• NBC's Bob Costas: Decision To Skip Super Bowl "Mutually Agreeable"
• 49ers, Harris Blitzer, CAA Collaborate To Form New Agency
• Farmers Insurance Renews Sponsorship Of PGA Tour Event
• Under Armour Unveils U.S. Olympic Looks For Speedskating, Bobsled

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Today: The premium ticket and corporate hospitality space just got a little more competitive.

Bob Costas cited his own dampening enthusiasm for football as the main reason he will not be an on-air host for NBC’s pregame show at next month’s Super Bowl. “The decision was mutually agreeable, and not only do I not have a problem with it, I am actually happy about it,” he told THE DAILY via email. “I have long had ambivalent feelings about football, so at this point, it’s better to leave the hosting to those who are more enthusiastic about it.”

News that Costas would not be in Minneapolis came as a surprise yesterday, especially since NBC last year specifically said that the veteran broadcaster would work the Super Bowl as part of a pared down on-air schedule. But Costas dismissed the idea that his November comments at a Univ. of Maryland seminar, when he offered a bleak assessment of football’s future, served as a catalyst to keep him off the telecast.

Costas: “I have been making the same points for several years, often on NBC. In halftime commentaries, interviews with Roger Goodell and other prominent NFL figures, appearances on CNN and elsewhere, I have addressed the issue of football and its undeniable connection to brain trauma many times. Why? Because the evidence is overwhelming and the effects are often devastating. It’s the elephant in the stadium at every game whether others choose to acknowledge it or not. And it’s not going away. So the idea that I am only now finding my voice on this, or that NBC was taken aback by what I said at Maryland is just wrong. It’s all simple and straightforward.”

Dan Patrick and Liam McHugh will host the Super Bowl LII pregame show from Minneapolis with a roster of talent that includes Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison, Mike Florio and Dale Earnhardt Jr. “The broadcast is in good hands, and they don’t have an appropriate role for me, or compelling reason to use me,” Costas said. “All involved are fine with that.”

The 49ers, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and CAA have joined forces to create a new agency called Elevate Sports Ventures to focus initially on premium seating, PSLs and corporate hospitality sales. 49ers President Al Guido becomes CEO & Managing Partner of Elevate. HBSE CEO Scott O’Neil, CAA Sports co-Heads Howard Nuchow and Michael Levine and CAA Sports Global Head of Sales Paul Danforth have been named co-managing partners of the new venture. The company will have offices in Silicon Valley, Philadelphia, L.A., N.Y. and London.

The structure of the newly created company calls for equal ownership among the three partners. No staffing plans have been disclosed. The new venture means greater competition within the premium ticket and corporate hospitality space, as Elevate now stands to battle with other established agencies such as Legends.

See more in THE DAILY.

Farmers Insurance has signed a seven-year extension through '26 as title sponsor of the PGA Tour event in San Diego, which gets underway tomorrow at Torrey Pines. Farmers has been title sponsor since '10. In partnership with the insurer, the Century Club since '10 has contributed more than $20M to charitable organizations benefiting at-risk youth (PGA Tour). Tournament Dir Peter Ripa said of the extension, “It doesn’t get any better. This is the ultimate vote of confidence” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/24).

UA also rolled out new looks for U.S. Bobsled & Skeleton. Bobsledder Chris Fogt said that the suits are "less 'superhero' this year and more Americana." Fogt, who will be competing in his third Games, said, "My first year we looked like Captain America. I actually wore that as a costume with a mask and a little shield and the speed suit from 2010 for Halloween" (BALTIMORE SUN, 1/24).

We had a great time today at @UnderArmour headquarters in Baltimore! Thanks for the new gear! pic.twitter.com/Z0tZE7Wpw8

— USA Bobsled Skeleton (@USBSF) January 23, 2018

The Angels yesterday became the latest MLB team to "announce plans to expand the protective netting at their home ballpark" in the "wake of increased awareness of fan safety."  The netting at Angel Stadium "will now extend to the ends of both dugouts." The team will "announce specific details at a later date" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 1/24).

The Dodgers also will be "among the growing number of teams adding" netting to the area behind home plate this season. Team President & CEO Stan Kasten said that Dodger Stadium's additional netting is "expected to be in place" by late March. At least 14 MLB clubs now have "announced plans to expand their safety netting" for the '18 season (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 1/24).

Host Jimmy Fallon then asked A-Rod to discuss his work on ABC's “Shark Tank.” Rodriguez: “On Sunday nights, America gets their MBA, maybe not from Harvard business school, but from ‘Shark Tank,’ and it's just been a blast.” Later in the broadcast, Rodriguez took part in a hitting contest against a 1-year-old YouTube hitting sensation. Rodriguez lost and said, “That’s why I’m doing TV now” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 1/23).

Pro Bowl-related events at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex kick off today, and an NFL rep yesterday said that ticket sales are "on par with last year's game." The '17 contest, also held at Orlando's Camping World Stadium, drew an announced crowd of 60,834, the "fifth-largest turnout" since '70. Yesterday, at Orange Center Elementary School, Pro Football HOFers Derrick Brooks, Jason Taylor and LaDainian Tomlinson and former NFLer Warrick Dunn were "introduced at a tree planting ceremony" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/24).

Foot Locker has made a $15M strategic investment in Carbon38, part of a Series A funding round that "brings the aggregate" raised by Carbon38 to $26M since '13. The "women’s luxury lifestyle brand has its roots in the active apparel space, and last year entered the ready-to-wear market." Barclays analyst Matthew McClintock said, “We believe that today’s investment in Carbon38 could signal a change in strategy at Foot Locker regarding its athletic apparel business” (WWD.com, 1/23).

Laureus and Nike today will announce the launch of Sport For Good in N.Y., along with a goal to extend the charitable youth initiative to 20 cities by '20. Legendary Olympic hurdler Edwin Moses will help unveil the N.Y. effort, which includes grants to eight area nonprofits (THE DAILY).

USL club Phoenix Rising FC selected Populous and locally-based Gould Evans to design its new stadium in hopes of landing an MLS franchise (Phoenix Rising).

Chicago-based sports marketing agency rEvolution will move its 23,000-square-foot corporate HQ to the city's Fulton Market neighborhood later this year (rEvolution).

T-Mobile "closed its deal to acquire" cable startup Layer3 TV, "part of its effort to launch its own video service" in '18 (CABLEFAX DAILY, 1/24).

The AFL today will formally announce that its expansion team in Albany, N.Y., will be named the Albany Empire (AFL).

"We discussed a wide range of topics" -- MLBPA Exec Dir Tony Clark, on meeting with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred yesterday to discuss pace-of-play and other issues ahead of next week's owners’ meetings in Beverly Hills (ESPN.com, 1/23).

"I said, ‘If you get down to it and want to bring me on board, bring me on board, buddy'" -- Dale Earnhardt Jr., on possibly joining SMI Exec Chair Bruton Smith and President & CEO Marcus Smith's bid for the NFL Panthers (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 1/24).

"I don’t have any interest in anything along the lines of Panthers ownership. Just from a financial component it’s way out of my league. We’ve been proud suite owners the last two or three years and will continue to support them" -- NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 1/24).

"Athletes have been contributing in significant ways and haven’t gotten the credit of creating diversity and the role they play in our culture" -- Pro Football HOFer Carl Eller, on encouraging more athletes to be willing to take a stance on societal issues (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/24).

The WASHINGTON POST goes with, "USA Gymnastics Needs To Blow Things Up And Start Over With A Safe, Fresh Foundation." The Larry Nassar case has shown an "erosion of human ethics and morals." Now there "needs to be a complete housecleaning." The CHICAGO TRIBUNE writes under the header, "USA Gymnastics' Rot Runs Deeper Than Serial Sex Abuser Nassar."

The WALL STREET JOURNAL writes under the header, "Disney Won't Have Same Problem With Regulators As Fox-Sky Did." British regulators' "media plurality concerns fall away if Disney, which has no position in U.K. news, proves to be the one buying Sky."

Also:

• A frozen MLB free agent market "has Scott Boras talking."
• WNBA's Maya Moore talks to Jemele Hill about life as a black athlete.
• Nostalgia has "powerful appeal in sports, especially with" Baseball HOF vote.

To review, on Clemens/Bonds.
1. MLB: views them as members in good standing, unlike Rose, Shoeless Joe. Both eligible to work for teams.
2. Hall of Fame: views them as members in good standing. Places them on ballot annually.
3. BBWAA: Have effectively rendered a lifetime ban.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) January 24, 2018

Source: struggling @Pac12Network informs staff of cost-cutting, restructuring plan, (moves incld elimination of several positions)

— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) January 23, 2018

I think Tom Crean probably wants to coach again. But I also genuinely think he’s good enough as an in-game announcer to do Final Fours and massive, massive events for years to come.

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) January 24, 2018

Really pleased to see #Icarus nominated for Best Doco at this years #oscars. It’s phenomenal in its uncovering of a sporting scandal. A must see for any cycling enthusiast. #OscarNoms

— Amy Furnell (@Amy_Lea09) January 23, 2018

@lorenzofertitta @unlv celebrates $28.5 million football training complex groundbreaking. @LVSportsBiz w story: https://t.co/e6acixLI73@lvraidersreport @unlvfootball @UNLVathletics @DRFrancois1 @dr_nlo @sbjsbd @darrenrovell @ChristianWinn Great photos by @K6Studios pic.twitter.com/KxtHle2tr1

— LVSportsBiz.com (@LVSportsBiz) January 24, 2018

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Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Literary Brothers.”

“This character first appeared in ‘The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter,’ an 1893 story in London’s Strand Magazine.”

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel said of yesterday's Oscar nominations, “Kobe Bryant is now the tallest person ever nominated for ‘Animated Short.’ He got nominated for his short film ‘Dear Basketball,’ which could be the closest we get to seeing the Lakers win something this year” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 1/23).

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon: “I saw that Melania was supposed to go to Switzerland with Donald this week but is backing out due to ‘logistical issues.’ It turns out Melania uses a lot of different excuses to get out of things with her husband. She even has her own ‘excuse generator’ to come up with them.” Fallon said, “When Donald asks, ‘Do you want to watch the Super Bowl with me?’ She says, ‘I totally would, but ... there's a government shutdown ... in my mind'” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 1/23).

“Who is Mycroft Holmes?”