NASCAR President Steve Phelps said he is "confident we are going to keep people safe" for The Real Heroes 400 at Darlington on Sunday. Phelps on the latest SBJ Unpacks podcast spoke about the vast array of changes that go along with the sport’s return to the track. Phelps: “The plan we have in place is dozens of pages long. And it has been vetted with local, state and federal health officials to make sure we are going back and folks are going to be safe. Non-essential personnel, like me, will be outside of the footprint." He noted NASCAR is comfortable with its safety protocols, adding, "We would not go back if we thought otherwise.”

Phelps said the crews, drivers, officials and media production staff on-site will total "about 900 people." On the other hand, Phelps said, "If you asked people in this industry who are essential personnel, there would be more than 900 who raised their hand. I had a sales guy email me and say, ‘Hey, I’ll do the testing; do the whole thing.’ ... I thought to myself: There is no one to sell anything to. I would suggest that would be non-essential personnel.”

For more from Phelps on the decision not to incorporate testing, the economics of racing without spectators and more, check out the latest SBJ Unpacks podcast.

OneTeam Partners, the new joint venture of the NFLPA, MLBPA and RedBird Capital Partners, has made three senior hires, CEO Ahmad Nassar said. Former NFLPA President Eric Winston has joined as Chief Partnership Officer. Working out of DC, he will manage relationships with all rightsholders and attempt to secure the involvement of additional unions and players associations across global sports. “It was frankly a natural fit,” Nassar said. Former MLB Players Inc. President Tim Slavin, an SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree in '11, joins as Managing Dir and Chief Legal Officer, working out of N.Y.

Henry Lowenfels comes on as Chief Product Officer, working out of L.A. Lowenfels had been in senior positions at mobile video game publisher Scopely. Nassar called this his “most interesting hire,” because "players associations, even on the business side, have never hired someone like Henry." Video games is an area where OneTeam believes it can make great strides in monetizing athletes’ name, image and likeness.

The TaylorMade Driving Relief charity golf match tees off Sunday at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Fla., and it will be a "welcome diversion from two months of stay-at-home orders for the players, and fans who get to watch live competition on television again." The match, airing at 2:00pm ET on NBC and Golf Channel, pits TaylorMade endorsers Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson against Oklahoma State alums Rickie Fowler and Matt Wolff. A minimum of $4M "will be raised to help COVID-19 relief efforts." The event will be played "without spectators." Everyone on site will be "subject to testing" and all facilities "will be disinfected" (PALM BEACH POST, 5/15).

Despite having a foursome "loaded with stars, the venue might take center stage." Seminole, designed by the famed Donald Ross, will "host a televised golf event for the first time in its 90-year history, offering up some eye candy for golf fans who have only heard of its mystique." Seminole is one of the "most exclusive of U.S. private courses." As for social distancing guidelines, players will "carry their own bags, stay 6 feet apart and bunker rakes and flagsticks will be sanitized after anyone touches them" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 5/15).

The LPGA on Friday announced the cancellation of this year’s Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, which had been set to be the “first LPGA event of the year” after changes caused by the pandemic. The event, scheduled for July 15-18, is next set to return in ’21. Since Dow and the LPGA “originally agreed on a five-year contract to hold the tournament" at Michigan's Midland Country Club, that contract will still be upheld by having the event extended" through '24 (MIDLAND DAILY NEWS, 5/15). The plan for the tour now is to “restart with the Marathon LPGA Classic” in Toledo the following week (GOLFDIGEST.com, 5/15).

Meanwhile, directors from Ohio tournaments -- the Memorial, Marathon Classic, Senior Players Championship, and Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship -- are sending a proposal to Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday “asking him to lift the restriction on outdoor gatherings so fans can attend.” They expect to hear an answer “by early June.” The events “would have no grandstands, fans would be required to wear masks, thermal scanning to ensure no one has a fever would be used, social distancing guidelines would be in effect, and hand sanitizer stations would be present” (TOLEDO BLADE, 5/15).

The Red Wings issued their season-ticket holder refund policy for the four home games remaining on the '19-20 schedule. As part of the policy, all fans will have the opportunity to receive a refund for missed March or April games. Season-ticket holders can choose to leave money in their accounts and apply them to future games, upgrades and/or VIP experiences. Fans who choose this will also be awarded a 30% credit. Those season-ticket holders who have renewed for '20-21 will automatically receive additional experiences, including a virtual Q&A with GM Steve Yzerman before the NHL Draft (Mark J. Burns, THE DAILY).

Meanwhile, FC Cincinnati "detailed its policy for fans holding tickets for games that haven’t been played." The team will offer fans who "have tickets for any games officially canceled, postponed with no rescheduled date within eight weeks or played without spectators two options." They can "request a refund or apply the value of those tickets" to tickets for the '21 season. Fans who choose to have their tickets roll over to the '21 season "will also be given a 10% 'appreciation credit.'" That credit "can be used for any 2021 ticket purchases" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 5/15).

DraftKings reported a 30% upswing in Q1 revenue from its "core sports betting operations as wider legalization offset the impact of COVID-19." Revenue hit $88.5M, though "net losses widened" to $68.7M from $29.6M in the year-ago period. The company is "newly consolidated" and went public in April, "making year-to-year comparisons inexact." Despite most sports being dark since mid-March, DraftKings said that "new product offerings and an increase in states allowing betting has helped it improve its financial position" (DEADLINE.com, 5/15).

A postponed date for the Preakness Stakes "will be revealed Saturday afternoon at the top of an NBC television special" at 5:00pm ET marking the original date for the Triple Crown race. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and Stronach Group Chair & President Belinda Stronach will make the announcement. The Stronach Group and Hogan in March "announced that the race would be postponed," shortly after Churchill Downs moved the Kentucky Derby to Sept. 5 (BALTIMORE SUN, 5/15).

The All in Challenge is now approaching $43M raised. New challenges include a Bulls throwback '90s experience no doubt inspired by the mania over "The Last Dance." Other highlights:

• Tour of Nike HQ with President & CEO John Donahoe, Nike product
• Two days with Duke Basketball and tickets
• Play in the MLB Legends & Celebrity All-Star Softball Game
• Univ. of Florida experience and flag football in The Swamp
• Dodger for a day with Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger
• Training, lunch with Matt Ryan in SoCal, Nike gear
• Softball game at Fenway Park coached by David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez
• Front-row seats to Bucks game, signed Giannis Antetokounmpo jerseys

The '23 FIFA Women’s World Cup host "will be picked" on June 25. The contenders are Brazil, Japan, Colombia and a joint Australia-New Zealand bid (AP, 5/15).

Quibi announced a new documentary series about the Astros' cheating scandal with the working title "Sign Language." Produced by Uninterrupted and The Cinemart, it will debut Monday along with the series "Blackballed" on the '14 Donald Sterling scandal (Quibi).

NASCAR has expanded its relationship with environmental and industrial services firm Clean Harbors ahead of this weekend's restart at Darlington Raceway (NASCAR).

The Premier Lacrosse League announced Sun Chlorella as its official supplement provider (PLL).

Rutgers men's basketball coach Steve Pikiell served as the keynote speaker for the virtual graduation ceremony for the Rutgers Global Sports Business Masters Program on Friday afternoon (THE DAILY).

"This Sunday will not be a scaled-up or a scaled-down version of something that we’ve done before. Much like what you saw with the NFL Draft, this is a complete rethinking of how to produce a live sporting event" -- Fox Sports Exec VP and Head of Productions & Operations Brad Zager, on several unique aspects to coverage of NASCAR's return race on Sunday at Darlington (THEATHLETIC.com, 5/15).

"We’ve learned a lot about technology, we feel like we’re on the cutting edge of utilizing it" -- Raiders coach Jon Gruden, on keeping his team and staff prepared during the pandemic (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 5/15).

Making college kids stay in a hotel the night before a game is an example of overspending to pacify coaches who feel the need to control everything.

I'm sure it has some value, but it's a luxury that has become a "necessity" because _ well they do it so we gotta.

— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) May 15, 2020

This piece by @DaveShedloski is where Quail Hollow gets mentioned as most likely alt venue for @PGAChampionship if Harding Park won't work. While I don't have any additional info to pass along I would note that QH raised its hand to be a substitute for Greenbrier > the floods. https://t.co/nmc8uDD23P

— Jeremy Schilling (@jschil) May 15, 2020

We don't have to guess what it will be like to call games without fans in the stands. Just ask anyone who has announced a minor league baseball game. The majority of sporting events I've called in my life probably had fewer than 500 fans. It's awkward, but you get used to it.

— Mike Couzens (@MikeCouzens) May 15, 2020

It's quite the mental paradox when half your Twitter feed is debating which SEC quarterback has the best chance to contend for the Heisman this season while the other half is debating whether there will even be a season.

— Brandon Zimmerman (@BZSEC) May 15, 2020

As far as college sports returning, it’s great to hear the coaches, commissioners and other power brokers want to play, but, has anyone considered that the athletes may choose not to play because they don’t feel safe?

— 𝒫𝒶𝓉𝓇𝒾𝒸𝓀 𝒮𝒽𝓊𝒸𝓀 (@PShuck) May 15, 2020

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

There is only room for one 👑
Championship Sunday
6 PM ET | @FS1@LAFC vs @SportingKC - @NYCFC vs @ATLUTD pic.twitter.com/RE5PsLjkBd

— 🎮 Major League Soccer (@eMLS) May 11, 2020

⚡️12 elite pilots compete at home ⚡️8 Weeks of action. The @FanDuel DRL SIM Racing Cup benefits @directrelief starting Sat, May 16th at 2:30pm ET on NBCSN and Twitter. Stay tuned for more details. #SIMCup pic.twitter.com/3GeJegzh8I

— Drone Racing League (@DroneRaceLeague) May 11, 2020

27 million -- Total minutes of content consumed on American Cornhole League digital channels in April (ACL).