Bills and Sabres President Russ Brandon "has resigned" after Pegula Sports & Entertainment "conducted an internal investigation into Brandon's workplace behavior and allegations of personal misconduct." Kim Pegula has "taken over" as PS&E President. On Friday, she "informed Brandon an internal investigation was being conducted."

Sources said that it was "triggered by allegations of inappropriate relationships with female employees." Brandon, who also ran the NLL Buffalo Bandits and AHL Rochester Americans, said in a statement, "I have been contemplating transitioning out of my role for some time" (BUFFALO NEWS, 5/2).

Pennsylvania-based Utz has signed on as MLB’s official salty snack. The multiyear deal includes digital and TV ad commitments on MLB platforms. Utz packaging will carry MLB marks, supported by retail promos for its potato chips, pretzels, cheeseballs and popcorn. Utz already has sponsorships and product availability with the Orioles and Pirates. MLB salty-snack rights were last held by PepsiCo’s Frito Lay brand, which departed as a league sponsor prior to last season after holding the salty-snack category rights since '06.

F1 and Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross' RSE Ventures have publicly confirmed for the first time that they are working to bring a street race to Miami in '19, a move that would be a significant development for the series’ bid to grow in the U.S. The sides finally addressed the race as the City of Miami Commission added it to its agenda for a vote next week. F1 Managing Dir of Commercial Operations Sean Bratches: “The City of Miami Commission took an important step.” Ross added, “I am confident we can deliver yet another global event that will be a destination for people from around the world and drive economic value to South Florida.” SBJ/SBD first reported this past November that Ross could get involved in the effort.

F1’s lone race in the U.S. in recent years has been at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, but Liberty Media since buying F1 has repeatedly stated that it wants to add races here. F1 has also told stakeholders there will be a demonstration event in Miami the week of the COTA race later this year. Sources said that Red Bull North America is working on sponsoring that demonstration.

MLB and the MLBPA announced that next season’s "first games will be played in Japan between the Mariners and A’s," marking the "fifth time that MLB will open its season in Tokyo." MLB also announced that it will "renew its 'All-Star Tour' with Nippon Professional Baseball, playing six games across Japan from November 8-15." As part of the '19 Japan Opening Series, both the A's and Mariners will "compete against Nippon Professional Baseball teams in day/night doubleheaders" March 17-18 (SEATTLE TIMES, 5/2).

Bela and Martha Karolyi have filed suit against the USOC and USA Gymnastics, "seeking more than a million dollars in damages" and saying that they "should not be held responsible for lawsuits stemming from crimes committed" at their Texas ranch by Larry Nassar. The lawsuit accuses USAG of "violating a purchase agreement and a lease agreement" at the ranch. Meanwhile, former U.S. gymnast Sabrina Vega filed suit against Nassar, USAG, the USOC and the Karolyis, "alleging she was sexually abused by Nassar hundreds of times at the Karolyi Ranch and at competition sites around the world" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/2).

NBC’s “Today” examined the lawsuit brought by the Karolyis, with today’s broadcast teasing the report in the opening segment with the headline “The Blame Game.” NBC’s Savannah Guthrie said there is “new finger pointing” in the “surprise lawsuit” (“Today,” NBC, 5/2).

Tickets to October's Eagles-Jaguars game in London went on sale yesterday at 5:00am ET, and by 5:15, "several frustrated fans had used social media to voice their displeasure with Ticketmaster's website." The site stopped some consumers from "finishing purchases." Ticketmaster UK tweeted that the company was "experiencing unprecedented demand for seats" at this year's NFL international games. This will be the Eagles' first time playing a regular-season game in London (PENNLIVE.com, 5/1). Many fans who "somehow navigated" the online interface were "greeted with yet another problem -- their international purchase was turned down by their credit card companies" (PHILLY.com, 5/1).

We are experiencing unprecedented demand for NFL tickets this morning, thank you for your patience. Tickets are currently still available for both games and we will let you know once they are sold out.

— Ticketmaster UK (@TicketmasterUK) May 1, 2018

The NHL Jets drew big crowds again outside Bell MTS Place last night for the team’s Game 3 playoff win over the Predators. True North Sports & Entertainment Senior VP Rob Wonzy, whose group owns the Jets, estimated the outside crowd watching on big screens at 12,000. Venue concessionaire Centerplate also has been expanding outdoor areas in Winnipeg, including bars, food and viewing zones. There were 18,000 fans outside the arena when the Jets clinched their first-round series last month.

The cost of Penn State football student season tickets is "going up" for the the first time since '09, and other season-ticket packages "will see a small increase, too." The seven-game student package "will now cost $242, which will make it $14, or $2 per game, more expensive." Other season-ticket packages "have gone up $5 a game to make the seven-game total $420." More than 6,100 new season tickets "have already been sold," and the school "expects to be out of packages within the next 10 days" (PENNLIVE.com, 5/1).

The NFL heads into the second and final day of meetings at its N.Y. HQ on safety, five weeks after the league "ratified what it hailed as an important safety rule." League leaders gathered yesterday with owners, coaches, game officials, former players and an NFLPA official to "try to make progress in what promises to be an arduous process of actually putting the new rule into effect." Those present included 49ers co-Chair Dr. John York and Jets Chair & CEO Christopher Johnson. The session ended with league reps "telling the other attendees that it will take about a week for the NFL to finalize the language of the portion of the new rule related to ejections" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/2).

AEG

San Manuel Casino and AEG have renewed their partnership to expand the casino's presence across AEG's Southern California assets, including L.A. Live, Staples Center, StubHub Center, the NHL Kings, Galaxy and AHL Ontario Reign (AEG)

Sources said Pistons Owner Tom Gores wants Stan Van Gundy "to return as coach for the final year of his contract, but would prefer for that scenario to include structural changes" to the front office (ESPN.com, 5/1).

Seats from Joe Louis Arena went on sale yesterday, and Red Wings season-ticket holders "get first dibs" to buy a pair of seats (FREEP.com, 5/1).

A group protesting Temple Univ.'s proposed on-campus football stadium "began a two-mile march from the campus to City Hall on Tuesday, chanting and shouting their objections" (PENNLIVE.com, 5/1).

"It makes me happy to see the difference between what we have now and what we had 20 years ago. I don't have any doubt that this country is going to put soccer in a very high place on the world level" -- FC Dallas coach Oscar Pareja, on the growth of MLS (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5/2).

"If you go out there and try to prove your contract or your worth, your head is in the wrong spot. I try to avoid falling down the trap of living up to my contract, or proving I'm worth it. Good or bad, I can't go down that path" -- Nationals P Max Scherzer, who in '15 signed a record seven-year, $210M contract (USATODAY.com, 5/1).

"The tournament has done a great job of putting extra stuff for us to be a part of. Everybody is more cordial off the course. Less guys are going to the hotel room and hanging. Everyone is kind of hanging out with each other, which is definitely a little different" -- Golfer Jordan Spieth, on the atmosphere at last week's PGA Tour Zurich Classic of New Orleans (NOLA.com, 5/1).

Univ. of Oregon associate professor Elizabeth Tippett in a special to the Portland OREGONIAN writes under the header, "Nike's #MeToo Movement Shows How 'Legal' Harassment Can Lead To Illegal Discrimination." The recent shakeup at one of the world's largest sports brands "illustrates plainly what's still missing from our discussion of sexual harassment in the workplace."

The Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER goes with, "College Basketball's Rice Commission Played It Safe, Maybe Too Safe."

Also:

• Columnist pens a "good riddance" to Yawkey Way.
• Raiders' Vegas stadium has "intriguing players behind process."
• Billy Payne's influence on American sports "undeniable."
• Tom Brady is finally "doing things on his terms."
• A BOSTON HERALD editorial weighs the risk of youth football.

The Raptors are as cool as they've ever been. You know what does that? WINNING. Likable players, community-minded, great marketing, a remarkably popular coach & GM. Take that all away & be 36-46 again, & Drake has NO impact on this team's popularity.

— Greg Brady (@gregbradyTO) May 2, 2018

Seems very weird for a company ravaged by privacy concerns to have its next big thing be a dating app.

— Ann Killion (@annkillion) May 2, 2018

The @Yale @Harvard football rivalry is taking a detour from tradition this year. Their Nov 17th game will be held at #FenwayPark. Tickets are already sold out. pic.twitter.com/xyuhK2HMsC

— Bernice Corpuz (@BerniceWBZ) May 1, 2018

Eleven Sports - owned by Leeds owner @andrearadri - beats Sky to win Spain's La Liga TV rights. Signifcant development.

— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) May 2, 2018

As part of a series of podcasts with the 2018 Forty Under 40 honorees, Turnkey Sports interviewed LiveLike's Miheer Walavalkar.

ESPN presents at the Digital Content NewFronts in Manhattan. The theme for ESPN's inaugural NewFront is "ESPN F1RST." It will complement the May 15 upfront presentation.

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

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

“Translated from Roman numerals, ‘55’ appears in luggage and watch product names from a company founded by this man.”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “Name the Movie Sport.”
$200: “’Cool Runnings’”
$400: “Starring Will Ferrell : ‘Blades of Glory’”
$600: “Featuring Ellen Page: ‘Whip It’”
$800: “With Will Ferrell: ‘Kicking & Screaming’”
$1000: “’Blue Crush’”

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon noted President Trump hosted the Army football team at the White House for the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy presentation. Fallon: "They all played a game of catch and the quarterback kept telling Trump to go long until he just disappeared. It was very interesting. ... Trump loves football because the two-minute drill reminds him of his night with Stormy Daniels” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 5/1).

Singer Miley Cyrus appeared on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last night where she presented host Jimmy Kimmel with a gift from her partnership with Converse -- a pair of sneakers she said “made unisex so anyone can wear them.” Cyrus: “It was actually a very important part of the design for everything that I'm involved in, it was important for me to have a shoe for everybody.” Kimmel noted, “You really nailed it for dads.” Cyrus said she “really designs everything” in her collection and said, “This is the greatest place to show my shoe.” Kimmel noted her collection went on sale last night at midnight on the “Converse web site” and then “people can dress like you and then you’ll have to move on to something else” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 5/1). 

“Who was Louis Vuitton?”

Correct responses to the “Name the Movie Sport” category:
$200: “What is bobsledding?”
$400: “What is figure skating?”
$600: “What is roller derby?”
$800: “What is soccer?”
$1000: “What is surfing?”