Anheuser-Busch InBev has picked Matt Davis as its new Head of Sports. Davis has worked at A-B InBev since '14, including the past seven months as Head of U.S. Sports Marketing, and a stint as Brand Manager on the fast-growing Natural Light brand. However, the marketing path is relatively new for Davis, who has a physics degree from Georgia Tech and once worked for Lockheed Martin’s Missile & Fire control, engineering a program to simulate the aerodynamic heating of helicopter rotor blades.

“It’s still all about putting the right equations to the right use,” he chuckled. After Super Bowl activation, Davis said his team will be looking to determine that "big moment when fans are fully back in venues." Davis: "It feels like something we should commemorate, almost like the end of prohibition. Maybe MLB All-Star Game (in Atlanta) will be that opportunity, but it should be celebrated across sports.” Davis, who reports to VP/Connections Azania Andrews, replaces Nick Kelly, who yesterday started as president of the expansion Charlotte FC MLS franchise.

For more insights, check out the SBJ Marketing newsletter.

EA Sports is "coming back to college football." EA Sports VP & GM Daryl Holt said that they will be "returning to the space with EA Sports College Football." EA Sports last made a college football video game in '13. Holt said that there is "not a date on when the game will return or even a date when the return will be announced other than it won't be coming back for this year." To make the game happen, EA Sports "partnered with collegiate licensing company CLC to make sure it had the FBS schools, traditions, uniforms and playbooks -- among other things -- ready to go for the game." For now, EA Sports is "planning to move forward without rosters that include the names, images or likenesses of real college players" (ESPN.com, 2/2).

The NBA and the NBPA are "progressing toward an agreement for an All-Star Game on March 7 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, a single-night event that encompasses a game between the Eastern and Western Conferences and skills competitions," according to sources. The sources said that while a "formal agreement has yet to be finalized, the NBA and NBPA have been working through the details of a scaled-down event that centers on transporting players in and out of Atlanta in a significantly shorter window of time than what would be required on a typical All-Star weekend." Atlanta is the home of Turner Sports, which can "televise the game without having to send its crew outside of the city." The typical hosting of corporate sponsors "wouldn't be possible amid the pandemic" (ESPN.com, 2/2).

LAFC Gaming named its first corporate sponsor in McDonald’s of Southern California. The QSR is being dubbed the official marketing sponsor of LAFC Gaming, which signed eMLS player Martin “RemiMartinn” Oregel ahead of the ‘20 season and re-signed him for ’21. McDonald’s of Southern California has been a LAFC sponsor since ‘18. Terms of the LAFC Gaming deal were not disclosed, which is separate from McDonald’s sponsorship with the club, according to LAFC co-President and Chief Business Officer Larry Freedman. Through the new relationship, McDonald’s will be the presenting sponsor of the team’s new gaming room housed within LAFC’s headquarters.

“To have a marquee brand like McDonald’s, we think is pretty special,” Freedman said, adding that the relationship with the QSR is “hopefully the first of many” sponsors for LAFC Gaming. “There are a lot of sponsors of the eMLS platform league-wide, but not too many of the other clubs that participate have an eMLS-level partner like this. We’re excited that we have found a marquee brand that sees what we see and ... shares our vision for where esports, eMLS and LAFC Gaming are going.”

Tennis Canada has "renamed its annual showcase tennis event after announcing a 10-year partnership with a bank." The Rogers Cup "will now be known as the National Bank Open." Financial terms of the partnership "weren’t released." Rogers will continue as a "presenting sponsor." National Bank had been a presenting sponsor of the Montreal event since '05 and the Toronto event since '10 (CP, 2/2).

PGA Tour Superstore “plans to open at least six new stores this year,” which will “push the company’s growing footprint to 50 locations nationwide.” The company saw “record comparable sales growth last year despite stores closing for nearly two months.” It credits its success “to doubling down on e-commerce and curbside sales, as well as the significant increase in rounds played last year.” PGA Tour Superstore President & CEO Dick Sullivan is “confident that sales, whether online or brick and mortar, will continue as [the] pandemic subsides” (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/2).

Duquesne will debut the new UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in a "pivotal game for its men’s basketball team against Atlantic 10 rival Dayton" tonight at 9:00pm ET, with the contest airing on ESPNU. The arena, located on the former A.J. Palumbo Center site, "will host women’s basketball and volleyball and the Dukes’ men’s basketball team." The building has six suites, 55 club-level seats to pair with "more accessible concourses, and enhanced concession areas." The venue’s namesake is Basketball HOFer and Duquesne alumnus Chuck Cooper (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 1/29).

It was love at first sight. 🤩#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/zaMPwxS48A

— Duquesne Basketball (@DuqMBB) February 1, 2021

Heat G Tyler Herro and PLBSE have partnered for HerrO’s Fruit Hoops cereal. It is available online at PLBSE.com and beginning tomorrow at South Florida Winn-Dixie stores (PLBSE).

The Padres promoted President of Business Operations Erik Greupner to CEO and Exec VP & GM A.J. Preller to President of Baseball Operations and GM. The two execs have each signed contract extensions through the '26 season (Padres).

Austin FC announced their three English-language regional broadcast partners for the ‘21 and ‘22 regular season -- KNVA-CW, KXAN-NBC and KBVO-MYT (Mark J. Burns, THE DAILY).

Automated sports production provider Pixellot and SportsEngine signed an expanded, integrated partnership which includes a new solution dedicated to the youth market based on Pixellot's AI technology and action camera (Pixellot).

"It’s going to be up to the players to do what they’re supposed to do but so far, so good. I think that the league anticipated they were going to miss some games, but most of the games have been played and I think we will finish the season, and then the playoffs will start and we will crown a champion sometime in June” -- Magic Johnson, on his belief that the NBA will finish the season despite the ongoing pandemic and games being postponed (“Today,” NBC, 2/2).

“I’m often asked did I receive pushback from players? Did I sense any feelings from players that they were bothered by my gender, and the answer is no. Players care only if you’re contributing to the success of the team” -- CBSSN’s Amy Trask, on NFL teams hiring female coaches and her being the former CEO of the Raiders (“CBS This Morning,” 2/2).

“This phase is really about engaging with golf equipment manufacturers, different industry organizations and golfers themselves, and we’re going to get this right” -- USGA CEO Mike Davis, on the USGA and R&A researching ways to mitigate continuing distance increases with the golf equipment being developed (“Golf Today,” Golf Channel, 2/2).

"One of the reasons why I take the time to do this is because I realize that by being in the NFL I’ve received a bunch of different financial advice and financial tips and I was like, ‘What was the difference between me a year ago? Was I not worthy of some of this knowledge’" -- Patriots LB Brandon Copeland, on helping players and others plan for their financial future (“Fast Money Halftime Report,” CNBC, 2/2).

The setup for a Super Bowl news conference. pic.twitter.com/iuotH8699Y

— Sam Farmer (@LATimesfarmer) February 2, 2021

Here's an idea. When the new game comes out, do eight different covers featuring the guys who would have been on them at the time. https://t.co/SftJ0CpMVk

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) February 2, 2021

The 2021 Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden is not expected to have fans in attendance, per Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman.

Ackerman on the Big East Tournament: "All systems are go".

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 2, 2021

The @BuffaloSabres vs. @NYIslanders game today was officially postponed "due to the NHL's COVID Protocol."

Sabres played Devils on Sun., who just had three games postponed due to having 10 players in protocol. Fair to say a lot of eyes are on Buffalo's COVID list later today. pic.twitter.com/8HCyE20S28

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 2, 2021

So, just got off the phone with the boss. The good news is, my golf game is about to get much better. The better news is, I get to see what else is out there for me. Strange days. I've been so lucky. Thanks for everything. See you out there. Be well. Be kind. And keep going.

— Tim Brown (@ByTimBrown) February 2, 2021

Nike announces a new grant initiative with the NFL that commits a total of $5M in product to growing flag football within high school athletics.

ESPN’s Wright Thompson is on NBC’s “Late Night."

76 -- The number of "vaccinated healthcare 'super' heroes" that the Patriots' team plane will fly from New England to Tampa for Super Bowl LV (TWITTER.com, 2/2).