Austin FC and fintech company Q2 have reached an agreement for the Austin-based firm to become the MLS club’s naming-rights partner for its new venue, which will be called Q2 Stadium when it opens in early summer. Excel Sports Management assisted Austin FC in pursuing stadium naming rights. Conversations between Excel and Q2 picked up steam last summer. They zeroed in on Q2 last fall. "This is an opportunity for them to create a new voice utilizing a pretty unique platform,” said Austin FC President Andy Loughnane. "Q2’s stated objective is to invest in Austin and serve the community, and I’ve been pretty transparent about this all along, we wanted to identify a naming-rights partner that wanted to give back to Austin." Financial details weren’t disclosed.

Q2, which provides tech to enable mobile banking, primarily for smaller, community-focused financial institutions, will have a signature stadium sign in the interior bowl, as well as prominent branding positions as fans enter the stadium and aerial-facing sign positions atop the stadium’s unique canopy structures. It also will put its name on a branded premium seating experience called the Q2 Field Club, located directly next to Austin FC players' walk from the locker room to the playing field. The stadium is owned by the city of Austin, but Loughnane said the MLS club is not required to share naming rights revenue with the municipality.

Read more here.

Fire President Nelson Rodríguez stepped down today after originally joining the club in September '15 as GM. He started focusing solely on business operations last year. Fire COO John Urban will be stepping in as interim President, according to a team source. The Fire will be using an executive search firm for Rodríguez’ replacement, the source said. In a statement, Rodríguez said, “I began discussing my future with Owner and Chairman Joe Mansueto last month. At this transformational time for the organization, and after five years with the Fire, I’m ready for a change and I’m looking forward to taking on new challenges.”

The Fire are now 100% owned by Mansueto after he purchased the remaining 51% of the club in '19. The organization is currently reworking a previous failed rebrand that debuted in November '19.

The Cactus League has "formally asked" MLB to "delay the start of spring training" in a letter signed by Cactus League Exec Dir Bridget Binsbacher and a group of mayors, city managers and tribal leaders. The rate of coronavirus infection is "higher in Arizona than in any other state," and public events of more than 50 people are restricted statewide, though "local authorities can approve such events." MLB had proposed a delay to the MLBPA, but the union "asked that MLB extend the season in order to play a full schedule or pay players for games that weren’t played" (L.A. TIMES, 1/25).

Meanwhile, sources said that the MLBPA has "turned down the latest MLB proposal for the universal designated hitter and an expanded playoff format." The union's stance has been "all along that it did not want to talk about a trade of the universal DH -- which benefits a group of players -- in return for expanded playoffs." Nonetheless, MLB "included the two items in its proposal, and that concept has been turned down" (ESPN.com, 1/25).

Citi decided to keep its sponsorship of golfer Justin Thomas, "condemning the anti-gay slur he muttered and requiring him to donate a 'meaningful portion' of his deal as part of an active role in LGBTQ causes." Citi CMO Carla Hassan announced the decision in a company blog post titled, ''When an apology isn't enough.'' She wrote, ''We considered terminating our relationship with him. It would send a clear and important message, but we decided to use this moment to work with Justin to try to create change.'' She indicated that the bank would work with Thomas to "help accelerate support for the LGBTQ community and to increase awareness" (AP, 1/25).

Bally's has acquired DFS company Monkey Knife Fight in an "all-stock transaction that further widens the fast-growing company's drive to add casino, online sports betting and media companies." Bally's becomes the "third U.S. sports betting company to have a daily fantasy sports component, along with DraftKings and FanDuel." The company "plans to integrate" MKF's geographic presence in 37 states, DC and Canada, with Sinclair’s portfolio of 21 RSNs. MKF has "about 180,000 registered users, 80,000 of whom have made monetary deposits in order to play" (AP, 1/25).

MASN will launch an app allowing fans to "stream games across multiple platforms, though a television or cable subscription that includes MASN will be required." The channel also revealed its '21 Orioles broadcast crew, with analysts Jim Palmer and Ben McDonald returning alongside play-by-play callers Kevin Brown and Scott Garceau. Brown also will "continue to call games on the Orioles Radio Network," where Geoff Arnold, Melanie Newman and Brett Hollander will "continue in their roles, with select appearances on MASN." Rob Long will appear on MASN and WJZ-FM (BALTIMORE SUN, 1/25).

This comes as the channel is cutting back staff and programming to reduce its budget.

Tonight's Hornets-Magic game "will mark a first in NBA history -- two women will work on the same officiating crew." Natalie Sago and Jenna Schroeder "will share the same court." Sago joined the league in '18 as a full-time NBA official and Schroeder joined in '19, with both having "experience in the NBA G League and the WNBA." The NBA first had women officiating games in '97. There have only been "seven women to become full-time referees in NBA history," with five "currently serving on the officiating roster" (USA TODAY, 1/25).

MLB and USA Baseball unveiled enhancements to the joint Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP) to feature a lineup of evaluation and showcase events for '21 and '22 MLB Draft prospects, including the first-ever MLB Draft Combine for high school and college baseball players. Additionally, the PDP League will return following the cancellation of the '20 event due to the pandemic. MLB says these programs, which will be hosted at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C., will "strictly adhere" to health protocols and other safety measures. The inaugural MLB Draft Combine is set for June 20-28. 

Read more here.

N.Y.-based insurance brokerage firm NFP today named Hockey HOFer Pat LaFontaine a new ambassador for its sports and entertainment group, which launched last year in December (Mark J. Burns, THE DAILY).

The Pedigree brand signed a three-year sponsorship with the Capitals. The dog food brand is being featured at the team's Capital One Arena with on-ice logo representation, signage, in-game ads and more (Capitals).

The Ducks partnered with Applied Silver, makers of antimicrobial laundry technology SilvaClean, to enhance safety protocols and better protect the organization viruses and pathogens (Ducks).

The '21 MLS season will begin on Saturday, April 3, with teams permitted to begin preseason training on Feb. 22, six weeks prior to MLS is Back opening weekend (MLS).

Plans to convert Yankee Stadium and Citi Field into "large-scale coronavirus vaccination sites have officially been postponed indefinitely." Officials said that N.Y. "continues to struggle with a supply shortage" (N.Y. POST, 1/25).

Sports gamification and content provider GTG Network signed a partnership with the Cavaliers to launch a suite of free-to-play fan engagement arcade games customized for Cavs fans and sponsors (Cavaliers). 

GSE Worldwide signed USC WR Amon-Ra St. Brown for representation in all of his marketing and sponsorship deals heading into the '21 NFL Draft (GSE WorldWide).

“If there's an asterisk, it's going to be a job well done” -- CBS’ Bill Cowher, on whether there should be an asterisk next to the Super Bowl champion’s name after a season plagued by coronavirus-related scheduling issues (“CBS This Morning,” 1/25).

“As the coalition has continued to do, we’re going to continue to be at the forefront of engaging the owners, the powers that be at that level, to try to do everything we can to create this change. But it’s very disappointing and frustrating to see the way this hiring cycle has gone” -- Univ. of Maryland football coach and National Coalition of Minority Football Coaches Founder & President Mike Locksley, on the lack of minority head coaches hired in the NFL this season (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 1/25).

"If you’re a team that knows you're in the NCAA Tournament, do you take the risk of going or do you say we’re not going to play?" -- Pitt men's basketball coach Jeff Capel, on team's potentially skipping the ACC tournament (TWITTER, 1/25).

Interesting to note the Astros will have "limited number of socially-distanced fans" for this weekend's NCAA D-II college tournament at MMP. That's perhaps an indication some fans could be allowed in Astros regular season.

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) January 25, 2021

The Bucs' win over the Packers in the NFC title game on Fox got a 36 overnight rating and 64 share in the Boston market. Trailed Milwaukee, Tampa, Providence and Kansas City.

— Chad Finn (@GlobeChadFinn) January 25, 2021

Agreed. If you really want a conference tourney, wrap it well before Selection Sunday or build in a lengthy quarantine period beforehand. The Big Dance's integrity (no scratches) must be protected at all costs. https://t.co/4ZzJfym8lM

— Jerry Carino (@NJHoopsHaven) January 25, 2021

In today’s men’s basketball AP Poll, the 1,214th all-time edition:

Baylor, Texas, Houston and Texas Tech are the first quartet of schools from a single state ever to be ranked in the Top-10 of the same poll.

— Jared Berson (@JaredBerson) January 25, 2021

Bleacher Report highlights a recent postgame incident in which Nets G Kyrie Irving and Heat F Bam Adebayo were halted from swapping jerseys by an on-court official.

Serena Williams will be a guest on CBS' "The Late Show" at 11:35pm ET.

61.9 -- Local rating for yesterday's Bills-Chiefs AFC title game in the K.C. market. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers-Packers NFC championship earned a 48.1 local rating in Milwaukee and a 39.9 in Tampa (TWITTER.com, 1/25).