The Breeders' Cup posted record on-track wagering of more than $25M over two days at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, despite the fact that the seaside venue has a much smaller capacity than previous host tracks. The two-day on-track wagering total of $25,181,317 is the highest for the event and a 21.4% increase over the two-day total of $20,742,847 in '16, when it was held at the much larger Santa Anita Park racetrack. Yesterday's attendance at Del Mar was 37,692, with a two-day total attendance of 70,420. Last year at Santa Anita, attendance was 72,811 on Saturday and 118,484 for Friday and Saturday. Breeders' Cup officials could not immediately explain the reason for the increase in on-track wagering.

UFC 217 at MSG last night "delivered action aplenty, a string of upsets, three titles changing hands and laid foundations for some future intrigue" while being "backed up by strong attendance" and PPV numbers. Fighter Georges St-Pierre returned to the octagon after four years and "took the middleweight title" from Michael Bisping in a "fine scrap on an evening filled with them" (USATODAY.com, 11/5). The MSG crowd went "crazy and for good reason," as UFC 217 "somehow surpassed" last year's UFC 205. While Conor McGregor’s win over Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight title in UFC 205 was "one of the greatest moments in UFC history, UFC 217 will be remembered as one of the best cards ever." Three titles were contested, and all three "changed hands" (N.Y. POST, 11/5). 

UFC President Dana White last week said that UFC 217 was "expected to be the No. 3 live gate for a sporting event" at MSG. UFC 205 "set the record" at $17.7M, besting the $13.5M from the Evander Holyfield-Lennox Lewis fight in '99 (NEWSDAY, 11/5).

Top finishers completed the TCS N.Y. Marathon this morning "against the backdrop of heightened security after a terrorist attack earlier in the week" in the city. NYPD Chief Carlos Gomez said the marathon was a “very-well policed event, with many layers of security" (USATODAY.com, 11/5). A "massive, multi-agency security plan" was in place to "protect the 51,000 runners expected" (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 11/4). Shalane Flanagan "became the first American woman" to win the event since '77, while Geoffrey Kamworwor was the winner on the men's side (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 11/5).

Are you or someone you know in the sports business industry running in today's Marathon? If so, contact Lucas Smith at lsmith@sportsbusinessdaily.com after the race with your time, a photo and a quick note about the experience to share with our readers.

Auburn AD Jay Jacobs is "stepping down" from his post after a 13-year tenure that ends with the department "mired in numerous scandals." Jacobs said that he informed Auburn President Steven Leath he "would step down on June 1, 2018, 'or sooner if my successor is in place.'" UA won 12 national championships "during Jacobs' tenure ... though only the 2010 BCS National Championship was from a revenue sport." Auburn's athletic revenue "soared over the past 13 years ... and Jacobs championed several facilities projects." However, there were years where the department "operated at a loss due in large part to enormous buyouts for coaches Jacobs both hired and later fired" (AL.com, 11/4).

Papa John's is "evaluating" its NFL sponsorship in the "wake of declining television football viewership, which the company has blamed in part on the national anthem protests that have roiled the league this season." Top execs at the pizza chain said that they are in "weekly discussions with the NFL about the returns their advertising dollars are generating and that they will see how the rest of the football season plays out before making any big decisions." Papa John's CMO Brandon Rhoten said, "We have to evaluate our reliance on partnerships that are TV-focused, like the NFL" (WSJ.com, 11/3).

The Stanford-Washington State football game yesterday "only appeared" on Fox' flagship station in local TV markets because of a "lengthy lightning delay" in the Penn State-Michigan State contest. The rest of the country was "only able to view" Stanford-WSU on Fox Business Network. PSU-MSU kicked off at 12:00pm ET and did not restart until after 4:30pm with "nearly eight minutes remaining" in the second quarter (SPOKESMAN.com, 11/4). The delay in East Lansing "dragged on long enough" that Fox could show the first half of Stanford-WSU around the country, but that was "only a temporary solution." Fox could have "bumped one of the games to FS1," but Oklahoma-Oklahoma State was "already squaring off there" (AWFULANNOUNCING.com, 11/4).

The NASL's request for a mandatory injunction restoring its D-II status for the '18 season has been "denied by a U.S. District Court judge, leaving the short and long-term future of the league in peril." Judge Margo Brodie ruled that although the NASL "did clear several required legal hurdles." But it "ultimately never 'made a clear showing of entitlement to relief.'" Brodie ruled NASL "fails to present sufficient evidence of undue influence in the actual standard-setting process” despite “ample evidence of a conflict of interest between (the USSF) and MLS." The NASL still could "press forward with its antitrust case, which could continue even if the league dissolves." It also could "appeal Brodie’s ruling to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals" (SI.com, 11/3).

NYCFC is rolling out two fan initiatives ahead of their home playoff game at Yankee Stadium today. The MLS club will be the first sports team to collaborate with Snapchat on a themed Sticker pack, releasing 12 NYCFC-partnered stickers that combine classic N.Y. icons with club emblems. NYCFC will hand out 15,000 CrowdSync LED bracelets before the match against the Crew, which will light up in the team’s city blue color, as well as sync to music and videos in the pregame, as well as during goal celebrations. While the technology is often used at music concerts, NYCFC says it will be the first time it is used in MLS.

Approximately 1 million fans attended the Astros' World Series victory parade in Houston on Friday, with City of Houston Dir of Special Events Susan Christian saying that the number "could rise." Mayor Sylvester Turner "dubbed the event the largest parade in Houston history." Four military jets "soared above a sea of orange and blue T-shirts, jerseys, pennants and banners along the 20-block parade route, which was quickly extended to accommodate the larger-than-expected crowd" (ABC13.com, 11/3). Texas Gov. Greg Abbott "declared Nov. 3rd, 2017, Houston Astros Day" (CHRON.com, 11/3).

Thank you to everyone who came out today for the #AstrosParade and rally. It will be a day Houston remembers for a long time. #EarnedHistory pic.twitter.com/PHIvYOS1Ti

— City of Houston (@HoustonTX) November 3, 2017

Astros CF George Springer, 2B Jose Altuve and 3B Alex Bregman appeared on NBC's "SNL" last night during the "Weekend Update" segment. Cast member Leslie Jones, posing as a Yankees fan, said, “That little Altuve hit all those home runs against us. The bat is bigger than him. George Springer is Panamanian and Puerto Rico. His name is George Springer. That's the name of a goofy mattress salesman.” After she finished her sentence, Springer, Altuve and Bregman walked up behind her to an applause before presenting a jersey and cased baseball to Jones, who said, “These men are fine as hell. Oh, I take it all back.” Jones said it was "so sweet" that SS Carlos Correa proposed to his girlfriend after the game. Jones then looked at Altuve and said, “It looks like this dude is on one knee right now" (“SNL,” NBC, 11/4).

The long-running efforts to merge Sprint and T-Mobile "collapsed over the weekend," as the companies "officially ended" the process on Friday. They issued a joint statement yesterday, saying they were "unable to find mutually agreeable terms." Their failure means shareholders of the two companies gave up $30B or more in cost savings that their managements had "expected a merger to generate" (K.C. STAR, 11/5).

A source said that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, along with several owners and at least two other NFL execs, will be "deposed and asked to turn over all cell phone records and emails in relation to the Colin Kaepernick collusion case against the NFL." The other league execs include Exec VP/Football Operations Troy Vincent and Senior VP/Player Engagement Arthur McAfee (ESPN.com, 11/5).

The city of Pontiac, Mich., issued a permit on Friday for the "long-awaited demolition" of the Pontiac Silverdome, once home to the Lions. Demolition is "set to begin Dec. 3" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 11/4).

AAA signed a multiyear renewal to title sponsor Texas Motor Speedway's fall Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race (TMS).

Former USMNT player Paul Caligiuri on Friday "officially announced his run" for U.S. Soccer Federation President (SI.com, 11/4).

Former NFLer Vince Young is "expected to join" more than 80 former Titans players at the team's game against the Ravens at Nissan Stadium today (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 11/4).

"Anyone who doesn't vote for Vegas is lying. ... It's a nice, clean, cool city. The rink was awesome. There was a lot of good entertainment in it. It was a really good atmosphere" -- Sabres G Robin Lehner, on the best road city to play at in the NHL (BUFFALO NEWS, 11/5).

"This is bigger than a suspension. It's bigger than football, them (the NFL) trying to make me something I'm not. I'm not an abuser. That's not who I am. This is my name and this is my reputation. This is something I'm going to have to [live] with beyond football. Every day is worth fighting" -- Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott, on why he continues to fight his suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/4).

The BUFFALO NEWS goes with the header, "As Hockey's Tankers Struggle, Astros Show It Takes A Total Approach." Pro-tankers are "quick to hop on the Astros' bandwagon as a foolproof example of how the strategy works." But the NHL's "great tankers" in '15 -- the Oilers and Sabres -- still reside "at the bottom some 2 1/2 years later." All sides "should agree" that the Astros' World Series victory "proves that tanking can be the kickstart to a turnaround." But it is "everything else around the tank that ultimately determines whether a team has success or continues to reside in the netherworld of the standings."

The N.Y. TIMES wrote under the header, "Powerful Sheikh Linked To Sports Corruption Case Resurfaces In Prague." Though Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah of Kuwait is "largely unknown to sports fans," he has an "outsized presence behind the scenes in global sports." He has exerted his influence through "control over millions of dollars worth of sports funds." After he was "identified as a co-conspirator" in a U.S. corruption investigation, his "future in sports governance had been in doubt." However, this week he "made a very public comeback" at the Association of National Olympic Committees' annual meeting.

Elsewhere:

• The Red Sox hit a "hypocrisy home run."
• Not even the World Series has "deep significance."
• The "greatness" of Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo.
• The evolution of the "Packers party houses."
• Capitals rookies adjust to life of being NHLers.
• Assessing SDSU West as a viable soccer stadium site.

Hall of Fame Dodger announcer Vin Scully on the anthem protests in pro football: "I will never watch another NFL game again."@NBCLA pic.twitter.com/NEcPbZSrb2

— Conan Nolan (@conanNBCLA) November 5, 2017

NFL and NFLPA have no plans to settle the case over Ezekiel Elliott's suspension, source says.

— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) November 5, 2017

Out of an abundance of caution, we are stepping up security measures at the NYC Marathon with resources from state law enforcement agencies.

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) November 3, 2017

Decent crowd at Neyland Stadium -- but students no-showed. Will be interesting to see what student allotment will be moving forward.

— Mike Griffith (@MikeGriffith32) November 4, 2017

.@universityofga pres. Jere Morehead visits with former @TheMasters chairman and former #UGA player Billy Payne. It's Billy Payne day here pic.twitter.com/J8IhU9On6l

— Cody Chaffins (@Cody_Fox5) November 4, 2017