The NBA BOG today "voted to approve the league's 22-team format to restart" the '19-20 season in Orlando. NBPA player reps reportedly have a "conference call set for Friday to approve the proposal." Sources said that the league "has set the draft for Oct. 15, with the draft lottery to be held Aug. 25" (ESPN.com, 6/4). Sources indicated that other key dates are: June 30 for start of training camp, July 7 travel to Orlando, July 31 for start of play. The "targets" for '20-21 are Nov. 10 for training camp and Dec. 1 opening night, but those "remain fluid" (THEATHLETIC.com, 6/4).

Sources also said that the Trail Blazers were the "lone team that voted against the 22-team format" (TWITTER.com, 6/4).

Fox Sports and NBC Sports will see their NASCAR schedules overlap this year as part of the revision caused by the coronavirus, a rarity for the sport. Fox Sports typically airs the first half of NASCAR’s season before making a clean handoff to NBC Sports for the second half. However, due to rescheduling, the sides agreed that NBC's first race will be the Brickyard 400 on July 5, but Fox will then return to air races at Kentucky (July 12) and Charlotte's All-Star Race (July 15). NBC will then take over for the duration of the season.

This news was revealed out as part of NASCAR officially confirming the next batch of races on its revised schedule, the third installment since it returned from the shutdown. Those races include the Pocono doubleheader at the end of June, plus events at Texas, Kansas and New Hampshire in July and August. NASCAR did not make any announcements today on when fans can return; a final decision on that is expected next week.

NBC is already scheduled to air the IndyCar Grand Prix at IMS on July 4 weekend as part of a doubleheader with NASCAR, so this move lets NBC take care of all the action that holiday weekend.

MLS today lifted its moratorium on full team training, which had been previously implemented on March 12. Full team training will be mandatory for all players. All clubs must have individual plans reviewed and approved by the team’s medical staff and infectious disease expert, as well as adhere to local health and government guidelines. Players will be required to have a physical exam 72 hours prior to training resuming. Together, staff and players also must complete two PCR tests 24 hours apart and also undergo an antibody test.

Additionally, if a player or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, they will be isolated and tested again at least 24 hours later to see if the original test was a false positive. Close contacts also will be tested immediately. As part of the moratorium being lifted, teams will have full access to training facilities.

The NHL today announced further details for its return-to-play plan later this summer, including the qualifying round being a best-of-five series and all others being best-of-seven. All teams will be re-seeded after each round. For example, the highest remaining team will face the lowest remaining team. Ties in the round robin, which includes each conference’s top four teams squaring off to determine seeding, will be decided by regular-season points percentage (Mark J. Burns, THE DAILY).

Meanwhile, CBA discussions between the NHL and NHLPA "have been woven into the daily planning for resumption of play." However, sources said that the sides "have intensified talks on a CBA extension with escrow, salary cap and HRR main discussion points." Also, a "stabilized escrow system is key" (TWITTER.com, 6/4).

The NLL today announced that the league "will cancel the 2019-20 postseason due to COVID-19." In April, the indoor league had said that it "would cancel the remainder of the regular season in hopes of resuming later on to play out the playoffs." Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz today said that the league "will instead redirect its attention toward planning for next season, its 35th" (USLAXMAGAZINE.com, 6/4). Professional Lacrosse Players’ Association President Peter Schmitz said he and the union “wholeheartedly support this decision” (WKBW.com, 6/4).

NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz releases a statement on the league’s decision to cancel the 2019-20 playoffs. pic.twitter.com/4fYpTS1n9s

— NLL (@NLL) June 4, 2020

The Ottawa Senators Foundation today suggested that it “will be severing ties with the hockey club’s parent group -- Capital Sports & Entertainment Inc. -- when their agreement ends on July 31.” The foundation in a statement said it will “look to fulfill our current operational, legal and charitable obligations” by the end of July and then focus on its future (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 6/4). The foundation was created in January ’98 and has raised more than C$31M “in the last five fiscal years of operation, with net proceeds granted to charities and projects throughout eastern Ontario and western Quebec” (TSN.ca, 6/4).

Pro Football HOFer Jerome Bettis and his Bus Stops Here Foundation announced the launch of a new youth program called “Check Inn," which "aims to connect middle school students to virtual activities centered around technology, art, video, film, math, Spanish, entrepreneurship and other topics." The free six-week program, aimed at helping provide education during the pandemic, begins Monday, and "sessions will occur on Mondays and Wednesdays." Children aged 10-14 can participate (BIZJOURNALS.com, 6/4).

At least five Alabama football players "have tested positive for the novel coronavirus" upon returning to campus this week, according to sources. Players returned to Tuscaloosa "ahead of the start of voluntary workouts" (247SPORTS.com, 6/4).

The USL’s BOG today voted in favor of returning to play for the '20 season, including setting July 11 as a provisional start date. All details such as format, scheduling and broadcast, among others, will be announced in the weeks ahead (Mark J. Burns, THE DAILY).

The American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament will be held July 8-12 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, but "spectators will not be allowed." Players for the event include Stephen Curry, Aaron Rodgers, Charles Barkley and Tony Romo (RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL 6/4).

Florida A&M is officially "moving from the MEAC to the SWAC" following a unanimous decision by the board (TWITTER.com, 6/4).

SiriusXM is adding Australian Football League programming to its sports lineup for the first time, including play-by-play broadcasts of an AFL Match of the Week (SiriusXM).

“The biggest thing that each Tour can do is just acknowledge what's going on, acknowledge that there is an issue. Golf has always been trying to grow the game and be inclusive to all people and the tours can lead that in showing that they understand that there are issues in our country, there are issues between races” -- LPGA golfer Cheyenne Woods, on what role the golf tours can play in helping to fight racial injustice (“Morning Drive,” Golf Channel, 6/4).

“Considering that Dak Prescott’s salary in 2019 was $2 million, imagine giving away half of your income, half of what you make towards a cause. It's a really, really incredible gesture” -- NFL Network’s Kay Adams, on the Cowboys QB's donation to social causes (“Good Morning Football,” NFL Network, 6/4).

“Once the races started, they were not required to wear those masks. And sadly, we didn't see any comically large face masks for the horses like I had hoped” -- NBC’s Carson Daly, on Belmont Park having races with jockeys wearing masks before and after the races (“Today,” NBC, 6/4).

UGA Athletic board is meeting right now via zoom, and is going into executive session to discuss a "personnel employment terms" matter.

In possibly related news, athletic director Greg McGarity's contract ends June 30. (Would be surprising to change horses during all this.)

— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) June 4, 2020

#49ers coach Kyle Shanahan on lack of diversity in NFL: "How the heck are there only four black coaches out of 32 head coaches? How are there only two GMs?"

— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) June 4, 2020

Cavs are one of the teams disappointed about being left out of potential restart of NBA season. pic.twitter.com/WoOsUkca1K

— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) June 4, 2020

Kentucky Speedway announces its races will be without spectators. New Hampshire says it is unclear whether spectators can attend its events. #nascar @NASCARONFOX

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 4, 2020

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

"SportsCenter" uses a but of creativity and corporate synergy to herald the return of the NBA at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

When you wish upon a star ...

Welcome back, @NBA ✨ pic.twitter.com/Nc91ycGUuL

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 4, 2020

80,000 -- Approximate annual spectators for Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, an international equestrian event that organizers have "pushed back a year due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic." The next iteration will be held Oct. 14-17, 2021 (BIZJOURNALS.com, 6/4).