The All England Lawn Tennis Club announced that Wimbledon "will no longer schedule a rest day on its middle Sunday" from '22, transitioning to a full 14-day tournament next year. The move will "end one of the tournament’s core traditions, aligning it with the other three major championships." Since Wimbledon’s inception in 1877, middle Sunday has hosted play on only four occasions -- '91, '97, '04 and '16 -- "all due to rain delaying the tournament schedule." A rest day has "previously been described as a necessity for the maintenance of the grass."

AELTC Chair Ian Hewitt said that "improved court maintenance technology has offered the tournament the opportunity to evolve." The change "means Manic Monday, a distinct feature of Wimbledon in which all men’s and women’s fourth-round matches take place on the same day, will cease." An additional day of play "means additional revenue and interest for the tournament, but Hewitt framed the decision on the benefits of increased fan access" (London GUARDIAN, 4/27).

The AELTC also announced on Tuesday that it is "planning for 25% capacity" at Wimbledon this year based on current guidelines from the government and Public Health England, but it "hopes the figure will grow by its next announcements scheduled in mid-June." See more in today's Closing Bell.

Liverpool's announcement of a loss of £46M ($64M) in its latest accounts for the period through May 31, 2020 comes after Man City announced losses of £126M ($175M) and Arsenal £47.8M ($66.5M) over the same period. Liverpool estimated that it will have suffered a financial hit in the region of £120M ($167M) "by the time supporters are allowed back into matches." While the Reds' media revenue and matchday revenue dropped from '19 to '20 due to the pandemic, commercial revenue increased by £29M ($40M) to £217M ($302M). Other noteworthy figures show the club-wide wage bill rose from £310M ($431M) in '19 to £325M ($452M). 

The club's debt -- which is split between the Main Stand loan, which is a "pass through" from owner FSG -- sits at £71.4M ($99.3M) after £7.9M ($11M) in capital was paid off over the past year (LONDON TIMES, 4/27).

Commercial revenue increased thanks to eight new partnerships inked with firms including Electronic Arts and Iugis. The club was aided in its "bid to engage more commercial partners" thanks to its Champions League success the previous May. The current reporting period does not "take into account significant deals that have been struck in the past 12 months, with AXA, Expedia and Nike all signing lucrative contracts with the Reds" (LIVERPOOL ECHO, 4/27).

Meanwhile, Liverpool Women's accounts have "shown strong growth." For the year ending May '20, the women's side showed a rise in turnover of 55%, rising from £1.08M in '19 to £1.67M ($2.32M) in '20. The increase "arrived through a number of new commercial partnerships that were signed during the reporting period" (LIVERPOOL ECHO, 4/27).

Bayern Munich has appointed Julian Nagelsmann as its next manager, having reached a compensation agreement with Bundesliga rival RB Leipzig. Nagelsmann, 33, is "considered one of the best young managers in the game" and has signed a deal with Bayern through '26. Bayern has paid compensation to RB Leipzig, which sources said is a record fee for a manager, eclipsing the €15M Chelsea paid Porto for Andre Villas-Boas in '11.

Nagelsmann is set to replace Hansi Flick, who "asked Bayern to release him from his contract two years before its expiry date earlier in the month" following a rift with sporting executive Hasan Salihamidzic over the club's "transfer strategy and philosophy." Flick was appointed as Bayern manager in November '19 and led the club a Champions League, Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal treble. He could "now take over the Germany job," with national team coach Joachim Low leaving his post following Euro 2020 (ESPN.com, 4/27).

Bayern Munich has "repeatedly insisted they prefer German-speaking coaches and also seem keen to steer clear of anyone capable of causing even the slightest bit of controversy," meaning Nagelsmann was the "outstanding candidate." Nagelsmann's contract with RB Leipzig ran until '23 and, "in contrast to many Bundesliga bosses, he did not have a release clause." German media outlets agree the potential transfer fee will likely be well over €15M ($18M), with some suggesting a "whopping" €30M ($36.2M) was "required to seal the deal" (DEUTSCHE WELLE, 4/27).

Nine Queensland cities have "formally signed on to co-host" the '32 Olympics, which "would make it the first multi-city Summer Games in history." Brisbane, the IOC's preferred bidder for the Games, will "lead the Queensland bid, but eight other cities, including the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and others outside the south-east corner, will share host city status." Under new IOC rules passed in '19, an Olympic host can "encompass multiple cities, regions and countries."

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said that "no decision had been made on whether the Games will be called Brisbane 2032 or something broader, such as Queensland 2032." The remaining potential host cities "were expected to be named soon." Queensland organizers and the Australian Olympic Committee on Monday finalized "planning details required by the IOC. However, if the IOC "decided the state’s bid did not stack up, it would reopen the race to other countries" (BRISBANE TIMES, 4/27).

The Women’s Champions League will provide a €24M ($29M) "cash boost to women’s teams across Europe as part of the competition’s revamp for next season, when VAR will be introduced." UEFA has also agreed that 23% of the €24M available via "solidarity payments" will go to clubs "not taking part in the tournament but whose leagues are represented in the competition." The new money has been "boosted by a first cross-subsidy from the men’s Champions League" -- believed to be around €10M ($12.08M). 

European Club Association Head of Women's Football Claire Bloomfield said, "This is an extraordinary moment in the history of women’s club competitions and testament to what a collaborative approach between ECA and UEFA can accomplish" (London GUARDIAN, 4/27).

Meanwhile, Champions League sponsor PepsiCo announced "Team of Champions," a $1M national purpose platform in the U.S. to offer the sport to underserved communities. The three-year commitment aims to create transformational change for Hispanic and Black communities across the U.S. (PepsiCo).

The French Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) is "in contact with DAZN" on taking over the French rights to the majority of Ligue 1 matches from '21-24, according to sources. That comes after current Ligue 1 partner Canal+ made it known it "only wants to keep the top matches for the next three seasons." BeIN Sports, the LFP's other historical broadcast partner, "doesn't seem interested" in the rights. That leaves DAZN, although the company "wants to strike a distribution agreement with Canal+" on a channel DAZN would eventually launch in France before it acquires any rights. Canal+ "isn't overly keen on opening the door to foreign competition," so things are "blocked up at the moment." Ligue 1 needs to find a broadcast partner for the next three seasons to replace Mediapro, which earlier this year terminated its four-year deal with the LFP just months into its first season. A deal with DAZN would be "for 80% of matches" for the next three seasons (L'EQUIPE, 4/27).

Meanwhile, Ligue 1 officials "are urging the LFP" to reduce the size of Ligue 1 to 18 teams from 20, starting in '22, due to the "expected drop in the value of TV rights" when a new deal is signed for the next three seasons (L'EQUIPE, 4/27).

The Kroenke family have "made it clear they are not willing to sell a stake in Arsenal amid public interest" from Spotify co-Founder Daniel Ek. Arsenal Owner Stan Kroenke and his son Josh in a joint statement said, "We remain 100 per cent committed to Arsenal and are not selling any stake in the club. We have not received any offer and we will not entertain any offer." Josh Kroenke and Arsenal CEO Vinai Venkatesham also "held a 50-minute call with staff" on Tuesday. They "made it clear" Kroenke Sports & Entertainment "were not selling the club and made clear their commitment to it." The Kroenkes "accepted a wrong decision had been made on the Super League but insisted the choice had been made for the right reason" (THE ATHLETIC, 4/27).

During the virtual call with around 350 staff on Tuesday, Josh Kroenke spelled out the club's "unwillingness to even consider an approach from any interested parties" and emphasized that "they want to help the team compete for major trophies again." He also "underlined their intent to help provide fresh funds this summer" to help Manager Mikel Arteta "rebuild the first-team squad" (ESPN.com, 4/27).

The English Football League, which governs the second, third and fourth tiers of English soccer, will reportedly ask for a share of League Championship sides Norwich City and Watford’s £83M ($115.4M) parachute payments following their immediate return to the EPL. The "world’s richest league last year rejected a request by the EFL" for a slice of Fulham’s £34M parachute money after the latter’s promotion, as part of a coronavirus bailout. But sources said the EFL plans to "make a similar request following The Super League fiasco" amid hope it could finally lead to "a narrowing of the cliff edge" between the EPL and League Championship.

Norwich and Watford’s promotion means EPL clubs will not have to pay them £34M ($47.3M) and £49M ($68M), respectively, over the next two years following the pair’s relegation at the end of last season. It has "also raised the possibility of the three teams who went down immediately returning to the division for the first time," with Bournemouth already guaranteed a playoff spot. That would save top-flight clubs a record £132M ($183.5M) in parachute payments over the next two years (£49M for Bournemouth) (London TELEGRAPH, 4/26).

Australia's National Rugby League has "pitched a proposal to split the competition into two conferences which would see new teams added in Brisbane and New Zealand as part of the game’s bold expansion plans." NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and Chair Peter V’landys have "met with several clubs" recently to outline the "long-term vision for the game in regards to expansion and how they can maximise future broadcast rights deals." One of the ideas to increase broadcast revenue is a "radical proposal to follow the American sport conference systems, a move designed to increase rivalries and interest in the sport." The competition would "expand from 16 to 18 teams in the coming years," setting up two conferences and an "opportunity to 'create three grand finals a year'" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 4/27).

Chinese electronics company Hisense has become an official sponsor of the '22 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Activation from Hisense will include on-site engagement opportunities, logo visibility across various platforms and global ad campaigns. Hisensen also will offer on-demand programming of past World Cup to users of its VIDAA smart TV platform. Hisense also was a sponsor of the '18 World Cup in Russia (FIFA).

McLaren Racing remains out in the market talking to major tech brands and other blue-chip companies to sponsor its F1 team, according to sources. McLaren handles sponsor sales in-house. The team has added brands like Coca-Cola, Dell Technologies, British American Tobacco and Arrow as sponsors since Zak Brown become CEO two years ago (Adam Stern, SBJ).

The Spanish government could reportedly allow fans to attend the final LaLiga matchdays of the season, "14 months after the pandemic stopped games in front of crowds." It woud not be a "mass return, but a trial with limited capacity" (RTVE, 4/27).

Coaches at Euro 2020 this summer will be able to pick 26-man squads instead of 23 after UEFA's national teams committee "recommended the expansion due to pressures on players caused by the Covid-19 pandemic" (LONDON TIMES, 4/27).

The A-League is reportedly "in the market for private equity investment that is said to value the competition" at more than A$200M ($155M) (THE AUSTRALIAN, 4/27).

UFC announced a new multi-year licensing agreement with Shinhan Korea Co., Ltd., granting the lifestyle retail brand rights to manufacture and distribute officially licensed UFC apparel and accessories in South Korea and Japan (UFC).

The Indian Premier League appears "set to continue, despite the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country," after the teams were "assured by tournament organisers that the biosecure bubble was safe" (London EVENING STANDARD, 4/27).

In a year marred by the COVID-19 pandemic, sports sponsorship in India dropped by 35%, according to a report by a GroupM ESP (ECONOMIC TIMES, 4/26).

Nordic Entertainment Group and the Bundesliga have "extended their media rights partnership" until '29 in nine European markets (BROADBAND TV NEWS, 4/27).

"Ek is somebody who lives, breathes and sleeps Arsenal. He's a total Arsenal obsessive and he only wants what is best for the club, and this is really important if you’re an Arsenal fan, especially considering what happened last week" -- Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solhekol, on Spotify co-Founder Daniel Ek's interest in potentially purchasing Arsenal (“Sky Sports News,” NBCSN, 4/26).

"I committed a grave mistake. ... I assumed that he would accept my apology, which I offered both in writing and by phone. This estimation was wrong" -- German FA (DFB) President Fritz Keller, after making a Nazi reference when talking to his VP, Rainer Koch, in a meeting last week (REUTERS, 4/27).

The Financial Times' Jonathan Derbyshire writes as fans in the U.K. return to soccer matches that their presence in the stands "reinforces the connection between clubs and their supporters."

The London Telegraph's Jason Burt looks at the "perilous position" Tottenham Chair Daniel Levy suddenly finds himself in, as he tries to recruit a new manager and "invest in an under-performing squad while controlling costs."

Liverpool's accounts show the club has overtaken Man Utd in wages paid - can't remember when that last happened. 'Big Six' wages table for 2019/20 here:

Man City £351m
Liverpool £325m
Man Utd £284m
Chelsea £283m
Arsenal £225m
Spurs £181m

— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) April 27, 2021

Breaking: Sky DE reporter Riccardo Basile who conducted the “Meine Geschichte” interview with Jesse Marsch on Sky DE say his sources tells him Marsch is no longer the favourite to take over at RBL. Says Oliver Glasner is now the front runner. Dynamic has changed in past 24 hours.

— Derek Rae (@RaeComm) April 27, 2021

According to the usually well informed FootyHeadlines, this will be Ajax 3rd kit for the 2021/22 season, paying tribute to Bob Marley who's song "Three Little Birds" has become an "unofficial" anthem among the fans and in the stadium for many years. pic.twitter.com/yYzvGfPQzV

— 𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎 (@TheEuropeanLad) April 27, 2021

Applications for funding are now open through our #FootballForAll campaign, which which will inject more than £1.5M into the national game.

Clubs can apply for funding from the Grassroots Club Recovery Fund and the Girls’ and Women’s Recovery Fund.https://t.co/nM069bV8jH

— Scottish FA (@ScottishFA) April 27, 2021

🗞🤝 Lyon have today appointed former defender Sonia Bompastor as their new head coach after parting company with Jean-Luc Vasseur.

OL's winning captain in the 2011 and 2012 finals becomes the first woman to lead the seven-time #UWCL champions.

📸: @OLfeminin pic.twitter.com/Bbej4BX1lv

— UEFA Women’s Champions League (@UWCL) April 27, 2021