F1 will move from NBC Sports to ESPN next year as part of a multiyear rights deal that is expected to be announced later today. Neither side would comment on financials, but ESPN is not believed to be paying a rights fee for the programming and will rely on a world feed to carry the races. The circuit's OTT rights are not part of this deal, as F1 will retain control over those rights -- a position that proved to be a sticking point with NBC, which had carried races on NBCSN since '13. F1 also pushed for a shorter deal length. The circuit, which is trying to build itself up under new ownership, did not want its U.S. rights to be tied down in any kind of long-term deal, sources said.
ESPN committed to televise all 21 races live next year -- 16 on ESPN2, three on ESPN and two on ABC. ABC will re-air the May 27 Monaco Grand Prix in the timeslot following the Indianapolis 500. ESPN has committed to carry all practice sessions, qualifying and races live and in replay on one of its platforms next year.
“We had the ability on Sunday mornings on ESPN2 to slide the races right into the schedule,” ESPN Exec VP/Programming & Scheduling Burke Magnus said. “The design here is to lean heavily into the sport once again. It’s been a few years. We want to make it a big deal again.”
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A championship parade will be held tonight at 6:30pm CT. It will proceed toward Williams Arena and will "end at the doors" of the venue (STARTRIBUNE.com, 10/5).
Meanwhile, the Sparks, who "went to their locker room during the national anthem for the first four games" of the Finals, "stayed on the court" prior to Game 5 (ESPN.com, 10/4).
The Devils, through parent company Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, has invested in the NWHL and formed a partnership with its N.Y. Riveters franchise. With the deal, HBSE and the Devils will become co-owner of the Riveters, and the team will be rebranded as the Metropolitan Riveters. This marks the first time an NHL team is partnering in the business of an NWHL franchise. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The Yankees won last night's AL Wild Card game against the Twins before a crowd of 49,280 at Yankees Stadium (Mult., 10/4). The NYPD posted "anti-sniper teams and other security personnel around Yankee Stadium" for the game in a "preview of security precautions shadowing all upcoming large crowd events in the city after the Las Vegas massacre." The two-officer anti-sniper teams are "often deployed around the city at big events." Upcoming events in N.Y. will include an "increased police presence," with some measures "not apparent to the public" (NEWSDAY, 10/4).
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, attending last night’s AL Wild Card Game in N.Y., said he remains optimistic of reaching an agreement with the MLBPA on pace-of-play rules changes that will be “meaningful.” There have been ongoing talks between the league and union, and with what Manfred termed as “direct engagement with players.” The continued pace-of-play talks come as the average game time during the '17 regular season rose to a new league record of more than three hours, five minutes. Last night’s Wild Card game required three hours, 51 minutes to play, including 45 minutes for the first inning alone.
Manfred, meanwhile, showed some new openness toward potentially mandating expanded protective netting at all MLB ballparks. After initially issuing netting guidelines to clubs in late '15, the league has generally left the matter to teams to develop their own solutions given the unique dimensions of each ballpark. But Manfred yesterday said a firmer mandate could be coming. “I could see a situation in which we do that,” he said.
A "packed crowd" of 17,495 earlier today attended T'Wolves-Warriors at Shenzhen Universiade Center in China as part of the NBA Global Games. The Warriors, despite losing 111-95, "appeared intent on putting on a show for their biggest international fanbase." The team "pulled its starters midway through" the third quarter, but after the final buzzer, G Stephen Curry "jogged off the floor" to a round of applause (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/5). The Warriors' first trip to China since '13 has been marked by "large crowds and a heavy police presence." Some 240 reporters from 123 outlets were "credentialed for these Global Games, less than half of the 500 media members who applied" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/5).
我们很高兴见到中国的勇士球迷! #NBAGlobalGames 🇨🇳 pic.twitter.com/lKDMmUbUjI
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) October 5, 2017
The Pac-12 today announced an extension with Alibaba that for the first time includes distribution of Pac-12 Networks content across linear and digital channels by the Chinese e-commerce giant through '24. Alibaba will distribute 175 live Pac-12 Networks events annually throughout China on various platforms. The sports covered in the deal include football, men's basketball, women's volleyball, beach volleyball, gymnastics, swimming, lacrosse and track & field. The deal also extends Alibaba's sponsorship of the annual Pac-12 China Basketball Game through '20 (Pac-12).
The Sabres have signed C Jack Eichel to an eight-year, $80M contract extension, "making the 20-year-old the highest-paid player in franchise history." The $10M salary cap hit also will make Eichel "one of the highest-paid players in the NHL." The team is "expected to discuss the deal during a news conference" today ahead of tomorrow night's regular-season opener against the Canadiens at KeyBank Center (BUFFALO NEWS, 10/4).
This marks a "significant step" for Sabres Owner Terry Pegula, who since buying the team in '11 has "made efforts to reinvigorate the fan base by renovating the arena and developing downtown." But "consistent excitement on the ice has been more difficult" (ESPN.com, 10/3).
The EPL’s 20 teams will meet today in London to "discuss ending a 25-year-old consensus on revenue sharing that has made the soccer league not only the world’s richest but also one of the sport’s most equitable." The debate will "end with a vote of one representative from each of the 20 teams." Currently, each team "gets an equal share." But pressure from some of the biggest and richest clubs has "compelled the league" to "propose a new formula in which the top performing teams get a bigger slice of the foreign millions" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/4). Read more in SBD Global.
Meanwhile, EPL club Arsenal Owner Stan Kroenke has “bid almost” U.S.$696M to buy out Alisher Usmanov, the “second-largest shareholder who has tried several times to wrest control of the club.” Kroenke owns 67% of Arsenal while Usmanov “has a 30.4% stake” (GUARDIAN.com, 10/3). Read more in SBD Global.
Six Nations Rugby will move from beIN Sports to NBC next year as part of a six-year rights deal expected to be announced formally later today. NBC will pay a rights fee for the annual seven-week-long tournament, though the companies would not divulge how much. The deal starts in February with televised games appearing on NBC, NBCSN and CNBC. NBC Sports Gold will stream all Six Nations matches live. “We’ve been working on this deal for close to a year,” said NBC Sports and NBCSN President of Programming Jon Miller. “This is one that we’ve wanted for a long time.”
NBC execs said Six Nations Championship games will fit into weekend morning windows that became available when F1 left for ESPN, a deal that was announced yesterday. NBC also will use EPL games and NASCAR programming for those time slots. Many of the EPL games will move from CNBC to NBCSN. The schedule will have NBC carry the England-Ireland rugby match on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17. The TV schedule will be somewhat abbreviated next year as NBC covers the PyeongChang Games, but it will ramp up again in '19.
NBC Sports Group will use its own talent and produce studio shows and shoulder programming around the matches, including a “Men In Blazers” Six Nations-focused show. “We want to demonstrate how big the sport is over there,” Miller said. NBC also holds rights the Rugby World Cup through '23, Premiership Rugby and Olympic rugby through '32.
U.S. Soccer has signed a three-year deal with Opta to serve as its official live match data provider, aiding the federation in both player development and fan engagement. The deal will see Opta support the USSF’s efforts to develop and identify youth players, provide performance analysis of the men’s and women’s national teams, and create data-driven digital content for fans. As part of its youth soccer efforts, Opta will collect and manage data for all U16/17 and U18/19 U.S. Soccer Development Academy matches and Youth National Team matches, providing the USSF with a path for improvement and identification of top youth players.
Meanwhile, U.S. Soccer has signed a multiyear partnership with Hisense USA to become the official TV and appliance manufacturer of the U.S. national teams. Hisense, also an official sponsor of the '18 FIFA World Cup, will sponsor the USSF through both that event and the '19 Women’s World Cup. The partnership will launch ahead of the USMNT's World Cup qualifier against Panama tomorrow night in Orlando, where it will showcase a variety of in-game and social activations. It also will run a multi-channel campaign for key matches throughout the year, featuring brand integration across broadcast, digital, in-stadium exposure and on-site activations.
The Red Wings' season opener tomorrow night against the Wild at the new Little Caesars Arena "isn't quite a sellout yet," though it is a "hot ticket." The team late yesterday said there are "an extremely limited number of tickets available" for the contest (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 10/4).
Meanwhile, the Pistons last night held a "Meet the Team" event at the new venue. About 8,000 tickets were "distributed for the free event, which included demonstrations, a dance contest and plenty of fan interaction" (DETROIT NEWS, 10/4).
Good times at @LCA_Detroit pic.twitter.com/pbOeBgWBMZ
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) October 3, 2017
Licensing attorneys for the Univ. of North Texas, whose athletic teams use the moniker Mean Green, today are sending a "cease and desist letter to Michigan State and ESPN." UNT "isn't pleased that ESPN used its trademarked mascot to describe Michigan State in a promo for the upcoming Michigan-Michigan State" football game that "apparently aired" yesterday. UNT AD Wren Baker said that this "wasn't the first time the term 'mean green' has been borrowed for a Michigan State-related promotion" (USATODAY.com, 10/4).
Nashville this morning hosts a "joint Metro fair board and sports authority meeting" for Mayor Megan Barry's administration to "continue the rollout" of a $250M soccer stadium project. The public can then "weigh in at a special fair board meeting" this evening. The Metro Planning Commission and city council "would have to approve a special rezoning to allow the private development on the fairgrounds site." This is in "addition to three other pieces of legislation for the stadium project to move forward." Metro Council members are "raising questions" about the proposal, which would let John Ingram's prospective MLS ownership group build on "land owned by the city" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 10/5).
Meanwhile, North Carolina legislators as late as yesterday appeared willing to "investigate the financial cost of moving state employees off government property to make way" for a potential MLS stadium in the Raleigh area. But as today approached, the "idea appeared to be fading into the night." A sum of $200,000 previously proposed to study and plan for the effort did not "make it into the final version of the bill that House and Senate leaders tentatively agreed to" last night (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 10/5).
Perkins + Will, one of the world’s largest architects, has acquired Sink Combs Dethlefs, a Denver-based sports design firm. The merger to be announced later this morning combines two companies that compete in the college and sports recreation space. Sink Combs Dethlefs also designs big-league arenas, and its recent projects include upgrades to Target Center, SAP Center and MTS Centre. As a result of the merger, the Sink Combs Dethlefs brand will be eliminated, and the company’s 58 employees will be employed under the Perkins + Will banner. Sink Combs Dethlefs CEO Don Dethlefs becomes Chair of the Perkins + Will sports, recreation and entertainment practice.
Just 11 days after the conclusion of the Tour Championship, the new PGA Tour season "kicks off" today with the Safeway Open in Napa, Calif. With "only five of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking in this week’s field" at Silverado Resort, the Tour’s "soft launch provides fans a glimpse at the new wave of talent to hit the big leagues." The tournament is the "first of eight events this fall" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 10/4).
Meanwhile, China-based ZTE has agreed to a three-year deal to be the Tour's official smartphone. The deal includes global rights through '20 (PGA Tour).
The NHL Kings during tonight's home opener against the Flyers will "honor employee Christiana Duarte, who was one of the victims of the mass shooting in Las Vegas." There will be a pregame ceremony and a moment of silence, while Kings players "will wear a heart-shaped 'CD' sticker on their helmets, and team personnel will wear a pin in her honor." The team also will "hold a 50/50 raffle, with the proceeds going toward the Las Vegas Victims’ Fund" (L.A. TIMES, 10/5).
Meanwhile, the D-backs and Rockies prior to last night's NL Wild Card game "paid tribute to the victims" of the shooting. Duarte worked for the D-backs "earlier this year" before joining the Kings (USATODAY.com, 10/4).
U.S. Soccer has petitioned FIFA to have a "minute of silence at Orlando City Stadium" prior to Friday's Panama-U.S. World Cup qualifier to honor the victims of the Las Vegas shooting. USMNT MF and team captain Michael Bradley today is "due to discuss the Las Vegas tragedy with the media" (USA TODAY, 10/4).
Meanwhile, the Golden Knights announced they are "partnering with the NHL and the Foley Family Charitable Trust" -- tied to team Owner Bill Foley -- to "donate $300,000 to the victims and first responders of the mass shooting" (USATODAY.com, 10/3).
NHL Kings employee Christiana Duarte was "one of nearly 60 people killed" in the shooting. The 22-year-old was in her "first full-time job" as a fan service associate for the team, after graduating from the Univ. of Arizona. She also worked for the AHL Tucson Roadrunners (USA TODAY, 10/4).
The Univ. of Utah selected locally-based North Ridge Construction, N.Y.-based signage firm ANC and TSA Architects to install a new center-hung display for the Jon M. Huntsman Center to be ready for the upcoming basketball season (ANC).
Univ. of Cincinnati men's basketball season-ticket sales are at their "highest level since the Mick Cronin coaching era began" in the '06-07 season. UC AD Mike Bohn: "We're at 5,608 and counting. That represents a 12-year high" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 10/4).
The 76ers named Philadelphia-based restaurant Garces its preferred catering partner for the team's VIP and premium events (76ers).
Hawks F Kent Bazemore has "agreed to a 5-year shoe deal extension with Under Armour" (TWITTER.com, 10/3).
Men's Warehouse reached a two-year agreement with the NHL Coaches Association to dress 20 head coaches in Joseph Abboud custom suits for the '17-18 season (Men's Warehouse).
The D-backs' 11-8 win over the Rockies in the NL Wild Card last night was played before a "sellout crowd of 48,803" at Chase Field (DENVER POST, 10/5).
The NHL has reached a multiyear partnership with 15 Seconds of Fame for the company to deliver personal television moments to fans (NHL).
MMA promotion Combate Americas has chosen Telemundo as its broadcast partner for its one-night, eight-man Copa Combate tournament for $100,000 on Nov. 11 in Cancun, Mexico (Combate Americas).
"Although some people predicted that when Yao retired that we would lose popularity, in fact post Yao Ming we’re even more popular than when he was playing. We’ve been embraced by the Chinese government, and the people -- I believe -- in large part because of the values of our game" -- NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, on the league's growth in China (USA TODAY, 10/5).
"We’re not a business. If a business made decisions the way we make them sometimes, they’d be out of business. We’re uniquely American. No other place in the world pairs its high-level amateur athletics with higher education. There is some tension in the system" -- Xavier AD Greg Christopher, who became Chair of the NCAA D-I Committee on Infractions last month (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 10/5).
"We were surprised, as were a lot of others. We’ve had good relations with NBC, and they’ve worked hard to grow the sport in the States. Yet everyone knows ESPN/ABC with their track record in sports, so we look forward to our future association with them" -- Circuit of the Americas COO Katja Heim, on F1 moving from NBC Sports to ESPN in '18 (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 10/5).
"This is a sponsor that is here to stay; they will be here day in and day out. They won’t be there just when a trophy is being presented and waving at the end" -- Former NFLer Jacob Hester, on Louisiana-based Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar striking a three-year deal to be the title sponsor of the Independence Bowl. The restaurant is co-owned by Hester along with several former LSU basketball players (SHREVEPORT TIMES, 10/5).
"I do have to give [President] Trump this: he does have pretty good paper towel shooting form. I feel like he can make more shots than Shaq" -- ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel, on Trump tossing rolls of paper towels into a crowd in Puerto Rico (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 10/4).
"We did it as a team. If it was up to me, yeah, I’d take a knee. We decided not to take a knee. It was a team decision" -- Knicks C Enes Kanter, on the team locking arms last night during the anthem ahead of a preseason game against the Nets (N.Y. POST, 10/4).
"If I can come up with solutions that I think people can get behind and truly solve problems, then it makes perfect sense for me to run" -- Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban, on a possible run for President in '20. Cuban made the comments on on Bakari Sellers' podcast "ViewPoint" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 10/4).
"We’re not in an expansion process. We’re not about to go into an expansion process. They seem to be wanting to build a building there. We’ll see. There is interest, I can confirm, but nothing beyond that" -- NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, on Seattle wanting to land an expansion team (SPORTSNET.ca, 10/3).
"I'm still on TV a lot doing commercials. I apologize to all the people out there who are tired of seeing me on commercials" -- Peyton Manning, on his steady endorsement work in retirement (MMQB.SI.com, 10/4).
"You say, 50,000 of a thing must be printed and delivered to a stadium in a 48- or 72-hour period, most people would go, ‘Not possible'" -- Merchandise agency BDA COO Rob Martin, on the company's efforts to supply fan towels for each MLB team in the postseason (N.Y. TIMES, 10/4).
The Norfolk VIRGINIAN-PILOT goes with, "TV Networks Need To Show Restraint In Setting Starting Times For College Football." Games are now "staged for viewers more than for the fans sitting in the stands." But games "should start at 6, and no later than 7," as the "safety and well-being of players and fans should take precedence over ratings."
Also:
The DETROIT FREE PRESS goes with, "Little Caesars Arena Feels Like Home Of Red Wings, Not Detroit Pistons." Maybe "it’s all that Red Wing red," or the fact that the venue "started out as the home for a hockey team." But "it's not politics as much as timing," as the Pistons "didn't work out a deal with the Wings until last November."
The BOSTON GLOBE writes, "Astros At Leading Edge Of Analytics And Their Success Is Proof Positive." The club's decision-making "places them at the forefront of baseball’s evolution to a world in which rocket scientists are very much at home." Now the Astros' formula has "caught the attention of others in the industry."
Also:
This has all the feel of Derek Jeter Night.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) October 4, 2017
I love baseball... as much as I love anything in the world. But if you think baseball doesn't have a pace problem, you're in denial.
— Jared Diamond (@jareddiamond) October 4, 2017
Acting Louisville AD Vince Tyra will meet with athletic staff members at 11:30 this morning to answer their questions.
— rickbozich (@rickbozich) October 4, 2017
If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.comAgent switch: #Braves RHP Julio Teheran now represented by Adam Katz and Andy Mota of Wasserman Media Group. Previously with ISE Baseball.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) October 3, 2017
Brazilian Olympic Committee President Carlos Nuzman arrested for alleged involvement in IOC vote-buying scandal. Obrigado. https://t.co/VOIV7jmuX8
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) October 5, 2017
Oh Cam, don’t worry - I don’t talk routes - I talk man v zone, single high safety, 3 man rush, 4-3 v 3-4 - lemme know if you need a hand. https://t.co/EoywUWx1m0
— Amy Trask (@AmyTrask) October 5, 2017
Keep asking your questions, @JourdanRodrigue.
— Peter King (@SI_PeterKing) October 4, 2017
Crazy AL wild-card game with Yanks getting 26 outs from RP.
Crazy NL wild-card game with RP hitting a triple.
Next up: Verlander vs. Sale.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 5, 2017
If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.comWas first PR director for Rox ('93) and D'Backs ('98) when they began. Now watching from couch two yrs. after W.S. win in hometown. #blessed
— Mike Swanson (@Swanee54) October 5, 2017
Exclusive look at new lockers that will be installed at the end of the 2017 season!#PonyUpTempo pic.twitter.com/UKbeYsk3mz
— #PonyUpTempo (@SMU_Football) October 3, 2017
Watch the Penguins raise their latest Stanley Cup Championship banner prior to last night's home opener against the Blues.
Truly a 'banner' night. pic.twitter.com/XUmYl8ThjL
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 5, 2017
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Philadelphia MLS Commissioner Don Garber will take part in Goldman Sachs' speaker series, "Talks at GS" at the firm's N.Y. HQ (Ian Thomas, Staff Writer).
The Bucks will stage a media tour of their new arena at 11:30am CT.
N.Y. Post 
N.Y. Daily News 
Newsday 
Boston Herald
Chicago Sun-Times
Philadelphia The Nationals from 6:30-9:00pm ET host their Halloween-themed haunted pep rally ahead of Friday's NLDS Game 1 against the Cubs. Admission is free.
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “American Plays.”
“The latitude and longitude given by the narrator of this 1938 play would set it in Massachusetts, not New Hampshire.”
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “20th Century World Leaders.”
“He said, ‘Never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another.’”
Big wave surfer Laird Hamilton was profiled on NBC’s “Last Call” last night where he promoted his new film and biography, “Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton.” Hamilton: “I believe it's good to have fear. Fear is an essential emotion. But for me it's a tool that I've been able to use and it's allowed me to do what I do. It doesn't inhibit me. There's only three ways you do something dangerous and it's usually ignorance, denial or experience and then there's the combination of those, and usually it's a little bit of everything. But I like to go in with experience, sometimes a little denial, sometimes a little ignorance. But hopefully that was more in my earlier career” (“Last Call,” NBC, 10/5).
UFC fighter Michael Bisping appeared on TBS’ “Conan” last night where he discussed his upcoming title bout with Georges St-Pierre. Bisping noted St-Pierre has previously postponed the fight, with Bisping saying he “alluded possibly that he was trying to get the steroids out of his system.” But Bisping added, “I don’t want to publicly say that.” Host Conan O’Brien: “You just did.” Bisping said St-Pierre is moving up in weight class so “I was saying he was doing lots of weights to get bigger (but) realistically, I think he’s trying to grow the size of his balls.” O’Brien: “I think if you take steroids your testicles shrink, at least that was my experience” (“Conan,” TBS, 10/4).
NBC’s Jimmy Fallon: “I want to say congratulations to the Yankees who advanced in the playoffs last night. I love the Yankees, but did you see this?” Yankees C Gary Sanchez “caught a foul tip in a pretty rough place.” After Sanchez was hit by a foul ball in the groin, Yankees P David Robertson winced in pain as he saw the play, with Fallon adding, “He was like, ‘What? You asked for a breaking ball’” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 10/4).
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TBS’ Conan O’Brien: “There's a rumor that the Lakers are trying to sign LeBron James. They're telling him the weather in L.A. is great, plus as a Laker, you get the entire playoff season off” (“Conan,” TBS, 10/3).
“Who is Nelson Mandela?”
“What is ‘Our Town’?”
The reason why we chose to be downtown is we really wanted that compelling backdrop. And when you see those sweeping scenes in Campus Martius, down Woodward, into Hart Plaza, that's the most beautiful show.
-- NFL Senior Dir of Events Nicki Ewell, on the league's reasons for choosing downtown Detroit as the location for this year's NFL Draft. DETROIT NEWS, 4/25.
On this week’s pod, SBJ’s Austin Karp has two...
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