The NBA today in N.Y. unveiled a multiyear sponsorship with MGM Resorts Int’l, a bold move marking the league’s first official gaming partnership. The deal, also including rights to the WNBA, will involve MGM gaining access to official league data for use in betting, use of league marks and cross-marketing activations by both sides. The two entities also will collaborate on content integrations to appear on league platforms.

Financial terms were not disclosed, though industry sources pegged the deal at more than $25M for three years. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver described the pact as “moderate in length,” and one designed to provide the league continued flexibility in the emerging betting space. While MGM will gain exclusive rights to the designation of “official gaming partner” of the NBA, the league retains the right to license its data to other gaming operations, and likely will do so. The NBA held an existing relationship with MGM, as the company owns the WNBA Aces and is the title partner of the NBA Summer League.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on a podcast today indicated that the league will seek to be compensated for gambling profits from its intellectual property. He said historically the NHL has “been opposed” to gambling on its games, and “emotionally I don’t think that’s changed.” Bettman: “However, it is a fact of life in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling, and it will be up to states to decide whether or not they’re going to enact sports betting. From our standpoint, we believe … we have important assets and if somebody is going to avail themselves or want to avail themselves of those assets in order to conduct their business, then we’re going to need to have a negotiation” (“Sports Now,” PODCASTONE.com, 7/31).

Turner Sports has added USMNT G Tim Howard as an analyst for its UEFA Champions League "studio coverage beginning this fall." Howard "will not work all the broadcasts, as he is still an active player" with the Rapids. Howard previously called EPL games on NBCSN. The Turner studio programs "will be hosted by Kate Abdo, who also works for Fox." Sources said that Fox "has granted permission to its lead game analyst, Stu Holden, to discuss a deal with Turner to be in its studio" (NYPOST.com, 7/31).

Turner will offer UEFA Champions League and Europa League matches on its Bleacher Report Live OTT service for $2.99 per match, $9.99 a month or $79.99 a year. TNT will air 47 matches, with those also available to stream via the Watch TNT app and participating TV provider platforms. Turner's UEFA content will be branded B/R Football across all platforms: TV, digital and social. Pregame, halftime and postgame studio shows will be available both on B/R Live and TNT (Turner Sports).

The Lakers today unveiled their new uniforms, a "modified version" of what they "wore during their 1980s Showtime heyday." The "flat white numbers that the Lakers had used" since '99 have been "replaced by purple block-shadowed numbers that evoke the team's old design." The club also "eliminated the panels on the jersey -- except for their purple jersey which now has a black side panel" (ESPN.com, 7/31).

The Overwatch League Grand Finals averaged a total audience delivery of 289,000 viewers on U.S. linear and digital properties from July 27-28. That includes live coverage on ESPN, Disney XD, WatchESPN, Twitch and MLG, as well as replays on ESPN2, ABC and the aforementioned digital services. Among those 289,000 viewers, an estimated 45% (130,000 viewers) fell into the 18-34 demo. For Friday’s opener of the Grand Finals, ESPN alone averaged 188,000 TV viewers from 7:00-9:08pm ET. On Sunday, ABC averaged 328,000 TV viewers for the Day 2 re-air. Globally, OWL officials said its total audience was just over 861,000 viewers, a number that includes three Chinese digital distributors and Twitch numbers outside the U.S.

For more coverage of the business of esports, visit our partners, esportsobserver.com.

The PGA of America and SiriusXM have reached a five-year extension. Sirius will continue to deliver live broadcasts of the governing body's events, including the PGA Championship and '20 Ryder Cup. Sirius will also launch a new weekly talk show, "PGA of America Radio" on Aug. 8. The show will focus on PGA member instruction, major PGA events and featured programs designed to grow the game. SiriusXM airs most PGA Tour events throughout the season, including all four majors (SiriusXM). 

Crew advocacy group SaveTheCrew has "passed another benchmark" in its '19 season ticket pledge with 10,000 signatures officially accounted for. The benchmark comes two months after the grassroots movement was originally started (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/31).

The Esports Bar Association is now accepting applications for membership at www.esportsbar.org. The fledging organization bills itself as “the world’s first legal professional organization in the esports industry” and promises members continuing education opportunities, networking and professional development (Ben Fischer, Staff Writer). 

Tonight's Real Madrid-ManU Int'l Champions Cup match at Hard Rock Stadium is "expected to draw 65,000 to 70,000 fans" (MIAMI HERALD, 7/30). 

General contractor Mortenson Construction earlier today presented Bucks President Peter Feigin "with an oversized key" to mark the opening of Fiserv Forum. The key "shows Milwaukee's downtown skyline including Fiserv Forum as well as the logos of the Bucks and Mortenson" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/31).

.@bucks accept 'keys' to Fiserv Forum: Slideshow https://t.co/nVJ30uDpOo via @MKEBizJournal

— Rich Kirchen (@richkirchenmbj) July 31, 2018

"These (national broadcasters), they see us two or three times here. They’re not in the presence of all of our guys. They really have no business making those kinds of comments” -- Cubs manager Joe Maddon, responding to ESPN's Alex Rodriguez making disparaging comments about injured P Yu Darvish during Sunday's Cubs-Cardinals telecast (SUNTIMES.com, 7/31).

"I don’t know what in our country gets an 80 percent positive approval rating. Maybe ice cream" -- CFP Exec Dir Bill Hancock, citing a recent approval rating from fans when it comes to the selection committee's performance (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/31).

"I don't think I'll be going out to dinner with that coat on" -- Pro Football HOF-elect Bobby Beathard, on his induction weekend plans in light of his dislike for dressing up (AP, 7/31).

Adam Silver might be the bespectacled bald one but it feels as if he’s dusting his NFL and MLB counterparts. https://t.co/msgRDTzGSp

— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) July 31, 2018

The cost to watch every match of a Premier League team's season:

- $540 for a cable package that gets NBCSN (PL)
- $50 for NBC Sports Gold (PL)
- $80 for B/R Live (Champs/Europa League)
- $60 for ESPN+ (League Cup)

Total: $730

The FA Cup coverage (and cost) is still TBD

— Ryan Rosenblatt (@RyanRosenblatt) July 31, 2018

Really sad to hear about the passing of Tom Higgins. The NASCAR community has lost a very talented journalist and good man. We’re all thinking about his family and send our condolences.

— Wood Brothers Racing (@woodbrothers21) July 31, 2018

Per NESN, last night's Red Sox-Phillies game got a season-high 9.52 rating.

— Chad Finn (@GlobeChadFinn) July 31, 2018

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

Our court is a work of art. #GoFrogs 👨‍🎨 pic.twitter.com/JRKTF5MoUw

— TCU Basketball (@TCUBasketball) July 31, 2018

Before Sunday's race at @PoconoRaceway, @KyleLarsonRacin's son Owen discovered we had a camera on his dad's bumper.

He decided to have some fun with it while the camera was rolling. 😜 pic.twitter.com/M30dGoSyWk

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 30, 2018

WWE's Ronda Rousey will appear on CBS' "Late Show" at 11:35pm ET.

$20.1M -- Nevada casinos' "net win" from sports betting in June, according to figures from the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Sports gambling yielded a smaller net win than penny slots ($255M), blackjack ($100M), baccarat ($73.7M), roulette ($36.7M) or craps ($36M) (TWITTER.com, 7/31).