NASCAR this afternoon announced that all of Daytona Speedweeks will now be compressed into one week starting in '21, marking the first major schedule change to be revealed for next year. NASCAR is in the midst of planning the '21 slate, which is expected to feature the most significant changes to the sport's annual calendar in perhaps decades. The first was announced today with Speedweeks, which encompasses multiple races, qualifying sessions and practices over the course of two weeks, and will now be one week.

Additionally, the Busch Clash will now be run on Daytona Int'l Speedway's road course, a change that is part of NASCAR's effort to shake up the schedule. The race has always been run on the track's famous oval circuit until now. NASCAR says its data shows that fans want more short track and road course races. Next year’s Daytona 500 occurs on Feb. 14, one week after Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, so the Busch Clash will be held just a handful of days after the NFL season ends; this year the Clash was a full week after the Super Bowl.

The move also will slightly shorten the amount of time that the NASCAR industry is in Daytona before the rest of its season begins. The Clash and Daytona 500 qualifying had previously been run the Sunday before the Daytona 500, whereas now the Clash will occur that Tuesday, followed by qualifying on Wednesday. NASCAR has said it wants to reveal the full '21 schedule by April 1, though President Steve Phelps has confirmed that is a soft deadline and the actual date could change.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the league is "aware of and focused on all possibilities" related to the coronovirus outbreak. Bettman, speaking at the conclusion of GM meetings in Boca Raton, indicated that the NHL "has been in communication" with both the CDC in the U.S. and Health Canada, and that the league "has been regularly updating all 31 of its teams." The commissioner described the situation as "day-to-day." The NHL has "banned business travel outside North America for its employees, but it currently remains up to individual clubs to make individual determinations" (CP, 3/4).

Check out the newest "SBJ UNPACKS" podcast for more on the NHL and NBA response to coronavirus:

Michelle Wie West will join Golf Channel's "Golf Central Live From The Players" as a contributing analyst next week. In addition, the network's Justin Leonard will transition to the show's primetime telecasts, beginning at The Players (Golf Channel). Wie West also will be "doing the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup" with Golf Channel. She previously worked as a studio analyst during the network's Solheim Cup coverage. In April, she will be one of CBS' contributors for The Masters (GOLFDIGEST.com, 3/4).

AMB Sports & Entertainment reached a multiyear agreement with Gallagher, which becomes the official insurance brokerage partner and risk management partner of both the Falcons and Atlanta United. Additionally, the 200 Suite Level at Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be renamed The Gallagher Suite Level. The firm will be the presenting sponsor of the “first responders of the game” feature at Falcons and Atlanta United home games. Gallagher will work with AMBSE and The Arthur M. Blank Foundation on several community initiatives. W Partners, Chicago, negotiated the deal on behalf of Gallagher (THE DAILY).

Gold Medal-winning U.S. gymnast Simone Biles is calling upon the USOPC and USA Gymnastics to open an “independent investigation” into the Larry Nassar sexual abuse case. Biles, appearing on NBC’s “Today” show this morning, said, “There’s a lot of things that need to happen before we can move forward.” Biles has been critical of the proposed settlement offered by USAG. She is the second Olympic gymnast to go on “Today” this week to express disappointment in how the USOPC and USAG have handled the fallout from the Nassar scandal, joining Aly Raisman (“Today,” NBC, 3/4).

The BetMGM-powered Yahoo Sportsbook app went live in Indiana today, allowing adult users in that state to click directly from the heavily trafficked sports site to place bets through BetMGM. Already active in New Jersey and West Virginia, Yahoo Sportsbook operates as a licensed affiliate of BetMGM, driving bettors to the online sportsbook and collecting a share of revenue. A new promotion rewards users in Indiana with $100 in free bets if they open a BetMGM account with a deposit of at least $10.

The Atlantic's Jemele Hill was candid about her personal and professional life on Showtime's "All The Smoke" podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. Hill said of being a sports journalist, "I always wanted to do this. I had a love of sports very early on. ... It goes back to growing up in Detroit in the hood, like, 'Y'all ain't going to take it easy on me just because I'm a girl.'"

AN UPHILL CLIMB: "The Indicator," a sub-brand of NPR's "Planet Money," explored the economic lessons to be derived from Alex Honnold's remarkable free solo ascent of El Capitan. Economist John Cochrane sees Honnold's feat as a parable about economic growth and knowledge acquisition: "We should celebrate the community that comes up with an idea more than just the person who makes it famous."

NEW YORK MINUTE: Columbia Univ.'s "CUSP Show" looked at the growth of the NWSL, with five players discussing an internship they are taking part in at Columbia, with sponsorship from Anheuser-Busch. G Haley Kopmeyer said this is "such an investment" from the league, A-B and Columbia to "give opportunities to women athletes as we're trying to grow the game." 

Know of a podcast we should keep tabs on? Send an email to pbounds@sportsbusinessdaily.com. Also, check out SBJ's podcast home.

Globe Life Field announced several new partners for its debut season. They include the Lexus Home Plate Club, the Evan Williams Lounge (1st base dugout lounge), the Germania Insurance Lounge (3rd base dugout lounge), the Jim Ross Law Suite Level and the Karbach Brewing Sky Porch. The venue also signed Kubota Tractor Corp. to a sponsor deal (Globe Life Field). 

U.S. Soccer signed Chipotle to a multiyear deal that makes it the official Mexican restaurant of both national teams, as well as the U.S. Soccer Development Academy (USSF).

The U.S. Postal Service today officially issued the Arnold Palmer Commemorative Forever stamp. The PGA Tour Arnold Palmer Invitational begins tomorrow (THE DAILY). 

A Garth Brooks concert is "scheduled to be the first non-football game event" at the Raiders' Allegiant Stadium. The concert is slated for Aug. 22 (LVSPORTSBIZ.com, 3/4).

Dyehard Fan Supply signed a deal to become the official e-commerce merchandising partner of Miami (Ohio) Univ. athletics (Dyehard).

Verizon signed a multiyear deal to become title sponsor of the '20 Copa Alianza soccer tournament in Houston. Verizon also becomes the tournament's official telecommunications and 5G mobility partner (Verizon).

"Neither the word cancellation nor the word postponement was even mentioned" -- IOC President Thomas Bach, on coronavirus discussions during Exec Board meetings in Lausanne, and how the disease could impact the Tokyo Games (AP, 3/4).

"As of now it’s on. If they tell us not to go, I’m sure it will be a decision they make regretfully but with information that that’s the right course of action" -- Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein, on the possible impact the coronavirus has on the Cubs-Cardinals London Series in June (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/4).

"Being a golf fan these days can get quite exhausting following so many different tournaments, different tours, all that stuff. So maybe streamlining it a bit might be a good place to start a conversation" -- Golfer Rory McIlroy, on possibly modifying the structure of different tours (THEGUARDIAN.com, 4/4).

"It’s not what you think. Or what’s been suggested. It relates more to -- while I generally don’t normally comment on club personnel decisions, it’s not one of the things we had been discussing at the board meetings in December. It has to do more with internal operations" -- NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, on the firing of Senators CEO Jim Little today (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 3/4).

I’ve been publicly critical of Rob Manfred before, but I have to give him props. He said he’d meet with any players who had further questions and he was a man of his word this morning. We had a very productive meeting about a wide range of topics. @MLB

— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) March 4, 2020

At Bay Hill today, FL Gov. DeSantis declares the Arnold Palmer the official drink of the governor's house. Am sure I'll be invited over soon to try it out...

— Gary VanSickle (@GaryVanSickle) March 4, 2020

For obvious reasons, having players mic'ed up during games would be much more difficult in the regular season.

But, man, it absolutely ups the entertainment value.

(Related: I have a lot to do this afternoon and haven't done any of it. And it's already the sixth inning!)

— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) March 4, 2020

Two years ago today, Kobe's "Dear Basketball" won an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film 🙏 pic.twitter.com/t3zGHAmrU1

— ESPN (@espn) March 4, 2020

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

Hi, we're the Buccaneers.

You may know us from our greatest hits: pic.twitter.com/L28BYZA7pT

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) March 4, 2020

Feminine, with an edge 🎀

Sofia Kenin is ready to glow in the 30 Love collection at Indian Wells and Miami.#FILAtennis pic.twitter.com/InSJimsiC5

— FILA Tennis (@FILAtennis) March 4, 2020

The Nets will host their annual Pride Night around their matchup against the Grizzlies. 

See more of this week's events.

The NFL shows off the use of the SimulCam feature from the Scouting Combine, which helped compare present and past 40-yard dash times.

David Beckham will appear on the syndicated "Ellen DeGeneres Show."

98% -- Percent of the Rangers' Globe Life Field that is complete (TWITTER.com, 3/4).