Indy car." Indianapolis has not hosted the NBA ASG since '85. L.A. will host next year's event (INDYSTAR.com, 4/21).

Yesterday's MotoGP race at Circuit of the Americas drew a "huge crowd that COTA officials said was larger than last year's 56,528," although "no numbers were released by MotoGP global rights holder Dorna." The race was held on a "spectacular mid-70s day." COTA Chair Bobby Epstein "didn’t directly address" the issue of the track's surface. But he said that he was "pleased with the attendance and confirmed that MotoGP will be back in Austin next year" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 4/24).

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway was postponed until today at 1:00pm ET due to a "persistent case of April showers." The "official word came just after noon" yesterday in the drivers' meeting, but "many fans were already aware of that inevitable fact." Cup qualifying was "canceled due to rain Friday" (BRISTOL HERALD COURIER, 4/24). The forecast for Bristol calls for "occasional rain to end at 10:15am," with a "few showers" expected to resume between 5:00-6:00pm ET (WEATHER.com, 4/24).

Kobe Bryant this morning appeared live in-studio on ABC’s “GMA” to discuss his animated short film “Dear Basketball,” which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Roberts: ABC’s Michael Strahan asked, “How did you take something that was a love letter to basketball and think this needs to be an animated film?” Bryant: “I tried to write it in a very visual way versus simply coming out and saying this is how I feel, try to put it through stories so you see the dedication and commitment through rolling my dad's tube socks. Or you see it through all the VHS tapes of all the past games, so you can see the growth and you can see the love” (“GMA,” ABC, 4/24).

Does @kobebryant miss basketball?

Nope.

The @NBA legend explains why... pic.twitter.com/o4eiec83r3

— Good Morning America (@GMA) April 24, 2017

Orlando City Stadium "will host" the '17 NWSL Championship on Oct. 14. The announcement was made during halftime of the NWSL Orlando Pride's Saturday home opener against the Washington Spirit (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4/23).

Layer 3 TV has added MASN and MASN2 to its allHD Platinum package in the DC metro area (John Ourand, Staff Writer).

Reebok by mid-fall is "planning to unveil a completely compostable sneaker designed to not cause harm to the environment when it is created, or to pile up a landfill when it's worn out and thrown away" (USA TODAY, 4/24).

"I don't deny that it's a big sum of money, but we've been able to structure it so the room tax pays for a third of (stadium costs), and I think that is fair, and it will be a win-win for everybody" – Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, on the $750M public contribution toward the Raiders' stadium in Las Vegas (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/22).

"A decision has to be made this year. David knows this, it's time to move forward or not, and that time is upon us" – MLS Commissioner Don Garber, on David Beckham's ongoing efforts to bring an MLS team to Miami (MIAMI HERALD, 4/22).

The TORONTO STAR writes, "In a new study by Toronto researchers, ex-NHL players showed no significant cognitive impairment, regardless of how many concussions they’d suffered. But the findings don’t match how some players say they feel."

Also:

• Brief history of the NHL Draft Lottery and what it means for Golden Knights.
• St. Louis faces stiff competition in attracting marquis sporting events.
• Hartford Yard Goats praise new Dunkin' Donuts Park after first week.
• With Chargers gone, how should San Diego fans pick a new team?
• Want to learn Spanish? Listen to Dodgers radio broadcaster Jaime Jarrin.

It's incredible that you can feel the entire culture of a city by attending one NBA game. NBA arenas are microcosms of their parent cities.

— Alexis Morgan (@alexiskmorgan) April 24, 2017

There is only one terribly important decision of NFL Owners-pick the right head coach. Crap shoot. In some cases, GM but mostly the Coach

— Ralph Cindrich (@RalphCindrich) April 24, 2017

This new @TeamMessi celebration is brought you by @nike (and not his sponsor @adidas ) pic.twitter.com/VfmrNFCfHT

— Ricardo Fort (@SportByFort) April 24, 2017

Bill Polian just said something staggering. He said no player who tested positive for pot at the combine ever succeeded in the NFL.

— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) April 24, 2017

#DerrickRose talking to #JerryReinsdorf as he leaves the Bulls game pic.twitter.com/wE0iriDCxO

— Danni Wysocki (@danniCSNCHI) April 24, 2017

The Emily Couric Leadership Forum will present its '17 Leadership Award to Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman at a luncheon event in Charlottesville, Va. The award acknowledges an exceptional woman who exemplifies leadership in her profession and community.

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Friday night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “19th Century Europe.”

“Published in L’Aurope on January 13, 1898, it caused its author to be convicted of libel.”

“What is ‘J’Accuse?’” The author, Emile Zola, was writing about the Dreyfus Affair.