NASCAR on Friday laid off several dozen employees in a long-rumored belt-tightening amid the proposed merger with ISC. While the total number of employees laid off could not be determined, it represents less than 5% of the workforce. The layoffs are said to have hit several different departments in both competition and business operations. NASCAR called it a strategic reallocation of resources and said in a statement, "As all good businesses do, NASCAR is committed to strengthening its operation to ensure that resources are aligned to strategies that grow the sport and drive our business. We have a talented team at NASCAR and we’re confident that greater focus on the opportunities to drive fan interest and strong industry partnerships will help our sport achieve long-term growth."

Rumors of impending layoffs have been going around NASCAR ever since the $1.9B bid by NASCAR to acquire ISC was announced in November.

USTA CEO & Exec Dir Gordon Smith announced his retirement, effective Dec. 31, 2019. Smith is the organization's longest-tenured top executive, with leadership dating back to November '07. He oversaw the significant growth of the U.S. Open, and gross revenue nearly doubled during his tenure and attendance is at record levels. The USTA will begin a search for a new CEO by first identifying a search firm by March. USTA Board Chair & President Patrick Galbraith will lead the USTA in selecting that firm, joined by Board members Katrina Adams and Tommy Ho. Smith has been asked to assist in the search process (USTA).

The NFL is "launching a social justice platform, with an emphasis on education, economic development and community and police relations." The platform, titled Inspire Change, was announced Friday in "connection with its 32 teams and the Players Coalition." It includes "funding of grass-roots organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Operation HOPE." It also "will establish a digital learning curriculum for African-American history in 175 underserved high schools." This is the "latest step for the league and the players after they established a working relationship" in October '17 following player protests (AP, 1/11).

The Rams host the Cowboys Saturday in an NFL divisional playoff game that will stand as L.A.'s "referendum on what the Rams have accomplished over the last three seasons." The makeup of the crowd "will illustrate how effective the Rams have been in making themselves players in a city that barely noticed them in the immediate aftermath of their return from St. Louis" (L.A. TIMES, 1/11). There is a "sizable Cowboys following" in the L.A. area. So there are "reasonable" predictions that about 30% of the crowd "will be rooting for the visiting team" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/10).

StubHub said that secondary ticket sales are "brisk" on the site, "with an average price of $352." Also, about 11% of sales on StubHub are "coming from Texas." Rams coach Sean McVay said, "We're hoping to see a lot of Rams fans come out." He added, "Dallas is one of those franchises that travels really well. Obviously, them having camp out in Oxnard helps" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/9). 

Demolition experts on Sunday will "blow the roof off" Bradley Center, which closed last summer as the Bucks transitioned to the new Fiserv Forum. A ring of explosives "will be detonated on the joints that support the massive roof trusses." The team sees the seven-acre site as a "crucial part of the development potential around their new arena." CAA Icon Senior Dir Mike Abrams, whose firm is repping the Bucks for the project, said the goal is to "lower the trusses down to a lower level, to a much safer level, so the workers aren't 100 feet off the ground trying to demo the roof structure" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 1/9).

Turkish Airlines "will have a 30-second spot in the first quarter" of Super Bowl LIII, making the third straight year it will appear in the game broadcast (ADWEEK.com, 1/11).

Fox has added Panthers TE Greg Olsen to its NFL pregame shows Saturday and Sunday. The net is "very high" on Olsen (N.Y. POST, 1/11). 

WWE announced it will open a new performance center in the U.K., the first training facility outside of the U.S. (WWE).

"TV sports programming had been the Holy Grail. Maybe only the NFL is the Holy Grail and everybody else is sinking" -- CNBC's Jim Cramer, on the value of sports programming in light of news the Fox will not bid on the RSNs it sold to Disney ("Squawk on the Street," CNBC, 1/11).

"We are always excited to participate in local partnerships. Philadelphia is in our backyard" -- Yuengling Chief Administration Officer Wendy Yuengling, on the the Pottsville, Pa.-based company's new deal to sponsor the NLL Philadelphia Wings (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/11).

Despite the November claim that NASCAR-ISC merger was a sign of France family "doubling down" on their commitment, it sure feels like this is being packaged for a sale.

— Jenna Fryer (@JennaFryer) January 11, 2019

This is a first. I’m at the airport buying 18 bucks worth of stuff at store, I pull out a $20, clerk says “Oh, I’m sorry we don’t accept cash here. It’s against our policy.”
Huh??? Isn’t the policy to make MONEY? I’m so baffled. How the fck is there a policy against taking $$$??

— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) January 11, 2019

The Yankees sold fans on their plan to get under the luxury tax for *years* so that they could sign Machado or Harper. For them to walk away empty-handed would be embarrassing.

— Nick Stellini (@StelliniTweets) January 10, 2019

I hate those Miami Heat vice jerseys.

— Jamar (@jamarhudson) January 11, 2019

Saturday

The Patriots will hold a playoff rally outside Gillette Stadium from noon to 4:00pm ET prior to the Chargers-Patriots AFC Divisional Playoff game.

Bud Light will debut new ads during this weekend's NFL playoff games promoting new nutritional labels on its packaging. The first spot, called "King's Speech," shows the king character from the "Dilly Dilly" campaign rehearsing his message to the kingdom. The second ad, titled "Arrows," finds archers shooting arrows with the ingredients list into the kingdom, to the dismay of the Bud Knight character.

Friday

MSG Networks debuts "Red Storm Report," a weekly, 10-episode series dedicated to the St. John's Univ. men's and women's basketball teams. It airs at 7:30pm ET on MSG and 6:30pm on MSG+.

99 -- Number of football games Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones will have attended in the last 18 months, as of Saturday's divisional playoff game against the Rams at L.A. Coliseum. Dating back to August '17, Jones has "traveled an estimated 30,278 miles and visited 16 states to watch the Cowboys, Arkansas Razorbacks and support his grandsons" at Highland Park High School (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/11).