Allegiant Airlines today "acknowledged the naming rights deal" with the Raiders for the team's new 65,000-seat stadium in Las Vegas. Sources said that Allegiant is likely paying between $20-25M in "cash and in-kind services a year to put its name on the building." Construction crews today "placed one of the last steel beams connecting a ring of 26 roof trusses." The completion of the ring of trusses "enables crews to begin work installing the translucent polymer roof." Las Vegas Stadium COO Don Webb has indicated the roof "would be built on the floor of the stadium and lifted into place by two cranes, an operation that is expected to take several weeks" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 8/5).

MLB today released its postseason schedule, which features the World Series beginning Oct. 22, the same day as the NBA's opening night. The postseason opens with the NL Wild Card Game on TBS on Tuesday, Oct. 1, followed by the AL Wild Card Game on ESPN on Oct. 2. Following the scheduled Sept. 29 conclusion to the regular season, potentially necessary regular season Tiebreaker Games would be telecast exclusively by ESPN on Sept. 30. The NLDS on TBS will begin Oct. 3, while the ALDS on FS1 or MLB Network will begin on Oct. 4. The NLCS begins Oct. 11 on TBS, while the ALCS starts Oct. 12 on Fox or FS1. A World Series Game 7, if necessary, would be scheduled for Oct. 30 (THE DAILY).

ESPN announced that Matt Barrie and Kevin Connors will assume new roles on the network's college football coverage this season, as Barrie will anchor studio coverage on ESPN and Connors will take on the same role on ESPN2. ESPN also announced today that it has re-signed analysts Jesse Palmer and Jim Mora Jr. to new contracts, with Palmer teaming up with Joey Galloway on ESPN. Mora will reunite with Emmanuel Acho for games on ESPN2. Barrie, Galloway and Palmer also will work the network's Thursday and Friday football coverage this season, and the trio will host "College Football Final" on Saturdays (ESPN).

Memphis-based Reaves Law Firm is suing Tiger Sports Properties, the multimedia rights holder of Univ. of Memphis athletics, alleging it "agreed to an exclusive marketing and sponsorship contract with basketball coach Penny Hardaway without his approval." The lawsuit "comes in response to a June 26 letter sent to Reaves Law Firm by Hardaway’s representative." The letter states that Tiger Sports Properties "is not authorized to grant" the use of Hardaway’s name, image and/or likeness. The lawsuit includes a "signed contract" that calls for Reaves Law Firm to "pay a total of $370,000 over the next five years in exchange for Hardaway’s association and endorsement" of the firm (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 8/5).

Gannett and GateHouse Media will "merge in an effort to combat declining circulation and plunging advertising revenue." The two publishers will "create a conglomerate that will own more than 250 daily newspapers and hundreds of weekly and community papers." Media exec Paul Bascobert has been named CEO of the combined company. Analysts said that the combined company could "generate hundreds of millions of dollars in savings from reduced overhead and more efficient printing and distribution" (WASHINGTON POST, 8/5).

foco

FOCO released a new series of bobbleheads that highlight the careers of Baseball HOFers Ryne Sanberg, Mike Piazza, Wade Boggs, Vladimir Guerrero and Craig Biggio (FOCO).

MLS officials today decided that they "will not punish" Union MF Alejandro Bedoya for grabbing a field microphone during yesterday's match against DC United and "urging Congress to act to end gun violence" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/5).

The Tour Championship in Atlanta is "expecting a sellout this year, with ticket sales up 15% from this time last year" for the PGA Tour's season-ending event. Premium seating areas like the 1904 Club are "already sold out" for the tournament, which starts on Aug. 22 (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/5).

The Lightning High School Hockey League today launched a new, multiyear campaign titled Check Yourself, which will encourage sportsmanship among players, parents and officials (Lightning).

WWE entertainers Becky Lynch and Roman Reigns will be featured on the cover of WWE 2K20 (WWE).

“We didn’t choose this. We were evicted from our home" -- ESPN's Dan Le Batard, on his eponymous radio show this morning. Today marked the show's last local hour on Miami-based WAXY-AM (MIAMI HERALD, 8/5).

"They want it. It’s hard to believe the U.S. Soccer Federation is trying to stop that from happening. They look for excuses for it not to happen" -- Dolphins and Relevent Sports Group Owner Stephen Ross, on European soccer teams wanting to play regular season matches in the U.S. (THEATHLETIC.com, 8/5).

"It's not a question anymore. Just get the netting out in every ballpark. It'll happen by next year but the fact that it hasn't already for all 30 clubs is just ridiculous and this is going to keep happening" -- ESPN's Jessica Mendoza, on extending the netting at MLB parks after another fan was struck by a foul ball ("Get Up," ESPN, 8/5).

The Los Angeles Rams are offering season tickets for just $250. The Rams Gameday Pass includes tickets to all eight 2019 home games at the Coliseum for just $31 per game. Seats will be selected by the Rams prior to each game and the locations may change. https://t.co/mdI492QBYC

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) August 5, 2019

Really cool moment as most of team is on sideline while special teams works onfield - Eric Reid goes to personally thank each of the military members who are watching practice today, shakes hands and poses for several pictures.

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) August 5, 2019

Bravo USGA on changing exemption status into #USOpen and #USWomensOpen for its amateur championship winners. Definitely would have meant a lot this year to 2018 #USAmateur winner Viktor Hovland.

— Dave Shedloski (@DaveShedloski) August 5, 2019

My time at The Tennessean has come to an end, and it was a fantastic three years and three months. It was an honor. Can’t say enough about the opportunity I was afforded. Can’t say enough about the people there. I will miss them, but I’ll be around. Word on that soon.

— Joe Rexrode (@joerexrode) August 5, 2019

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

Alex Ovechkin stopped by O.R.G. Packaging's Renaissance Tournament to check out the Chinese Hockey tournament and facility plus meet with Mr. Zhou Yunjie#Gr8inChina pic.twitter.com/PwaJSk9RWY

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) August 5, 2019

$23M -- Amount the Fortnite World Cup earned in total media value, according to MVPindex (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 8/5 issue).