US Soccer President Sunil Gulati said that while the federation still has not yet decided if it will bid to host the ’26 World Cup, a Donald Trump presidency “is not going to dissuade us to persuade us to bid.” USSF is still awaiting FIFA decisions on format changes such as increasing the number of teams involved, which FIFA will vote on during a January meeting, he said. Speaking of Trump, Gulati said, “There are a lot of elections that have lots of meanings to different people. He’s the president of the United States on Jan. 20 and we’ll work with him, as will be true for people around the world.”

While Gulati noted that USSF board members have differing opinions on whether or not the U.S. should consider a joint bid with either Canada, Mexico or both, joint bids are not being discussed internally and formal discussions have not occurred with either federation. Previously, he stated that a joint bid might be more difficult if Hillary Clinton was not elected. Bid evaluation for the ’26 World Cup is tentatively scheduled to begin January ‘19, with a decision on a host being made by FIFA in May ‘20.

ESPN is taking "Sunday NFL Countdown" on the road to Mexico City to precede "the Monday night game on Nov. 21 at Azteca Stadium between the Texans and Raiders." It is the "first NFL game in Mexico that counts in 11 years," and it is the "first time in 31 years" that ESPN is taking "Countdown" on the road for a regular-season game. "NFL Countdown" on the day before the game will "originate from Chapultepec Park, site of the NFL Fan Fest for the match." ESPN "plans 10 hours of studio coverage from Mexico City" (AP, 11/11).

The NBA D-League opens up its 16th season Friday and for the first time will stream games live on Facebook. Plans call for all regular-season and postseason games not aired on ESPN or NBA TV to be streamed live exclusively on Facebook. The total number of D-League games streamed on Facebook this season will be about 520 games, while ESPNU will air 20 games and NBA TV will have 30. Facebook's live streams will be available globally and will be accessed through the D-League’s Facebook page starting with Friday’s games.

The D-League is using the NBA’s Tricaster technology to produce the games with local team announcers serving as the talent on the live streams. No ads will be sold on streams. Financial terms were not disclosed. Prior to becoming Facebook Head of Global Partnerships, Dan Reed was D-League President.

The median ticket prices on the secondary market for Saturday’s UFC 205, the first MMA card held at MSG, are going for nearly $1,600 per seat. Data from Vivid Seats showed that the cheapest ticket is going for $677, while the most expensive ticket costs $14,663. The get-in price for the event is $683. Meanwhile, as of Thursday, 37% of the tickets purchased had been bought by New Yorkers. International fans up to the same point had purchased 20% of UFC 205’s tickets. Headlining the card is Ireland’s Conor McGregor and his bout with Eddie Alvarez.

Sabres C Jack Eichel has "signed his third product endorsement deal, this time to promote" BodyArmor sports drink. His image in a blue hockey sweater, minus the Sabres logo, will "be used on billboards, print and electronic ads." He will also "make some in-store appearances" at Buffalo-area supermarkets on behalf of BodyArmor. Terms were not disclosed. The BodyArmor deal "follows others Eichel has previously signed with Bauer and Tim Hortons" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 11/11).

Details of the 11-year contract extension signed by Oregon State and Nike in May '15 were released today, showing that OSU will get roughly $2.9M from Nike this academic year, including $2.7M in equipment and apparel and $225,000 in cash. The school received a $1.5M bonus when it signed the deal. OSU's new deal "ranks No. 3 in the Pac-12, in terms of the annual value of cash and equipment" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 11/11).

State Farm said that "whatever kerfuffle there may be" from a tweet by Cubs P Jake Arrieta "will not change its relationship" with him. Arrieta encouraged celebrities who pledged to leave the country if Donald Trump were elected to follow through (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 11/11).

ESPN's Armed Forces Classic men's college basketball series will continue through at least '20 (ESPN).

Royals Authentics and Tickets For Less are partnering on a new store location at the inside Oak Park Mall in Overland Park, Kan. (Royals).

Hearing nightmare tales about parking food line, etc. at Avaya last night for USWNT. Was like that for World Cup sendoff game too. ?

— Ann Killion (@annkillion) November 11, 2016

Approximately 1,000 fans from Mexico coming to #Steelers-Cowboys game. About 100 coming on bus, some driving. Now those are road warriors!

— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) November 11, 2016

Regarding NFL ratings, I’m wondering: Are other demand indicators (web traffic, merch sales, etc.) down as well? Haven’t seen that data.

— Peter Stringer (@peterstringer) November 11, 2016

Good day for Adam Katz of the Wasserman Media Group. Represents both Gurriel and Colon.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 11, 2016

Kalli Quinn receives the HHOF ring on behalf of her father, the late Pat Quinn pic.twitter.com/2xU2I7rKu4

— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) November 11, 2016

FRIDAY

ESPN2 at 5:00pm ET will air a special episode of "The Jump," dedicated to the Cavaliers' visit this week to the White House.

$500,000 – Amount Blue Jackets LW Nick Foligno donated to the Boston Children's Hospital "as a token of thanks for the life-saving care his newborn daughter Milana received there" in November '13 (NHL.com, 11/11).