AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco today said that the conference "will remain at 11 teams for football and basketball with the departure of UConn" for the Big East. Aresco, speaking at the AAC's football media days, "affirmed that the conference wouldn't rush to add another school or initiate discussions with potential teams." However, if teams were "interested in joining the AAC, Aresco would listen to candidates and then make a decision based on how it benefits the conference's profile." Now, the "question becomes how the conference solves the problem of having unbalanced divisions of five and six teams" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 7/16).

FC Cincinnati today unveiled the "final design" for its MLS stadium in the West End neighborhood, created by Populous. Officials said that the stadium is an "interpretation of Cincinnati on the rise." It will feature a "360-degree canopy roof that will cover every seat," plus an LED lighting system "displaying unique motion sequences on the stadium's east-facing side." The $250M venue will seat 26,000-26,500, with a "total of 59 suites" (WLWT.com, 7/16). The "closest seat will be 15 feet from the field, and the farthest will be 150 feet away" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/16).

Schenectady's Rivers Casino & Resort today became the first gambling venue in New York to "legally accept wagers on sporting events." The casino "unveiled a sleek, modern-looking sports lounge with dozens of deep-seated armchairs, a massive wall of screens, 14 gambling kiosks, six betting windows and a VIP seating area." The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured former MLBer Bucky Dent and a "host of elected officials," with state Assembly member Gary Pretlow at the "front of the line" to place a bet. The state's Gaming Commission last month approved regulations for sports betting (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/16).

ESPN today announced its lineup of on-air talent for its "Sunday NFL Countdown" pregame show in '19, officially making Tedy Bruschi the lone addition. The three-hour weekly show will again feature third-year host Sam Ponder; analysts Matt Hasselbeck, Randy Moss, Rex Ryan and Louis Riddick; and insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter (ESPN). Many observers "thought ESPN might shake up" the "Sunday NFL Countdown" crew for this season (TWITTER.com, 7/16).

Disney Springs

The NBA Store at Walt Disney World's Disney Springs complex is "open for business about a month ahead of the NBA Experience debut." The retail space features "hoops-themed merchandise, some of it with Disney flair," such as Mickey and Minnie Mouse appearing on some T-shirts. The store is "otherwise stocked" with authentic NBA and WNBA gear, caps and T-shirts Magic uniforms are shown in the "front window space." The store will be connected with the NBA Experience, a 44,000-square-foot interactive space set to open Aug. 12 (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7/16).

Roundtable participants from this week's SBJ In-Depth discuss whether athletes have a responsibility as activists. Appearing in the video are Braves exec Adrian Williams, USADA Chair and Olympic legend Edwin Moses, Morehouse College's David Wall Rice and the Hawks/State Farm Arena's Nzinga Shaw.

Yankees radio announcer John Sterling will "miss another game" tonight as he "continues to try to stay healthy for the rest of the season" (N.Y. POST, 7/16).

Golfer Gary Woodland signed a deal with Full Swing Simulators where he will support the brand through various marketing initiatives (Full Swing).

NFL reporter Joe Fann has joined NBC Sports Northwest as an NFL and Seahawks Insider (NBC).

"Are you a fan of Mississippi State or Ole Miss? Will that affect your judgment?" -- Question asked of potential jurors in the trial involving former MSU football coach Jackie Sherrill, who is suing the NCAA after being implicated and later exonerated in a recruiting scandal (Jackson CLARION-LEDGER, 7/16).

"It's trial and error figuring out what's going to work. One major a month ... in my opinion, they're too soon" -- Golfer Justin Rose, on the PGA Tour's current schedule, in which the four majors are played in consecutive months (AP, 7/16).

"This comes at a really good time, because it’s right on the eve of mediation" -- CBS’ Gayle King, on Procter & Gamble donating $529,000 to the USWNT amid the team's legal fight for equal pay (“CBS This Morning,” 7/16).

New: I understand the BBC’s top football journalist @bbcsport_david has resigned from the BBC.

Per two sources, Ornstein joining US-sporting website The Athletic. Huge signing.

— Mark Di Stefano 🤙🏻 (@MarkDiStef) July 16, 2019

Jeremy Pruitt's opening statement was 3,667 words, according to transcript. For you history buffs, that's approximately 5.1 Emancipation Proclamations.

— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) July 16, 2019

I hear from reliable sources the @NCAA will come down heavy on schools that were involved in the hoops scandal trials that were completed this yr . I’ll BELIEVE IT when it is officially posted . The CHEATERS MUST E STOPPED / ppl in the game know who r dealing .

— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) July 16, 2019

On Monday, Kansas’ Les Miles wore his national title ring from LSU. K-State’s Chris Klieman was asked Tuesday why he didn’t wear his national title rings from North Dakota State. “I’d have seven of them on. It would be a little heavy."

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 16, 2019

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

Gate 42 at JFK, where the doors are always three outs away from closing. pic.twitter.com/5xq9IjOdsv

— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) July 16, 2019

ESPN at 8:00pm ET will air "The First Day," filmmaker Jonathan Hock's follow-up to his '17 documentary "Unguarded," about former NBAer Chris Herren's battle with drug addiction. A shortened version of "Unguarded" airs at 7:00pm.

Shaquille O'Neal will appear on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" at 11:35pm ET.

$31M -- Approximate fundraising total for the UCF athletic department over the last fiscal year, from 7,519 donors. The overall commitments are "nearly double the amount" from the previous iscal year, when the department brought in $16.6M (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7/16).