• Hawks Plan Front-Office Shakeup, With Budenholzer Dropping Duties
• Churchill Downs Upgrades On Display For Kentucky Derby Weekend
• Ticketmaster Posts Record Ticket Volume In Q1, With 245 New Clients
• F1's Carey Says Ecclestone Failed To Create "Long-Term Vision"

Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer "will no longer serve" as the team's President of Basketball Operations as part of a series of "forthcoming front-office changes" that could be announced as soon as today, according to sources. Hawks Owner Tony Ressler reportedly "will hire a new executive to oversee basketball operations," with both Budenholzer and GM Wes Wilcox "reporting to that person." Wilcox "will remain with the organization in a different capacity" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 5/5).

Sources said that Hawks investor Grant Hill "will be a significant part of the search process" for the new top exec, but Hill "has yet to show any inclination to take on full-time basketball operations duties" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/4).

Fans at the Kentucky Derby and Oaks this weekend will see a variety of renovations designed to make Churchill Downs "even more posh." A $16M upgrade "modernized the second-floor clubhouse" and added a "fresh Twin Spires Club Elite Gold Room exclusive to VIP bettors." Also, work has "started on the Starting Gate Suites, scheduled to open in time" for the '18 Derby. The suites, being built above the third-floor grandstand, will feature "private dining tables and a balcony overlooking the starting gate." Track officials said that "pricing is expected soon for the suites, a key part" of a total $37M in renovations (AP, 5/5).

Ticketmaster late yesterday reported its largest quarter in its history in terms of gross transaction value and overall ticket volume for the three months ending March 31. Ticketmaster’s corporate parent Live Nation's ticketing revenue in Q1 rose to $493.7M, up 22% from the comparable period in '16. Ticketmaster’s primary and secondary ticketing businesses in particular rose 18% and 20%, respectively, and it added 245 new clients during the quarter. Company officials pointed to several factors, including robust concert ticket sales, and accelerating growth in mobile and European ticketing. “We have booked more shows, sold more tickets, and have more sponsorship commitments than ever before at this point of the year,” said Live Nation President & CEO Michael Rapino.

Live Nation revenue overall rose 17% to $1.4B during the quarter, and adjusted operating income increased 25% to $92M. The company also sold more than 4 million tickets outside its own platforms during the quarter, up 32% from a year ago, as it continues to expand its distribution and face competitors pursuing more open models.

Today marks the 100th day of F1 Chair Chase Carey leading the racing series following Liberty Media's takeover in January. Carey believes former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone's "failure to create a long-term vision has left the sport behind its major rivals." Carey: "In today's world you need to market a sport. We were not marketing the sport. ... It has been three months and we have been very clear that one of the things the sport has not been served well by is a continued short-term focus. ... We care more about where the sport is going to be three years from now than three months from now" (PA, 5/5).

Phillies Chair Dave Montgomery last night "received the Major League Champion Award from the Boys & Girls Club." MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred "headlined a distinguished group" honoring Montgomery at Philadelphia's Union League. Montgomery received a "standing ovation before and after accepting the award." Manfred spotlighted Montgomery's "long commitment to the charity." The event also "included a fundraiser and auction to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs" (MLB.com, 5/4).

A fan was injured at Petco Park during yesterday's Rockies-Padres game when she was "hit by a bat that flew out of the hands" of Padres C Hector Sanchez "while he was batting in the bottom of the ninth inning." The fan was sitting "two rows behind the Rockies dugout." The game was stopped for 13 minutes while the woman was "provided medical assistance." She was "able to walk to the top of the section under her own power before being placed on a gurney and taken to first aid" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 5/5).

Arlington Park today opens its thoroughbred season as the Illinois track "celebrates its 90th year." Arlington Park Senior Marketing Dir Howard Sudberry said, "The future is bright. I really believe that the legislature in Springfield will pass a law to allow for additional forms of gambling to help Illinois racing compete with other states that have an edge in this area" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 5/5). The CHICAGO TRIBUNE profiles 95-year-old track Chair Dick Duchossois: "Still Driving Force Behind Arlington Park."

Meanwhile, construction "has begun at Aqueduct Racetrack to add a new turf course on what has been the facility's inner dirt track and to renovate the facility's main dirt track for winter racing" (BLOODHORSE.com, 5/4).

Women In Sports & Events (WISE) today announced that Monumental Sports & Entertainment Chair Ted Leonsis will receive its Champion Award during this year's Women of the Year Awards Luncheon. Fox Sports' Pam Oliver will emcee the June 22 event in N.Y. (WISE).

Target Center manager AEG is "replacing its longtime concessionaire Delaware North with Levy Restaurants" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 5/4).

Presidents Cup officials announced that the event will return to Royal Melbourne Golf Club in '19. The golf tournament was previously held there in '98 and '11 (Presidents Cup).

The Maryland Stadium Authority has approved an architectural team to "explore expansion of the Baltimore Convention Center as well as construction of a new downtown arena and hotel" (Baltimore SUN, 5/5).

Pittsburgh police are "investigating a report of a woman being raped in a women's restroom" during Wednesday night's Capitals-Penguins Game 4 at PPG Paints Arena. The victim reportedly said that the assault "occurred between periods" and that she "screamed for a half-hour, but no one came to her aid" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/5).

"I'm immeasurably impressed. I am so taken with [what] they've been able to do. Facility wise, improvements they've made, even with the basics. The outside facade of the stadium looks great. ... It's all thoughtfully done" – Phillies President Andy MacPhail, a former Cubs exec, on renovations to Wrigley Field (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 5/5).

"Do we do a traditional goal horn? Do we do a jingling slot machine goal horn?" – Golden Knights Senior VP & CMO Nehme Abouzeid, who says the team will have some "Vegas sizzle" in its game presentation (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/5).

"With the exception of last year, this race will be bigger than (any race), at least as far back as I can go" – Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles, on attendance for this year's Indianapolis 500 being on pace to surpass 300,000 (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 5/5).

"This is the future. There are going to be very large audiences watching and engaging in esports. Team members are actually going to become celebrities and icons" – NBA Kings Managing Partner Vivek Ranadive, whose team is one of 17 involved in the upcoming NBA 2K esports league (WSJ.com, 5/4).

The DALLAS MORNING NEWS wonders what kind of gimmicks "can be expected" at the new MLB Rangers ballpark, and takes a look at some "currently used" by other clubs. The D-backs have a "385-square-foot Ram Trucks Pool in right-center field," while the Brewers have their "slide at Miller Park." The MORNING NEWS also writes ballparks are "America's beating heart."

CBSSPORTS.com's examines how how cord-cutting "could become baseball's next huge crisis." Cable subscribers are "dwindling every day, creating cash crunches for even the biggest media behemoths." None of the recent layoffs at ESPN would "seem to affect tunnel-visioned fans," but that "could soon change."
 
Also:

• Bob Costas is "nearing the finish line" of his "unparalleled broadcasting career."
• The search for "black Red Sox fans at Fenway Park."
• AVP Commissioner Donald Sun discusses the future of beach volleyball.
• How GM Peter Chiarelli "turned the Oilers from a laughingstock into a contender."
• Syracuse AD John Wildhack addresses several issues facing the athletic department.
• Rams GM Les Snead "appears on solid ground" following NFL Draft.
• Is the NFL just "giving lip service" to domestic violence?

Busy off track week @KyleLarsonRacin Philly, DC, NYC, ESPN for @TeamChevy @NASCAR and he wore a suit! now back to work @TalladegaSuperS

— Steve Lauletta (@slauletta) May 5, 2017

Great buzz about the @GolfSixes
Good luck to all the Teams! Hopefully #TeamAUT will make a 2018 appearance! @EuropeanTour

— Bernd Wiesberger (@BWiesberger) May 5, 2017

Anybody else waking up today needing a pair of $495 sneakers? I couldn't even tweet about it yesterday, it made me sick to my stomach.

— StaceyDales (@StaceyDales) May 5, 2017

Home office of @SpokeMediaLLC reports the 2nd episode of The Doomsday Podcast did nearly 20K downloads. @EdwerderRFA and I want to thank you

— Matt Mosley (@mattmosley) May 5, 2017

Yesterday's groundbreaking ceremony for our Carol Soffer indoor football facility was an awesome event! It is truly on the way! U Family!

— Mark Richt (@MarkRicht) May 5, 2017

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

Former MLBer Andruw Jones will attend the opening of the new PBR-branded bar near the Braves' SunTrust Park: PBR Atlanta at Live! at The Battery Atlanta. As part of the event, Jones will ride "Druw," a mechanical bull named after him.

Former MLBer Kirk Gibson will deliver a 1:00pm ET commencement address at Michigan State Univ.'s Breslin Center.

Former NBAer Grant Long will speak to athletes at Spring Arbor Univ. about an athlete's life post-retirement.

Mars snack brand Combos and WWE kick off their first in-store promo and sweepstakes at 75,000 U.S. retail locations. The promo at slamtowin.com runs through June 30.

A 3-minute hit on the stories you need to know ... Subscribe on iTunes ... Check out our podcast home.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Novels.”

“In a Spanish translation of this novel, Chapter 1 begins, ‘Era el mejor de los tiempos, era el peor de los tiempos.’”

TNT’s Charles Barkley appeared on CBS’ “The Late Show” last night, telling host Stephen Colbert he was “hoping to catch a Knicks playoff game when I was up here. What happened?” When asked about whether he would play in Ice Cube’s new three-on-three league, Barkley said, “I haven’t given it a thought.” Barkley said he “didn’t like” the standing ovation the Fenway Park crowd gave to Orioles CF Adam Jones. Barkley: “If I was in a crowd of people and they were insulting any ethnic group, I think that I’m man enough to call them out. I’m not going to sit there and let them berate anybody continuously. So I was more disappointed in the crowd because if somebody is just sitting listening, you’re condoning it” (“The Late Show,” CBS, 5/4).

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon noted White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said that President Trump helped pass the new healthcare bill in the House of Representatives by "punting the ball into the end zone." Fallon: "When told that analogy didn't quite make sense, he said, ‘I meant that he hit a grand slam into the net and slapped the puck right into the hoop. Is that better?’” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 5/4). CBS’ Colbert said of Priebus' comments, “Yes, a punt into the end zone. Accurate because it gets you zero points and gives your opponent good field position. … I think a more accurate football metaphor might have been the GOP just kicked America in the balls” (“The Late Show,” CBS, 5/4).

“What is ‘A Tale of Two Cities’?”