The NBA BOG met Friday afternoon, and a source said that while no final decisions have been made, discussions included a season restart format that would feature 16-24 teams. The clubs would most likely be seeded in current Eastern and Western conferences at Disney World in Orlando. Other format talks focused on 16 teams seeded with a play-in format that could include the next four to eight teams. No specific timetable was chosen, but the restart would likely begin in late July, the source said, adding that there are still a lot of questions of what the specific protocols will be.

The source did say the “inner bubble” will be limited to travel parties of 35 per team, including players, coaches and other personnel. “Nothing is off the table yet,” one source said. “But no one wanted to go past October.”

The MLB Draft is "getting NFL Draft-style TV coverage this year," with ESPN "getting in on the action" to broadcasting the event for the first time since '08. MLB Network, "which has had the event in recent years, will still have its own separate production" (TWITTER.com, 11/29). The five-round draft will be held over two days, beginning on the originally planned start date of Wednesday, June 10. It will be based out of MLB Network studios in Secaucus, N.J., and will mark the first time multiple networks will provide live primetime coverage (MLB).

The NCAA released a long and detailed plan Friday to "help schools bring athletes back to campus during a pandemic." The Resocialization of Collegiate Sports: Action Plan Considerations was announced as schools across the country "prepare for the return of football players as early as June 8." Schools have already started "putting plans in place to test athletes, coaches and staff for the coronavirus and implement social distancing." The NCAA said that its plan is "offered as guidance, consistent with federal and local public health guidelines" (AP, 5/29).

MLS Charlotte is now targeting sometime in June to announce its name, colors and brand, according to Tepper Sports & Entertainment President Tom Glick. He declined to disclose a date or a window for when an announcement could come. “This is a very important moment in the formation of our new club for the city and for the region,” Glick said. “We’ve been monitoring and thinking about when the right time to introduce it would be. What’s clear to us right now is not only is there a hunger for the return of sport and watching sport, there’s a hunger and anticipation for this moment for this new club.”

Glick said Charlotte previously planned a launch for late March but decided to shelve those plans, as first reported by THE DAILY. At the time, Charlotte FC was seen as the front-runner for the team’s name. It’s unclear if that remains true. Glick, also the current president of the NFL Panthers, said Charlotte has had agencies assisting in the branding process, but declined to mention any specifically. "We think that we have arrived at something that people in Charlotte and the Carolinas will really take to," Glick said. The club is slated to begin play in '21.

Pocono Raceway on Friday confirmed that its NASCAR races at the end of June would be held "without fans." NASCAR will hold a 325-mile Cup Series race on Saturday, June 27, and a 350-mile event the next day. The decision to move forward with no fans in attendance comes as Monroe County "shifts into the yellow phase of Governor Tom Wolf’s reopening strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic." The Cup Series doubleheader marks the "first time the sport’s top division will complete two separate events in consecutive days at the same facility" (POCONO RECORD, 5/29).

The All In Challenge has raised more than $52M to date. Recent additions to the lineup of auctions/sweepstakes include:

• Trip to Tokyo for Olympics in '21
• Attend '20 Big Ten title game, pregame events
• Weekend with Dick Vitale, Yankees-Rays game
• Soccer training with PSG star Ashley Lawrence
• Meet the Trail Blazers, elite access at Moda Center
• Three-game Cubs series package with Theo Epstein
• Seahawks weekend experience with Pete Carroll
• Eagles gameday/broadcast experience with Brian Westbrook
• Joe Burrow's game-worn cleats from '20 season

The Twins have "committed to paying their minor league players a $400-a-week stipend and their full benefits, including health insurance, through Aug. 31," according to sources (TWITTER.com, 5/29).

MLB network starting Friday at 6:00am ET began airing 64 consecutive hours of Derek Jeter-related programming. The "occasion is the 25th anniversary of Jeter's MLB debut" (CBSSPORTS.com, 5/29). The "SNL" hosted by Jeter will be on NBCSN at 8:00pm Friday (TWITTER.com, 5/29).

“My biggest takeaway is just how proactive the PGA Tour is in providing opportunities for the players in this time of constant change” -- Golf Channel’s Paige Mackenzie, on a possible event at TPC Sawgrass on the dates of the now-canceled John Deere Classic, July 9-12 (“Morning Drive,” Golf Channel, 5/29).

“We don’t take credit for these sports’ popularity. We just try to help them grow" -- Maestroe Sports & Entertainment President Gabby Roe, on working with burgeoning sports like ax throwing and break dancing (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 5/29).

Just heard the news that @willcain will be exiting ESPN at the end of June. ESPN Radio's going to have a hole to fill in afternoons. Will did a great job establishing a strong identity on the network.

— Jason Barrett (@sportsradiopd) May 29, 2020

Warriors executive Kim Stone - the great Kim Stone - is part of this year's San Francisco Business Times "Most Influential Women In Business" list, because of course she is. "She is the perfect person to lead us through our current situation," Warriors President Rick Welts said.

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) May 29, 2020

NBA champ Stephen Jackson is here to lead a press conference about his friend #GeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/PIUYo4OR5r

— Sharon Yoo (@SharonKARE11) May 29, 2020

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

Saturday

As part of MLS Unites, the league is partnering with Heineken and DJ David Guetta to host a livestream performance at 7:00pm ET to raise money for those in need during the global health crisis. The event will appear on MLS and Guetta's social media feeds.

49ers past and present congratulate the class of '20 in this teaser video for the team's "Virtual Graduation" effort.

16 -- Number of bowl games with which Conference USA will have affiliations in its next six-year cycle of '20-25. The league is guaranteed seven bowl appearances in each year. Of the 16 affiliated bowls, 11 are owned and operated by ESPN Events (C-USA).