LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan opened Part 1 of SBJ: The Road Ahead Virtual Series today by saying he is confident in the circuit's ability to test players, caddies and others in the sport. The tour gets back on the course later this month with back-to-back events in Northwest Ohio, and Whan said, “I can't imagine there being a healthier group because if somebody is unhealthy in our group, we'll know it pretty quickly." However, Whan did acknowledge there are no guarantees: “I cannot in today's world provide an environment where there's zero risk and we're going to have a positive test or two.” The LPGA was lauded for its decision to allow golfers to keep their tour status for ’21 no matter how much of the abbreviated schedule they play. Whan: “If this isn't for you, whether its health-wise, concerns-wise, your family-wise, where you live -- it won't affect you.”

Observing the PGA Tour’s return to action has certainly been helpful for the LPGA. “We got to walk through our protocol while they were building their protocol,” Whan said. “Watching what they've had to deal with these first few weeks has been good for us.” Whan knows this year won’t be a success financially for anyone, so he wants to make sure he keeps the LPGA’s priorities in perspective. “I won't mortgage the future to make 2020 look better,” he said.

Meanwhile, today the LPGA, together with Golf Canada and title-sponsor Canadian Pacific, announced that the CP Women’s Open at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver has been postponed until '21.

As sports try to get going again, one of the most frequently asked questions is what the fan experience will look like once they are able to attend games again. Speaking at today’s SBJ: The Road Ahead Virtual Series, Legends President of Global Planning Bill Rhoda said the experience is “probably going to be different from how the fan enters the building, to how they get their ticket, to how they transact with food and beverage.” Legends produced a reintegration plan that incorporates food and beverage, tickets sales, merchandising and more. Rhoda: “The idea of masks, fans wearing masks, that's definitely highly probable, that's a likely outcome of where we could be going.” He added, “How you interact with food and beverage is going to be totally different. You're not going to see condiment stations, you're not going to see buffets, you're going to see prepackaged food.”

Rhoda said one way that facilities can better prepare for re-opening is having a good process that shows what they have done to lay the groundwork for letting fans back in rather than taking a reactive approach. That process might include capital investments. He said some venues may have to change out toilets, faucets and hand washers. Rhoda said one thing is for certain: sports facilities were not prepared for a pandemic. Rhoda: “The way 9/11 impacted the security industry, COVID's going to impact how buildings are cleaned, and I think that's going to change immediately, and will live with us forever.”

MiLB is expected to "officially announce this afternoon that the season has been shelved" because MLB has "failed to provide players," according to sources. Teams have been informed that they can "make their own announcements later this afternoon after MiLB’s announcement." Without revenue, minor league teams have been "laying off and furloughing employees throughout the course of the pandemic." With "no games in sight and the payroll protection loans issued in the early part of the shutdown expiring, more jobs will be lost" (BASEBALLAMERICA.com, 6/30).

Two members of the Nuggets’ traveling party "tested positive for the coronavirus over the weekend, prompting the team to close its facilities," according to a source. The source said that since the weekend, "another member of the traveling party has tested positive." That brings the Nuggets' total to "at least six confirmed cases since the season’s suspension." A source said that the facility is "expected to be closed through at least Thursday, with the possibility of re-opening the gym Friday" (DENVER POST, 6/30).

Meanwhile, Pelicans Exec VP/Basketball Operations David Griffin said that three players have "tested positive for COVID-19 and will be in self-isolation until testing shows they can return to team activities without infecting others" (AP, 6/30).

Trail Blazers G Damian Lillard today was announced as a "cover athlete for the upcoming NBA 2K21 release." Lillard will serve as the "cover star for current generation console players and is one of three cover athletes to be announced this week." He becomes the "first cover athlete from the Trail Blazers." The remaining covers "will be revealed over the next two days: The next-gen cover athlete for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X owners will be revealed Wednesday, and the Legends cover athlete will go public Thursday." NBA 2K21 is "available for preorder on July 2 and will be released in October 2020" (ESPN.com, 6/30).

NASCAR 's Confederate flag ban and other social justice statements did not have a significantly negative impact on its base's desire to watch/attend races, according to a new Performance Research study. The study, which was conducted last Monday to last Wednesday with a total of 1,075 people including non-fans, shows that just 16% of NASCAR’s avid fans said they are less likely to watch on TV, while 17% said they are less likely to attend an event in person. By contrast, 51% of avid fans said they are more likely to watch a race because of the recent actions, and 33% said the recent actions make no difference either way. The study also shows that NASCAR’s younger fan base is even more accepting and supportive of the actions in support of racial equality. The data showed that 53% of fans over the age of 40 support the flag ban, while 76% of fans under the age of 40 support it. Click here for the full study.

Coyotes President & CEO Xavier Gutierrez today talked about the NHL’s planned return with CNBC’s Carl Quintanilla, who said, “Arguably you’ve got a head start on the other major sport leagues.” Gutierrez replied “First and foremost, safety is our priority. The league has instituted some significant protocols, each club -- ourselves included -- has also instituted protocols for our players, our trainers, our staff. It’s a multi-phased approach as has been made public.” Gutierrez said despite some players testing positive for coronavirus, the NHL “can manage it.” The league and teams have been “very sincere in our efforts to interact with our players, communicate with them, be very transparent and be very supportive of them” (“Squawk on the Street,” CNBC, 6/30).

Some staffers at Fiserv Forum are "being furloughed amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic." The Bucks said that a "combination of furloughs, temporary pay reductions and position eliminations were underway." Levy, the concessionaire at Fiserv Forum, "informed the state it would cut back on its staffing" at the Bucks’ arena and at the Wisconsin Center District. The layoffs are scheduled to take place Aug. 1" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 6/30).

Centerplate was awarded a multiyear food service contract at the Virginia Beach Sports Center, a $68M facility scheduled to open in November. The venue will have 285,000 square feet of space, including 12 basketball courts, 24 volleyball courts, a 200 meter, hydraulically banked track, and seating for 5,000 spectators. The venue is owned by the City of Virginia Beach and operated by Eastern Sports Management, designed and built by Clark Nexsen (architect), Hanbury (architect) and MEB General Contractors.

Pocono Raceway co-Owner Dr. Rose Mattioli peacefully passed away at her home yesterday at the age of 92 (Pocono).

ESPN will relaunch NFL Live in August with new host Laura Rutledge and a consistent roster of daily analysts that features Marcus Spears, Dan Orlovsky, Keyshawn Johnson and Mina Kimes, who moves into a new NFL analyst role (ESPN). 

The Dodgers have "committed to continue paying their minor leaguers a $400 weekly stipend through August" (TWITTER.com, 6/30).

"There’s still a part of me that isn’t quite sure we will actually play games. I’m optimistic that we will play games, but obviously if we look at what’s happening in the country, the COVID numbers are not good" -- Brewers LF Ryan Braun, on whether or not the MLB season will occur (L.A. TIMES, 6/30).

"We're keeping tabs on most leagues. If the NBA doesn't go or something like that, it'd be hard for us to get going too. We're kind of all in it together, I think" -- Hurricanes C Jordan Staal, after the team returned to the ice today as part of Phase 2 at PNC Arena (NHL.com, 6/30).

Southeastern Conference officials confirm that the league is still working through a plan for the league’s 2020 Media Days. The SEC had announced earlier that the annual event would be held virtually instead of in Atlanta on July 13-16 but no new date has been confirmed.

— Cecil Hurt (@CecilHurt) June 30, 2020

Yes! Still hosting Nation on @SECNetwork on CFB Saturdays. https://t.co/l3T37Xapfz

— Laura Rutledge (@LauraRutledge) June 30, 2020

I’ve battled COVID-19 for the last 10 days. It’s been scary. Very scary. Thanks to the heroes @tidelandshealth for putting your health at risk to treat patients like me. Because of you I’m headed home today to be with my family. May God bless you!

— charlie (@CharlieRymerPGA) June 30, 2020

Just a friendly reminder for dudes firing 90 in @KornFerryTour Monday Qualifiers....you can take that $450 and play Pebble Beach on the twilight rate.

— West Texas Driving Range Pro (@jjkilleentcu) June 30, 2020

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

Flyers mascot Gritty makes a special appearance on Netflix' "Queer Eye" series where he undergoes a makeover.

572,000 -- Average viewership on CBS for Saturday's NWSL opener featuring the N.C. Courage and Portland Thorns. That number represents the most-watched match in league history (CBS).