MLS could "postpone its championship match until late December and play MLS Cup in a neutral, warm-weather city," according to a source. The game's current date is Nov. 7 at the "home of the higher-seeded finalist." Even a two-month shutdown "wouldn’t necessarily force MLS to eliminate games from each of its 26 teams’ 34-match slate." MLS has "significant flexibility -- and a clear precedent -- when it comes to tweaking its remaining schedule." The league staged its title game in December from '12-18, and MLS officials "would rather return to a December final than eliminate games" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/18).

UFC 249 and its headlining Khabib Nurmagomedov-Tony Ferguson lightweight bout "won’t happen at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center" on April 18, if it happens at all. The New York State Athletic Commission said that the coronavirus "would keep the event out of New York." Nevada already has halted all pro boxing and MMA events through the end of March, and California has a "similar moratorium" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/18).

Meanwhile, ESPN on Saturday will "air 11 straight hours" of classic UFC fights (TWITTER.com, 3/18).

The NFL starting today will offer free access to its NFL Game Pass product, which features an extensive library of NFL games and other highlights. This includes access to past regular and postseason NFL games, previous seasons of NFL Films series such as "Hard Knocks" and "A Football Life." Also starting today, NFL digital platforms will offer fans full game encores each day across NFL.com, the NFL app and NFL's official YouTube channel. NFL Game Pass will be offered free of charge until May 31 to fans within the U.S. (NFL).

Meanwhile, the NBA also is offering a free preview of its NBA League Pass product through April 22 (NBA).

The Blackhawks Foundation, in tandem with United Way of Metro Chicago and The Chicago Community Trust, launched a donation-matching program to benefit the Chicago Community COVID-19 Respond Fund. The foundation will match the first $100,000 in individual donations and will support local nonprofits serving the most vulnerable residents in the region at this time. Foundation Vice Chair Danny Wirtz: “We know many of our fans share in our desire to give back, especially with the uncertainty the current public health situation brings, and we can make a great difference for our neighbors in need.”

The Calgary Stampede has "temporarily laid off close to 900 staff" -- around 80% of its workforce -- amid "uncertainty from the ongoing outbreak." A total of 890 people were laid off by the rodeo, "including 608 casual, part-time employees and 282 regular, part-time and regular, full-time staff." Despite the move, the annual 10-day July event "has not been called off" (CALGARY HERALD, 3/18).

NRG Esports Founder & CEO Andy Miller, also an NBA Kings investor, indicated that esports entities are in an "entirely different situation" from traditional sports in terms of the ability to pay many of their staff during a hiatus. Miller explained: “Esport organizations don’t have millions of dollars being generated by signing TV rights deals. They have player salaries, facilities to pay for, and everything else. For some, something has to give, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be bad. It’ll be a correction which was already starting to happen anyway.” The Kings are among the NBA teams paying arena staff with play suspended (ESPORTSOBSERVER.com, 3/18).

In the latest installment of "SBJ UNPACKS," our Bill King is joined by attorney Mikaela Whitman to talk about how sports businesses are answering the question “Am I covered?” and what the insurance market will look like when sporting events start back up.

As with the rest of the media landscape, it's all coronavirus all the time in the podcast world. Andy Larsen, the Jazz beat writer for the Salt Lake City Tribune, appeared on NBC Sports' “The Habershow” and said Rudy Gobert is an “example of someone who made a huge mistake and feels bad about it and is trying to do everything he or she can do to make it better.”

FOOT NOTES: The Guardian's “Football Weekly” podcast looked at global soccer, with co-host Barry Glendenning saying the sport is “not particularly important in the cosmic scheme of things.” Co-host Max Rushden: “Football has come to a standstill, which is the right thing to do.”

STEEL AWAY: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Jason Mackey joined two college sports writers on “The North Shore Drive Sports Podcast” to explore the effect of the virus on sports in Western Pennsylvania.

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

The ITF has postponed the ITF World Tennis Tour and all other ITF-sanctioned tours until at least June 8. This aligns with the ATP and WTA’s suspension of their respective tours and the decision to postpone Roland Garros (ITF).

The IndyCar Series' Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach "will not be rescheduled for later this year, as initially planned" (Long Beach PRESS-TELEGRAM, 3/18).

The Packers extended from March to June 1 the deadline for season-ticket holders and those selected in the Brown County drawing to pay for their tickets (Packers).

The NLL today unveiled a new version of its logo to honor all its constituencies. The design contains images from all areas connected to the league and will be updated periodically as fans, players and others send in new images (NLL).

“This is really the time, especially for us NBA players, to walk the walk and be more than athletes. ... It was just a way for me to try and help navigate this incredibly stressful and anxiety-ridden time” -- Cavaliers F Kevin Love, on his charity donating funds to financially assist out-of-work employees at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (“Today,” NBC, 3/18).

“I’m going to be (glass) half full (and) say we’re full steam ahead on our Atlanta planning for media days. But last Thursday morning I was full steam ahead on playing a basketball tournament" -- SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, on the current state of affairs in the conference (THEATHLETIC.com, 3/18).

"It affects every market that plays Tampa Bay" -- On The Ball Ventures Founder Steve Nudelberg, on the marketing impact of Tom Brady's expected move to the Buccaneers (BIZJOURNALS.com, 3/18).

Sadly, it’s my understanding that staff at The Hockey News has been laid off. I have a lot of friends there so thinking of them and hoping for the best for them.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) March 18, 2020

Joe Maddon said he does believe a season will be played, and even if isn’t a full 162 games, it will be a “pretty full” season. He said he’d be willing to start the year playing in front of empty stadiums, letting players be mic’d up to increase fan interaction.

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) March 18, 2020

Really hope the Jags' culture will be able to survive without Nick Foles

— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) March 18, 2020

Freddie Freeman pledged $125,000 to Atlanta-based organizations to assist those in need during the coronavirus pandemic. The #Braves star matched Falcons QB Matt Ryan $50K donations to Atlanta Community Food Bank and Giving Kitchen and also contributed $25K to the Salvation Army.

— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) March 18, 2020

For those wondering how things are going here, we've reached the "You're making too much noise scooping ice out of the freezer!" stage of the crisis.

— Phil Rosenthal (@phil_rosenthal) March 18, 2020

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

Bleacher Report's "Gridiron Heights" spoofs Tom Brady's exit from New England.

50 -- Number of years ago, today, that Wilson became the official football of the NFL (TWITTER.com, 3/18).