Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said today that the Boston Marathon "will not go forward this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic." Walsh said during a briefing outside City Hall that race organizers have "determined that the race, initially pushed back from April to September 2020, was 'not feasible' this year." Boston Athletic Association CEO Thomas Grilk said that the BAA will "offer a virtual marathon" anytime between Sept. 7-14. The BAA added that all runners who had "registered for the April 20, 2020, event will be offered a full refund of their entry fee and will have the ability to run the virtual race in September" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/28).

The NFL and NFLPA both finalized deals today with EA Sports to extend the exclusive Madden video game franchise through at least '25, with an option for '26. The deal is the "biggest and widest-reaching gaming deal” yet for the league, the parties claimed, making EA Sports a key player across all aspects of the NFL and the union’s efforts to develop new young fans through digital platforms -- including social media strategy, esports, new NFL-themed games and content marketing.

“The last time we did this deal, we weren’t thinking about things like integrating broadcast, things like fantasy, and how all those things can come together in a singular platform,” said EA Sports VP/Global Brand Management Anthony Stevenson. “Those just weren’t conversations we had. Whereas when we sat down for this, it was really at the center of it.”

Terms were not disclosed, but a source familiar with the deal valued the pact at between $900M-$1B for the NFL, and between $600M-$700M for the NFLPA depending on sales.

The NFL has further relaxed the "single-header protection rule," which prohibits one network from airing a game in a market where a home team is currently playing on the other network. For example, the rule prohibits Fox from airing a game in N.Y. while the Jets are playing at home on CBS, even if Fox had the right to air games in both Sunday afternoon timeslots as part of its package. Long criticized by fans, the rule is especially problematic in N.Y. and L.A., where one of the two teams plays at home most weeks.

Markets will now be permitted to "break" this rule up to four times this year, up from two times last year. Owners approved the change unanimously today. NFL Exec VP/Media Brian Rolapp: “At the end of the day, it just means more football for more fans, and more people will get more games on Sunday.” The rule was already on the way out, but liberalized distribution rules are likely to take on greater importance with in-person attendance in many markets appearing unlikely because of the pandemic.

Agent Scott Boras "recommends that his clients refuse" MLB's attempt to "cut salaries during negotiations with the players' association, claiming team financial issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic have their origin in management debt financing." Boras in an email wrote that players "should not alter terms of the March 26 agreement between MLB and the union that called for players to reduce their salaries to a prorated rate based on a shortened season." Boras wrote, "Players should not agree to further pay cuts to bail out the owners. Let owners take some of their record revenues and profits from the past several years and pay you the prorated salaries you agreed to accept or let them borrow against the asset values they created from the use of those profits players generated" (AP, 5/28).

StubHub President Sukhinder Singh Cassidy "is exiting" the company after two years. StubHub GM of North America Jill Krimmel "will fill the role of president on an interim basis." StubHub officials also "announced 200 permanent job cuts today as part of a larger restructuring" amid the COVID-19 crisis. The job cuts were "made at all levels of the company" and are in "addition to the furloughs announced earlier this year at StubHub." Singh Cassidy said that she had been "planning to step down following the Viagogo acquisition" (BILLBOARD.com, 5/28).

Bucks co-Owner Marc Lasry said at tomorrow's NBA BOG meeting, Commissioner Adam Silver “will recommend” the “different options that we're going to have about reopening." Lasry: "We'll think about it over the weekend and then hopefully have another meeting early next week to vote on what we all feel will be the reopening of the NBA.” Lasry believes “we'll be in Orlando at Disney, and the question is going to be will we have all 30 teams there, will we have 24?" He added, "Hopefully by the middle of July we’ll start playing again” (“Fast Money Halftime Report,” CNBC, 5/28).

The John Deere Classic, scheduled to be the fifth tournament as part of the PGA Tour's revised schedule, "will be canceled this year," according to sources. The Tour has "hopes of replacing it with another event." Restrictions in Illinois during the July 9-12 tournament week "will still limit gatherings to 50 people." The Tour is "trying to replace the John Deere for this year only and there is some consideration to having an event at TPC Sawgrass" (ESPN.com, 5/28). Sources said that John Deere Co. "didn’t want to have fans at the popular Quad Cities event and risk a possible outbreak of coronavirus at a large gathering" (GOLFWEEK.com, 5/28).

The Hurricanes now officially have a lease extension at PNC Arena "for five years, through July 1, 2029," after the Centennial Authority, which oversees the property, voted to extend. The team "approved the term sheet on April 20." The previous lease ran through '24, and an "extension has been in the discussion stages for many months, as have major renovations to the arena." The authority had asked architects Ratio and HOK to "recommend possible renovation options but will reconsider any moves until it has a better sense of the economy" post-coronavirus (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 5/28).

MLS today announced that clubs may begin using outdoor team training grounds for voluntary small group workout sessions. Teams must continue to follow local health official and government guidelines. Before a club can begin small group training sessions, it must submit to the league office its plan, which has been previously reviewed and approved by its medical staff and infectious disease expert. The league’s moratorium on full team training continues through Monday.

The Breeders' Cup and The Jockey Club have launched a national ad campaign titled "Still. Running. Strong." to promote thoroughbred racing as major racetracks across the U.S. resume running without spectators during the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign launches today and will run on NBC Sports, Fox Sports and a variety of targeted digital and social channels. A 30-second spot, created by Boston-based agency CTP, shows horses in stables in the morning and then breaking from the gate and running on tracks across the country.

The Red Sox partnered with disability rights organization the Ruderman Family Foundation to launch a first-of-its-kind campaign, which seeks to end the stigma associated with open discussions on mental health in the sport (Red Sox).

Eyewear brand Zenni reached a deal with NBA 2K League team Nets Gaming Crew. The NetsGC partnership marks the brand's first venture into the NBA 2K League as it continues to expand its presence in esports (Zenni).

Former NBAer Tony Parker and French streaming personality Corentin "Gotaga" Houssein have created a "recurring video game series" which will feature sports and esports celebrities (L’EQUIPE, 5/28).

Hyundai's high performance N Brand will be title sponsor of the IMSA race weekend at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Sept. 4-6 in Monterey, Calif. (Hyundai Motor America).

NFL Network analyst Michael Silver launched "Pass It Down," a podcast dedicated to interviewing sports figures. His first guests are Warriors coach Steve Kerr and his daughter, Maddy, a former Cal volleyball player (THE DAILY).

“We would be thrilled to see the NBA finish out their season at Walt Disney World. As you know, our Wide World of Sports facility is not only enormous but it's state-of-the-art and we're in daily conversations with the NBA to see if this is something that they want to happen” -- Disney CEO Bob Chapek (“GMA,” ABC, 5/28).

“The machine that the hockey world and the NHL is in, there's not really much room for speaking out against some of the issues that happen in the game. So I was just kind of always afraid of the fact that if I said anything I would kind of be exiled” -- Pro hockey player Akim Aliu, on speaking out about the hazing and racism in hockey (“Today,” NBC, 5/28).

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a revised order: not only will professional sports leagues be allowed to resume play in June, but outdoor stadiums will be allowed to host fans up to 25% of their capacity.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 28, 2020

Ever since NASCAR came back and started racing like every day of the week, I’m even MORE confused about what day it is. You’re telling me today is Thursday? Sure, whatever you say.

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) May 28, 2020

#Iowa AD Gary Barta, on video call with media, says school is planning for Kinnick Stadium scenarios with reduced capacity but hasn't written off having full capacity football games in the fall.

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) May 28, 2020

Sources: Conference-USA is discussing an 18-game league schedule where teams closest in proximity will play each other twice. Another effect of coronavirus.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 28, 2020

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

The moment @NHL says you can skate again! #boltsflytogether #directorialdebut #breakoutinfluenceroftheyear pic.twitter.com/YiSD8kjV88

— Alex Killorn (@Akillorn19) May 28, 2020

Former U.S. diver Greg Louganis will appear on ABC's "Holey Moley" at 9:00pm ET.

600 -- The amount of pints of ice cream the Bucks and Fiserv Forum delivered today to three Milwaukee-area hospitals (THE DAILY).