A group out of Las Vegas is "working with investors" to build a ballpark that would eventually house an MLB team. Chicago businessman Lou Weisbach and White Sox announcer Steve Stone are "among those working" on the effort. Weisbach was previously part of a group that tried to relocate the Expos to Vegas. Weisbach said that the people he is working with on this effort are "engaged in ongoing conversations with investors and landowners." The plan would be to build a ballpark first and "deal with securing a team -- whether by expansion or relocation -- second" (REVIEWJOURNAL.com, 12/7).

Spire Sports & Entertainment purchased Furniture Row Racing’s charter for around $6M, according to sources, in what is believed to be the highest price paid for a charter so far. The price has not been previously reported. Spire purchased the charter from the now-defunct FRR in a move first reported by ESPN on Tuesday. Spire has said it will call the team Spire Motorsports and run Chevy engines. Sources said that Premium Motorsports Owner Jay Robinson is expected to be involved in the deal. Meanwhile, today is the final day in FRR history, as the team’s shop in Denver will officially close after Friday’s business hours.

Atlanta United set a record total for total merchandise sales for an MLS team during a season, which includes records for both e-commerce and in-venue sales, according to Fanatics, the official retail partner of MLS and the club. Atlanta United’s online sales record beat its previously set record in ’17, while sales inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium were up 60% from last season. Meanwhile, e-commerce sales for Atlanta United's MLS Cup opponent, the Timbers, are up 25% compared to last year.

In total, Fanatics’ MLS e-commerce business is up more than 40% year-over-year, while the combined efforts across the company’s 11 in-venue partners across the league is up over 50%.

The Zions Bank Beehive Classic tips off Saturday at Vivint Smart Home Arena, and officials believe the college basketball doubleheader will be "far more successful" than its first iteration last year. The doubleheader includes BYU-Utah and Utah State-Weber State, and arena President Jim Olson is "projecting an atmosphere resembling 'a full house' -- although not quite a sellout of the 18,306-seat venue." Anything in the mid-teens "would be a big improvement over last December, when the attendance was 7,729." As of Thursday, rows of seats "remained open in most upper bowl sections and lower bowl seats also were available" for Saturday's games (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 12/7).

The XFL is implementing rules it hopes will "make games move faster," including a running clock. Instead of "stopping the clock on incomplete passes and runs out of bounds, the clock will keep running, except in the last two minutes of the half." The league also plans to have "designated ball spotters who will spot the ball immediately after a play ends." Additionally, the XFL is planning a "revamped kickoff that requires the kicking team to wait until the receiving team has caught the ball before running downfield" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 12/7).

The Mets have hired Red Sox VP/Player Personnel Jared Banner as their "new farm director" (TWITTER.com, 12/7).

Teall Capital has invested in Complex Sports & Entertainment, which partners with pro teams, college athletic departments and venue owners to create fan experiences (Teall Capital).

The EPL will bring digital learning programs and soccer-themed  student engagement activities to more than 100 U.S. elementary schools through its Premier League Primary Stars USA program (EPL). 

"This is nothing new to me. Me being criticized for not knowing baseball … well, you think that bothers me? I’ve been there, done that. I was an undrafted free agent. I can deal with criticism. This is lightweight for me" -- WFAN-AM host and former NFLer Bart Scott, on receiving criticism in his radio career (N.Y. POST, 12/7).

"This is not the year where we are going to go all out. We are probably a year away from starting to look at some different options for expanding the payroll" -- MLB Rangers President of Baseball Operations & GM Jon Daniels, on the team's payroll flexibility (Ft. Worth STAR-TELEGRAM, 12/7).

Oh wow. So Jack Buck called the first 99-yard run in #NFL history and Joe Buck calls the second? That's crazy cool

— John Fuller (@fullerjoh) December 7, 2018

Guess what? No city has ever picked #1 in both the NBA and NHL drafts in the same season. But, Chicago is trending in that direction. The worst team in 2 different pro leagues. And they both share the same arena. Take that and think about that for a second. #WeStinks

— David Kaplan (@thekapman) December 7, 2018

Know what I’d like to see? #UCF, show us all the rejection letters and emails from major programs you’ve tried to schedule. Let us in on the “scheduling challenges” you’ve faced. They keep you out of the playoff, so perhaps a little transparency can build sympathy.

— Dari Nowkhah (@ESPNDari) December 7, 2018

Welcome to the team my man @36westbrook! Excited to have you in the @76Capital Athlete Venture Group. Let’s do big things! https://t.co/EKeD7ltJxx #teamwork

— Ryan Howard (@ryanhoward) December 6, 2018

$7,383,938 -- Combined salaries for football assistant coaches at Ohio State, the most in the country (USA TODAY, 12/6).