sounders

The Sounders have signed a multiyear deal with Zulily, making the online retailer the club’s new jersey sponsor. This is the first sports sponsorship for the Seattle-based company, which is a subsidiary of Qurate Retail Group alongside brands like QVC and the Home Shopping Network. The Zulily logo will appear on the Sounders’ match jerseys, as well as on team travel jackets, rain and stadium jackets and official team polo shirts. It also will appear across Sounders academy team jerseys.

In addition to the Sounders deal, Zulily has a multiyear deal with the NWSL’s Seattle Reign to be its jersey front and presenting partner. This marks the first time that both Seattle pro soccer teams, which are owned by separate groups, have the same jersey partner. The Sounders’ previous deal with Microsoft’s Xbox, which dated back to the club’s inaugural MLS season in ’09, expired following the end of this season. Microsoft also had been the presenting and jersey front partner for the Reign the past three seasons. The Sounders had hired Endeavor, then WME-IMG, to help the club in finding a new jersey sponsor in August '17.

Sounders COO Bart Wiley declined to comment on the terms of the deal, but said that on an annual basis, it is greater than the previous deal. The Zulily pact does not include matchday pitch rights, which Xbox previously held, nor naming rights to the training facility, which Endeavor had been helping the club sell. The Sounders’ relationship with Endeavor has since lapsed, and has its internal staff working on selling those remaining rights.

The Knicks-Wizards game in London is underway, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver beforehand touted the growth of the sport internationally. Silver noted fans from more than 39 countries bought tickets to the game, and he extended thanks to partners including AEG, The O2 arena and Sky Sports. Silver: "We have a brand new television partner. ... I anticipate that will be a long-term partnership."

He also thanked the participating teams: "It's a bit disruptive in the regular season for them to travel over to London for a game, but I will say that they do it enthusiastically." Silver pointed out that both team owners -- the Wizards' Ted Leonsis and Knicks' Jim Dolan -- made the trip. Silver concluded by paying tribute to late FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann, who died unexpectedly in October (NBA.com, 1/17).

Meanwhile, rookie Knicks F Kevin Knox is debuting a new Puma shoe, the "Anglo-inspired 'Clyde Court London.'" Knox said of the look, "It's definitely one of my favourite sneakers ever. They put together a dope design, dope colourway, everything." The English Lion motif is a "big feature of this shoe" (COMPLEX.com, 1/17).

The NBA today will tip off leaguewide celebrations honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ahead of the MLK Day weekend. NBA teams playing today through Monday will wear custom Nike MLK Day warmup shirts designed in collaboration with the MLK Foundation and Martin Luther King III. The shirt features King’s words from his famous "I have a dream" speech. The shirts are available at NBAStore.com, and proceeds will go to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis (THE DAILY).

nba

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker's administration will file a bill prior to tomorrow's deadline that "would allow sports wagering lounges at the three licensed casino operations." It also would permit bettors within Massachusetts to "place sports wagers from their phones and laptops." The bill "proposes an array of taxes, as well as fees, from both existing and still unopened brick-and-mortar establishments." The act "will not allow current simulcast locations -- Suffolk Downs and Raynham -- to allow sports betting at their facilities." The proposed legislation "does not include" the integrity fee that pro leagues "have been seeking in their lobbying efforts" (BOSTONHERALD.com, 1/17).

Cubs Chair Tom Ricketts tried to dispel the notion that the team has been sitting on the sideline this offseason, calling that criticism "misguided." Ricketts, during an appearance on WSCR-AM, reassured fans that the Cubs "have spent money this offseason" by re-signing P Cole Hamels and signing 2B Daniel Descalso and predicted that Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein has a "few moves left in him." Fans have wondered why the Cubs seemingly are not bidding on free agents Bryce Harper or Manny Machado, but Ricketts said the team knew it was not "going to have as much flexibility as years past" after signing P Yu Darvish last offseason ("Mully & Haugh," WSCR-AM, 1/17).

Garbine Muguruza defeated Johanna Konta in an Australian Open match that "started later than any other in tournament history," running from 12:30-3:12am local time. The late start was "caused by several extended matches on the Margaret Court Arena." Tourney officials "had earlier considered the option of moving the match to Show Court 3, but their plans were scuppered when staff discovered that the court was splattered with seagull droppings." About 1,000 spectators "remained in situ at the start of the match, but the total attendance was barely in three figures come the end" (THETIMES.co.uk, 1/17).

Former CBS CEO Les Moonves is "challenging the company's decision to deprive him" of $120M in severance pay, according to a regulatory filing today (REUTERS, 1/17).

Chicagoland Speedway has signed Camping World as the title sponsor for all three NASCAR national series races at the track June 28-30 (Chicagoland Speedway).

Skechers Performance has renewed as the official footwear and apparel sponsor of Sunday's Chevron Houston Marathon (Skechers Performance).

"Golf is the most exciting sport to gamble on and we talk 'grow the game,' this can only grow the game" -- Golf Channel's Robert Damron, on the LPGA preparing for widespread legalized sports betting ("Morning Drive," Golf Channel, 1/17).

"We’re setting up a nice contrast with the young generation. ... We have a lot of variation, which is really what the game needs to be healthy" -- Tennis Channel’s Jim Courier, on the early success of younger players at the Australian Open (“Tennis Channel Live,” 1/16).

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard, whose moves helped the Colts earn an AFC playoff spot for the first time since 2014 with a 10-6 record, was selected as the 2018 NFL Executive of the Year.

— Pro Football Writers (@PFWAwriters) January 17, 2019

I admire @OfficialNBARefs for trying to connect with fans and be transparent, but this isn't what people on Twitter want. They want to complain and have an easy scapegoat. Should probably just let them.

— Ben Dowsett (@Ben_Dowsett) January 17, 2019

Just turned on PGA Tour Live for the first time this year, paying close attention to the commercials because i know i'll be seeing these exact three about 2400 times over the next 8 months

— Daniel Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) January 17, 2019

The @KingJames Impact :

Now that he officially won’t play in Houston Saturday against the Rockets the lower level “get in” has dropped to $125ea

It was $235ea a month ago

— Patrick Ryan (@PRyanTexas) January 17, 2019

With spring training a month away, 17 teams are $75 million or more under the luxury tax threshold, including arbitration projections. Nine teams are $100 million or more under it.

— Jared Diamond (@jareddiamond) January 16, 2019

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

TMZ Sports asks hip-hop stars Nelly and Jazze Pha to weigh in on issues around the Super Bowl LIII halftime show.

Michael Strahan will appear on NBC's "Late Night" at 12:35am ET.

61% -- Year-over-year increase in female fans purchasing NFL tickets from the '17 to the '18 regular season, according to research from league ticketing partner Ticketmaster (THE DAILY).