ESPN plans to "attempt to acquire Al Michaels from NBC Sports for 'Monday Night Football.'" Sources said that ESPN would "like to team Michaels with Peyton Manning in its dream booth." Sources added that ESPN also has "shown interest" in free-agent QB Philip Rivers. Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland are ESPN’s current "MNF" team, but the network is "strongly considering a change." Talks between NBC/Comcast and Disney/ESPN have "yet to begin." Since Michaels has two years remaining on his contract, NBC could "simply turn down ESPN’s request" (N.Y. POST, 3/5).

The Marlins and The Clevelander entertainment space in left field have "mutually agreed to discontinue" the area at Marlins Park ahead of this season to "address new priorities within both organizations." Located adjacent to the Marlins’ bullpen, The Clevelander had been a "staple at the Marlins’ home ballpark since it opened" in '12. The area "contained poolside entertainment that included dancers and DJs open to as many as 120 party goers as well as field-level seating and table service available featuring food selections from the South Beach location" (MIAMI HERALD, 3/5). Marlins CRO Adam Jones said the space will now be used for a "wide variety of audiences." It also "will not have a pool" (TWITTER.com, 3/5).

Apparel brand J.Lindeberg has "severed its ambassador agreement" with golfer Scott Piercy in the aftermath of "two controversial Instagram posts" he made earlier this week. One post "made reference to far-right conspiracy theory group 'QAnon,'” while the other was a meme that "mocked the sexuality of former Presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg, who is openly gay." Piercy was "one year in to his endorsement deal with J.Lindeberg" (GOLF.com, 3/5). Titleist and Footjoy also "confirmed that they terminated their contract with Piercy" (TWITTER.com, 3/5).

Arrow McLaren SP has acquired the No. 48 for use in races, according to sources, which sets the team up to be able to run Jimmie Johnson’s classic NASCAR number if he enters any IndyCar races with it next year. Johnson has long said he is open to running some non-oval IndyCar races after he retires from full-time NASCAR racing after '20, and he announced yesterday on Twitter that he will do a test next month at Barber Motorsports Park with Arrow McLaren.

Johnson has a close relationship with McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown as well as driver Fernando Alonso. However, the fact that Arrow McLaren has taken the previously unreported step to acquire the No. 48 from Dreyer-Reinbold Racing, the part-time team that had owned it, shows how serious McLaren is taking the effort around Johnson. Still, one of the sources emphasized that there are no set plans between Johnson and Arrow McLaren for '21 yet. The terms of McLaren’s acquisition of the number from DRR were not known.

Georgia Tech will "begin selling beer at home baseball games" tomorrow, part of a pilot program that will "explore the possibility of expanding sales to other facilities" in '20-21. The program "opens the door for possible alcohol sales at Bobby Dodd Stadium and McCamish Pavilion." Until this point, alcohol sales have been "limited to premium seating areas at both stadiums." Should the program "proceed to open up sales of alcohol for football and basketball games, it might help address the athletic department’s revenue shortages." The department is "expecting to run a deficit of $600,000" for FY '20 (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 3/5).

Attorney Tim Browne joins Bill King to discuss the potential financial ramifications on the US sports industry if an outbreak leads to the cancellation of games, as it has elsewhere, and looks at the likelihood that insurance would cover any of those losses.

Listen to our other podcasts from this week breaking down the coronavirus impact on sports business:

SeatGeek today signed a partnership with EPL club Liverpool FC (SeatGeek).

DraftKings and casino Ameristar were "among the second group of applicants approved" for sports betting licenses in Colorado (DENVER POST, 3/5).

The Triple-A PCL Nashville Sounds donated $100,000 to Music City Inc., the charitable arm of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp., to aid in tornado relief efforts (Sounds).

Kwik Trip and Sprite have signed on as official partners of the Bucks Gaming NBA 2K League franchise (Bucks Gaming).

"To take our game back 30 years, I think you’re not doing it justice. I think you’re just trying to do yourself a PR stunt ... It’s a joke. It’s gotten so ridiculous" -- Red Sox DH J.D. Martinez, on the potential ban on teams using in-game clubhouse video (SI.com, 3/5).

"St. Louis is going to be a shining light for this league. And if it doesn't make it, it's not because St. Louis failed" -- ESPN Radio 101 St. Louis host Randy Karraker, on the XFL BattleHawks (ESPN.com, 3/5).

There is less assured Players revenue that I had even thought prior to seeing CBA terms. Players' revenue split does not automatically rise to 48.5%. Set at 48%, no matter whether 16 or 17 games, and only rises to max of 48.5% on application of "media kicker." Not guaranteed.

— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) March 5, 2020

You really haven’t fully lived until you’ve traveled through BOTH Newark Penn Station And NY Penn at 12:30-1 in the morning after a college hoops game.

It’s like the Night of the Living Dead out there.

— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) March 5, 2020

Welcome back @RayHudson....This league is better with you involved. @InterMiamiCF are lucky to have you. Enjoy it bud. #InterMiamiCF #MLS

— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) March 5, 2020

Interesting interview with Rory McIlroy on the Golf Channel. Cites the longevity of Roger Federer - his "favourite athlete" - as one of the sources of inspiration behind his good form since turning 30 last year: "I want to play with the freedom he has."

— Stuart Fraser (@stu_fraser) March 5, 2020

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

Today our guy William Floyd from @MakeAWish joins the NBA 2K20 roster as the first authentically scanned and playable fan in basketball video game series history 🙌

Thanks for coming to visit us @thebuddyboy5 💯 pic.twitter.com/vufVPYN9ox

— NBA 2K20 (@NBA2K) March 4, 2020

$256M -- Total spending in '20 on college baseball and softball facilities across the NCAA (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/2 issue).