• Riot Games To Sell Permanent League Of Legends Franchises For $10M
• Earthquakes Hire Tom Fox To Replace Kaval, Who Will Focus On A's
• Intel, MLB Reach Three-Year Deal To Present Games In VR Format
• Marlins Top Phillies Before Historically Sparse Crowd In Miami

Riot Games today announced plans to award 10 permanent franchise spots in the North American circuit of the blockbuster esports game League of Legends, a move designed to shed the unpredictable “Wild West” element that has kept some investors at bay. When the reconstituted league starts play in '18, the teams in the North American LCS will no longer face the threat of relegation, and will also receive a share of league-based revenue, such as Riot’s $300M streaming and tech partnership with BAMTech and team-branded digital purchases within the game.

Riot is valuing the franchise spots at $10M, to be paid by the franchisees over a period of three years. Under the current system, the previous known high-water mark for an LCS spot sold on the open market was $1.8M, when Bucks co-Owner Wes Edens acquired a spot for his new team FlyQuest in December.

See more in today's issue of THE DAILY.

The Earthquakes yesterday hired former EPL club Aston Villa CEO Tom Fox to replace President Dave Kaval, who "now will focus all of his energy" on the A's. The change "comes a half a year after Kaval was promoted to run the A’s with a charge to build a new ballpark in Oakland." Fox resigned from Aston Villa last year "because of the team’s poor performance." The Earthquakes used executive search firm Nolan Partners to assist with the process (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 6/1).

MLB and Intel have struck a three-year deal to produce live and on-demand games in virtual reality, with games to be available weekly in the Intel True VR app starting with Indians-Rockies on Tuesday. The out-of-market coverage will include a selection of up to four camera angles per game, live stats and exclusive in-app commentary. Financial terms were not disclosed. Intel is already a league sponsor and has worked with MLB on other projects, such as producing 360-degree video replays for last year’s Home Run Derby and All-Star Game. “The addition of live stats to the Intel True VR games is another example of how we’re giving fans more control to personalize their baseball experience,” said Intel Sports Group GM James Carwana.

The Marlins played before a "miniscule crowd" for yesterday's home win against the Phillies. Official paid attendance was "the smallest figure of the season" at 15,197, but the "number of actual fans on hand to watch the two teams was significantly less." One reporter’s "hand count put the figure at 1,590" (MIAMI HERALD, 6/1). Excluding the '15 White Sox-Orioles game played in an empty Camden Yards due to the Baltimore riots, yesterday's contest was reportedly the "least-attended MLB game" an '89 Padres-Braves game at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 5/31).

Desiree Reed-Francois today begins her role as UNLV AD, and the school is giving her a "fresh start." UNLV and Thomas & Mack Center/Sam Boyd Stadium are contributing about $3.7M to "nearly eliminate the athletic department deficit." UNLV Senior VP/Finance & Business Gerry Bomotti said that the "extra funds will bring the deficit to less than $500,000." The "additional money will help ease the transition for Reed-Francois" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 5/31).

CBS will air seven Tough Mudder shows this year on the broadcast network, including a new made-for-TV cash prize event dubbed Tough Mudder X. The deal is an expansion of a partnership that began in August '16 with a series that aired primarily on CBS Sports Network. This year’s programming begins July 22. The seven episodes include four stops on the Toughest Mudder series, the World’s Toughest Mudder, and two programs showing the new Tough Mudder X property. Tough Mudder X is a one-mile course that includes 10 obstacles and a series of high-intensity workouts, with $25,000 awards for the top male and female finishers.

The Mets mascot Mr. Met last night during a game against the Brewers "flashed his 'middle' finger at a fan." A Mets official said that "more than one person wears the Mr. Met costume during the season," and the employee who wore it last night "will not do so again." A person "tweeted the video of the incident, which soon went viral online." Technically, Mr. Met has "only four digits on each hand – three fingers and a thumb" (AP, 6/1).

Both the N.Y. Daily News and N.Y. Post highlighted the incident on their back pages:

  

A-B InBev VP/Experiential Marketing Eelco van der Noll and MSG Exec VP/Marketing Partnerships Ron Skotarczak discussed the recent renewal of A-B’s MSG sponsorship during a look “Behind the Deal” on Day 1 of the '17 Intersport Brand Engagement Summit. Both execs emphasized the new aspects of the renewal. “We want to make sure that we enhance the experience of the people going to music concerts, going to the Rangers, going to the Knicks,” van der Noll said. “What that means is, for instance, we created the Bud Light District. It’s a free floor for the fans, and there’s a specific area called the Bud Light Loft where we have VR experiences and social media experiences.”

The conference continues today in Chicago with morning sessions featuring an interview with F1 Chair Chase Carey; an examination of Guaranteed Rate's naming-rights deal for the White Sox' ballpark; and a fireside chat format with McDonald's and DDB execs, before transitioning to an esports module. See a full agenda, and follow all of our social media posts throughout the conference using our Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram feeds.

NBA Draft prospect De'Aaron Fox has "agreed to a multi-year shoe deal with Nike," according to sources (TWITTER.com, 5/31).

Sabres C Jack Eichel yesterday visited three Tim Hortons locations, "helping the coffee giant raise money and celebrate its annual 'Camp Day.'" Eichel "spent time working the drive-through" and "chatting with guests." The chain is donating 100% of yesterday's profits from coffee and bracelet sales to the Tim Horton's Children's Foundation (BUFFALO NEWS, 6/1).

The '17 PGA Tour Valspar Championship "generated $2,412,196 for charity," an increase of 13% from the previous year. The March event at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Fla., benefited "nearly 80 area charities." There were "70 new sponsors among the 220" at the this year's tournament (BIZJOURNALS.com, 6/1).

"No matter how much money you have, no matter how famous you are, no matter how many people admire you – being black in America is tough. We have a long way to go" – Cavaliers F LeBron James, after a racial slur was spray-painted on a gate outside of his L.A. home (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 6/1).

"It got very confusing for the consumer with the NFL last year. I think they were on too many networks, they started to commoditize the experience and not really keep it as something that was really special on Sundays, on Thursdays" – CBS BOD Vice Chair & Dir Shari Redstone, on the NFL broadcasting games over several networks (RECODE.net, 5/31).

"We need to let the fans settle in, truly understand this sport for several years and not have to keep getting re-educated on how this sport works" – NBC Sports' Jeff Burton, on the continual changes NASCAR has made to the sport over the past few years (NBCSPORTS.com, 5/31).

"They didn’t see a lot of this coming, they didn’t see the cord-cutting. They weren’t ready for it" – The Ringer's Bill Simmons, on where he believes ESPN went wrong (VARIETY.com, 5/31).

Under the header, "The Quest For A Better Football Helmet," THE MMQB writes, "The game’s health depends on mitigating concussions and trauma caused by subconcussive hits. That’s why the NFL has incentivized the equipment industry with $60 million and called for a better overall helmet within three years, and position-specific helmets within five."
 
Also: 

• Will Margaret Court Arena be renamed over tennis great's remarks on gays?
• Columnist shares memories of Qualcomm Stadium as wrecking ball nears.
• As sports venues age, questions arise on safety of structures.

It's a good thing they limited the scope of replay, else Joe Maddon might request the booth reverse the 2017 season so far.

— Dan Szymborski (@DSzymborski) June 1, 2017

How good is Doc Emrick?!? Great energy & voice--constant line changes never skips a beat on a name. Guy is a STUD! @NHL @PredsNHL @penguins

— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) June 1, 2017

Just talked w/NFL Scouting prez Jeff Foster about possible Combine move to LA in '18. Said contract ties event to Indy at least thru '19.

— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) June 1, 2017

White Sox announce 2018 will be Hawk Harrelson's last season as broadcaster. Will do 20 games. Multi-year agreement for Jason Benetti.

— Colleen Kane (@ChiTribKane) May 31, 2017

@howaboutafresca Breaking News: Mets have changed their logo pic.twitter.com/gcyHy5a80T

— Chris C. Kelly (@chrisckelly) June 1, 2017

U Sports is holding a Partnership Showcase at the Hockey HOF to update businesses, brands and agencies on Canadian university sport marketing opportunities.

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

“Shigetaka Kurita designed the original set of 176 of these, which included the zodiac glyphs, hearts and a pair of googly eyes.”

“What are emojis?”