Chicago Alderman Brian Hopkins today "put the kibosh on two major elements of Sterling Bay's massive Lincoln Yards development: a 20,000-seat soccer stadium and a live entertainment district controlled by LiveNation with large music venues." The site had been earmarked for a stadium to house a USL club owned by Cubs Chair Tom Ricketts, but Hopkins demanded the site be "repurposed as open and recreational space." Ricketts family spokesperson Dennis Culloton said the family's "potential involvement was focused on the soccer team and contingent on city approvals" (SUNTIMES.com, 1/8).

Devils Exec VP/Business Development Martin Brodeur is featured in a new series of TV ads and digital shorts for car rental company Enterprise. The content will highlight Enterprise's versatility of offerings by showing the former NHLer's unusual transportation needs, such as accommodating an all-goalie youth hockey team. The TV ads will feature Brodeur in a quick-hitting series of scenarios. A separate TV ad will follow the adventures of the Stanley Cup as it is transported through a series of events. Brodeur began appearing in Enterprise ads in '17 (Enterprise).

Jaguars Owner Shad Khan and his son, Tony, are "unveiling a new professional wrestling organization named All Elite Wrestling." Shad will be AEW’s "lead investor," while Tony "will hold a leadership role." It remains "unclear exactly how much Shad Khan will invest in the project." Tony is also "expected to maintain his roles" with the Jaguars and EPL club Fulham. A rally for AEW’s inaugural event, dubbed “Double or Nothing,” is scheduled for 5:00pm ET today in "Lot J next to TIAA Bank Field." (JACKSONVILLE.com, 1/8).

Weekly digital golf magazine Global Golf Post today debuted a paid subscription product with the rollout of Global Golf Post+, an ad-free daily offering that promises at least two original stories a day in addition to the free, ad-supported weekly publication that posts each Monday morning in North America and Europe. Global Golf Post+ will be available for $7 a month or $60 a year, with 14-day-trial subs offered to new subscribers. Pay coverage this week includes a feature on Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee and a season-opening interview with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, both reported from last week’s Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua.

EA Sports tonight will premiere a one-hour primetime esports special on the CW titled “EA Sports Madden NFL Classic,” which will go behind the scenes of the first in-person "Madden" tournament since last summer’s shooting in Jacksonville. The special marks the second season of the docu-series chronicling one of the key pillars of EA Sports’ competitive tournaments based around its popular video game franchise. “We wanted this season’s special to spotlight the unique strength and unity of the Madden community,” said EA Senior VP & GM/Competitive Gaming Division Todd Sitrin.

Dell’s Alienware hardware brand has become the official competition computer and monitor sponsor for Riot Games’ League of Legends pro circuits in North America and Europe, along with the World Championships and three other international events. Along with providing the actual equipment for those events, Dell has promised comprehensive support for the systems through its Dell SupportAssist and PremumSupport Plus services. Alienware also will develop on-site fan activations at major events and “broadcast innovations” to better document the skills of pro stars. The deal includes all North America and EU league matches, NA vs EU Rift Rivals, the Mid-Season Invitational, the All-Star Event and the worlds. 

CAA Sports represented Riot in the deal. Financial terms or the exact duration were not disclosed. Alienware has done previous esports sponsorship deals with ELeague, Team Liquid and other teams.

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

Auto-Owners Insurance signed a multiyear deal to serve as primary sponsor for eight races aboard Martin Truex Jr.'s No. 19 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series car this season (Auto-Owners Insurance).

Desmond Mason's signature capbucks

Expansion MLS club FC Cincinnati selected locally based The Motz Group to produce the turf practice fields at the team's Mercy Health Training Center (FC Cincinnati). 

The Bucks unveiled a series of three custom-designed caps that will be on sale at three home games this season. Two of the three hats were designed by Bucks G Donte DiVincenzo and former player Desmond Mason (Bucks).

The NFL and American Cancer Society have partnered on a Super Bowl sweepstakes in which fans can win two tickets to next month's game in Atlanta by making a $10 donation to the ACS (ACS). Meanwhile, Vikings WR Adam Thielen and Hormel Chili have partnered on a sweepstakes for Super Bowl LIV in Miami, in which fans can win tickets for submitting their best "Chili Dip Touchdown Dance" (Hormel).

"Relocating a franchise is not an easy thing to do. Dealing with all that and throw relocation, international game on top of that, that organization has shown a lot of resiliency" -- Patriots coach Bill Belichick, on Chargers coach Anthony Lynn and the number of things he has dealt with in his time with the team (TWITTER.com, 1/8).

"We have to be careful because we can't change the past, there's nothing we can do about it. My job is to make sure the past has nothing to do with how we handle today and tomorrow -- that's the challenge right now" -- Hurricanes Owner Tom Dundon, on his approach to running the team(THEATHLETIC.com, 1/8).

"I don't know what the Australian Open has done, but it is terrible. ... I don't feel like it is that good of a ball. I think they're pretty cheap from what I've heard" -- Tennis player Bernard Tomic, on the Australian Open's Dunlop new match ball. The tourney inked a five-year deal with Dunlop last year (SMH.com.au, 1/8).

NFL agent Damarius Bilbo has been fined $12,500 & suspended 3 months for violations of the NFLPA's Regulations Governing Contract Advisors. Clients include Jarvis Landry & Xavien Howard.

— Darren Heitner (@DarrenHeitner) January 8, 2019

Total Charlotte bid for @CIAAForLife: $2.1 million, including $1.5 million from local government for scholarship funds, $400,000 for game operations, etc. Conference would have continued to use arenas/convention center rent-free

— Erik Spanberg (@CBJspanberg) January 8, 2019

We baked Nick Saban's two Oatmeal Creme Pies with an extra portion of love this morning.

— Little Debbie (@LittleDebbie) January 8, 2019

Has Alabama hired Sean McVay’s childhood next door neighbor to replace Nick Saban yet?

— Micah Adams (@MicahAdams13) January 8, 2019

The Brewers posted this video detailing the ongoing renovations to their Spring Training facility, Maryvale Baseball Park in Phoenix.

$1.4 million -- Rough amount Hartsfield-Jackson Int'l Airport is spending to "handle crowds for the Super Bowl" at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (AJC.com, 1/8).