CBS EVP/Sports Sales John Bogusz is "expected to leave his role" following the NCAA Tournament and Masters. Bogusz, who has been at the network for more than 26 years, departs at a "moment of transition for the sports operations at CBS," with CBS Sports Chair Sean McManus also stepping away. Bogusz’ exit comes after CBS orchestrated a "record-setting ad haul for Super Bowl LVIII" -- more than $600M. CBS has "yet to name a replacement for Bogusz," but whoever it is will "face a new set of challenges as many traditional media companies grapple with making their TV sports franchises available for streaming crowds" (VARIETY, 3/13).

The new ownership of the NWSL Portland Thorns has hired Ilitch Sports & Entertainment SVP & CMO Alexis Lee as the club’s president of business operations. The move comes two months after the Bhathal family completed its record-setting $63M purchase of the Thorns from Peregrine Sports and just days before the start of the 2024 NWSL season.

Lee will report to co-owner Lisa Bhathal Merage and be tasked with building out the Thorns into a standalone business after years of operating in tandem with the Timbers under Peregrine’s ownership. As part of the sale, the Thorns agreed to a lease to remain at Providence Park through 2035, as well as a one-year services agreement that will see the Timbers’ staff continue to support the Thorns’ business operations as the club builds out its own front office.

The Thorns retained Nolan Partners to lead the executive search process.

During her two-year stint at Ilitch Sports & Entertainment, Lee led all marketing functions for the Red Wings and Tigers. Earlier in her career, the Oregon native spent nearly a decade with the Trail Blazers and Rose Quarter entertainment complex.

MIchael Edwards has big plans for Fenway Sports Group's soccer operations after being named CEO/Football yesterday, and "included in the plans are the ambitions to invest in a partner club" for Liverpool. The multi-club ownership model is coming to Anfield, with Edwards believing Liverpool has "little choice but to expand" if it is to "remain competitive in the Premier League and beyond." The South American market, particularly Brazil, "has already been assessed" by FSG, but "the preference for this first step will likely be a European club." Well over half of the 20 Premier League clubs now have relationships with at least one other European club. Liverpool had "previously resisted the trend," but there is now "an acceptance that the advantages of a multi-club model cannot be overlooked." The chance to expand the FSG stable "was a factor" in getting Edwards to accept his new role (THE ATHLETIC, 3/13).

The UEFA Champions League is "about to undergo major changes" and European soccer's governing body has revealed those tweaks as the field grows to 36 clubs and a new seeding system takes effect. The top two teams "will be kept apart until the final" and the group stage will be "replaced with a single table league of 36 clubs which is split into four sections." Teams will be seeded "based upon their finishing positions," with the top eight going directly into the Round of 16. Teams from outside of Europe, notably Saudi Arabia, "will not be invited to participate." The final also "will not be on the move beyond the boundaries of Europe." Relegation and promotion between the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League "was initially considered before being dismissed for fear of killing domestic leagues" (CBSSPORTS.com, 3/13).

Insurance company TIAA and Charlotte-based bank Truist are two of the companies involved in talks with the PGA Tour to replace Wells Fargo on its annual event at Charlotte’s Quail Hollow Club, according to sources. Any potential announcement from the Tour would likely be after Wells Fargo's final event in May. Sources said the Tour has multiple interested suitors to replace Wells Fargo, and those potential sponsors are committed to keeping the event in the Queen City going forward. Wells Fargo decided not to renew its deal with the PGA Tour in December and its $25M-per-year asking price for Signature events, with the current pact expiring after May’s tournament.

The Charlotte Sports Foundation and SBJ tonight will host an evening of celebration in honor of the city of Charlotte's inaugural ranking on SBJ's Best Sports Business Cities list -- on which it finished at No. 3. The event will be held at the Quail Hollow Club Pavilion from 5-7:30pm ET, with opening remarks from SBJ Exec Editor & Publisher Abe Madkour and closing remarks from Charlotte Sports Foundation Exec Dir Danny Morrison. Attending the event will be representatives from the properties of Tepper Sports & Entertainment (the Panthers, Charlotte FC and Bank of America Stadium); Hornets Sports & Entertainment; NASCAR; and Bespoke Sports & Entertainment -- all of which are also serving as sponsors for the event (SBJ).

Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown appeared on this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the N.Y. Post and SBJ and shared her insight into the craze around Iowa G Caitlin Clark.

Glossier and WNBA have extended their marketing partnership that launched in 2020. As an Official Beauty Partner of the WNBA, the brand will activate at tentpole events and launch WNBA-themed content (Glossier).

BetMGM has been named the title sponsor of the NASCAR Xfinity Series BetMGM 300 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25. In addition, BetMGM Speed Street will bring three full days of entertainment to fans in town for the tripleheader weekend (BetMGM). 

Clemson G Joseph Girard III through his partnership with Novus clothing line has unveiled a new Clemson collection. The limited edition collection will be available through March 28. It includes hoodies, fleeces, crewnecks, polos, tees and more (SBJ).

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has "distanced itself from reports" that it has made a $2B "take-it-or-leave-it" offer to unite tennis's ATP and WTA Tours, insisting that it "has no intention of disrupting the sport" (London GUARDIAN, 3/13).

IOC VP John Coates said that the war in Gaza "does not warrant the same Olympic sanctions for Israel as those imposed on Russia after it invaded Ukraine," due to the "difference between the two conflicts." The IOC recently rejected calls for Israel to be banned from the Paris Games (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 3/13).

Manchester United has dismissed claims from anti-racism charity The Anthony Walker Foundation that they "displayed 'systemic racism'" with their recent appointment of a 10-person task force to regenerate Old Trafford due to the panel being "made up entirely of white individuals" (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 3/13).

Work to prepare the pitch at Everton's future home at Bramley-Moore Dock is "set to begin before the end of this season," hopefully by "early May." The race is on to "wrap up all pitchside works and clear the pitch area of cranes, and other construction plant, to begin laying foundations for what will become the hallowed turf" (LIVERPOOL ECHO, 3/13).

Topps is now the British Olympic team's official licensee of trading cards and stickers in a multiyear deal that runs until '28. Topps will be the sole distributor of official retail and online trading cards featuring Team GB's roster of current athletes and Olympic legends (Topps).

More: 

• The answer to Jim Ratcliffe's Wembly of the north plan already exists -- he just won't like it.
• ARL Commission Chair Peter V'landys warns players not to prejudice judiciary hearings after racism scandal.

Welcome @BritneyEurton to the @NWSL on @PrimeVideo family! 👏

She joins our inaugural season of coverage for select games as a sideline reporter, including for the NWSL Challenge Cup this Friday, where she'll roam the sidelines with @MikeWattsOnAir and @LoriLindsey6 in the… pic.twitter.com/5RX9VLtXLM

— PrimeVideoSportsPR (@PrimeSportsPR) March 13, 2024

The 2024 @MLB season officially begins one week from today as the @Dodgers and @Padres square off at the Gocheok Sky Dome in the #SeoulSeries presented by @Coupang. pic.twitter.com/sPIFsns4wi

— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) March 13, 2024

BREAKING: Adidas has signed Texas A&M forward Janiah Barker to a NIL shoe deal. 📄✍️ pic.twitter.com/PAhEZQrTCP

— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) March 13, 2024

The Eagles signed Saquon and everybody started asking Jason the same question ... 👀

NEW EPISODE PREMIERES NOW: https://t.co/wvZryz5HBB pic.twitter.com/a2BxpocY7p

— New Heights (@newheightshow) March 13, 2024

Hey @brettyormark. Can you at least leave us some binoculars next time? pic.twitter.com/7hj6ururZW

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 13, 2024

Ladies and Gentleman, your 2024 Champion Dallas Seavey! Dallas crossed the Finish Line at 5:16 p.m. with 10 dogs in harness, making history as the only person to win 6 times! Official photos and press release to follow shortly. Congratulations, Dallas! pic.twitter.com/lAR4Ci1zEN

— The Iditarod (@The_Iditarod) March 13, 2024

Coke Zero Sugar released a new ad as part of its "Fan Work Is Thirsty Work" campaign centered around March Madness which features ESPN's Jay Williams and Indiana Fever F Aliyah Boston

$9.63M -- The total compensation for Univ. of Kansas men's basketball coach Bill Self in the 2023-24 season, making him the highest-paid men's basketball coach in the country for the second time in three years (USA TODAY, 3/13).