Relevent has signed a 15-year, 50/50 joint venture with La Liga to promote the Spanish soccer league across the U.S. and Canada. Relevent becomes La Liga's exclusive representative in North America, and it will work with the league to bring a regular-season club match to the U.S., the first to be played outside of Europe. The joint venture will operate under the name La Liga North America and will represent all of the league’s business and development opportunities, including marketing agreements, exhibition matches, youth academies and consumer activation. The venture also will sell the league’s U.S. media rights, currently held by beIN in a deal that expires in two years. Former Univision and Televisa exec Boris Gartner will serve as La Liga North America CEO.

See today's issue of THE DAILY for more.

hawks

The Hawks last night unveiled a new look that "pays homage to their beginnings in Atlanta, as the franchise celebrates its 50th anniversary in the city." The Hawks will wear a "throwback uniform for several games in the upcoming season that were modeled" after those from '68 when the franchise moved from St. Louis. The team "expects to wear about nine times this season." The Hawks also "unveiled a secondary court of gold and black that will be used at times during the 50th anniversary celebration season" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 8/16).

For this first time in our teams history we’ll have TWO hardwood floors...and we'll have a matching uniform that we'll reveal later in the season to match the 50th anniversary court! 👀 pic.twitter.com/hrKvF71yDJ

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) August 15, 2018

Also last night, Philips Arena announced plans to add "six popular, local restaurants" to its offerings: Old Lady Gang (southern cuisine/soul food), Zac Brown's Social Club (started by the musician), J.R. Crickets (wings), B's Cracklin' Barbeque, Rita's Italian Ice and an Italian concept from area restaurateur Giavanni DiPalma (Philips Arena).

Philips Arena

Chicago-based sports marketing and media agency rEvolution has acquired London-based agency Revolution Sports Marketing Group. Financial terms were not disclosed for the deal. The acquisition will see all current Revolution staff join rEvolution in their respective departmental roles, and Revolution folded into the rEvolution branding. It also will lead to the opening of a rEvolution office in London, marking the agency’s eighth satellite office outside of its Chicago HQ and the first rEvolution office outside of the U.S.

rEvolution President & Founder John Rowady said “shared values” with Revolution co-Founder & Managing Dir Merrick Haydon were a major part of the agency’s decision to acquire Revolution. Rowady: “We saw that they had some of our integrated services, but we saw an opportunity to really create a full suite of services investing in the platform that they’d already created.” Revolution’s global work with clients in golf, rugby, motorsports and other international sports gives rEvolution the means to expand its services and reach for existing clients, as well as attract more international clients.

Rowady said of how Revolution’s existing international platform will benefit rEvolution, “Opening up the international landscape and furthering that vision opens up the opportunity to have access to bring brands into other sport platforms. … The equation can’t just be a U.S.-centric equation for the major brands that we work with. It has to open up opportunities that are also going to include a solid pathway into international sport and vice versa.”

The Univ. of Alabama today will announce a "long-term facilities plan" that includes a "major renovation to Bryant-Denny Stadium." The update is "expected to reduce seating by a small percentage from its current capacity of 101,821," and it includes plans for a "new video board in the south end zone and additional luxury boxes." The long-term plan also will "affect Coleman Coliseum, softball’s Rhoads Stadium and other athletics facilities." All facilities plans are "subject to approval" by school trustees. Alabama is "expected to announce a capital campaign to raise funds for the facilities improvements" (TUSCALOOSA NEWS, 8/16).

Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson today is expected to announce that he is "'leaving' his post," according to a source. Benson currently is "working under a contract that expires at the end of June 2019, and it is anticipated that he will continue to work" during the upcoming school year. Benson has been commissioner since the spring of '12. During his tenure he "oversaw transition of a membership lineup that added football-playing members Georgia State, Georgia Southern, Texas State, Appalachian State and Coastal Carolina" (Lafayette DAILY ADVERTISER, 8/16).

The NHL and NHLPA will hold its second European player media tour today in Stockholm, Sweden, at the broadcast HQ of its Nordic rightsholder, Viasat. Twenty-five European-born players -- including Patrik Laine, Nico Hischier and Leon Draisaitl -- will conduct interviews with international rightsholders and news outlets, such as Viasat, NBC Sports, CNN, Telesport, TV Nova Sport, Expressen and TV4. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and NHLPA Exec Dir Donald Fehr also will attend the event, among other league and union execs. The NHL this season will hold exhibition and regular-season games in Bern, Switzerland; Cologne, Germany; Gothenburg, Sweden; and Helsinki, Finland.

The PGA Tour Wyndham Championship teed off this morning in Greensboro, N.C., and the event "will honor" the late Jarrod Lyle, a former tour player who "passed away last week after a lengthy battle with leukemia." There will be a "Lyle-themed display on the first tee" at Sedgefield Country Club and each player has been "given a yellow cap in their locker to wear" -- a Lyle staple in his playing days. Caddies have also "received the hats -- provided by Titleist, one of Lyle's sponsors -- which feature Lyle's initials stitched on the back" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 8/14).

Golfer Justin Thomas appeared on NBC’s “The Tonight Show.” Host Jimmy Fallon noted Thomas won the PGA Championship last year, and this year the "big deal" was Tiger Woods. Thomas said facetiously, “Tiger played?” Thomas, Woods and Rory McIlroy played the first two rounds together at Bellerive, with Fallon asking if it is a “different game when Tiger Woods is there, because on TV it looked like Lollapalooza.” Thomas: “I’ve never heard a golf tournament compared to that.” Thomas and Fallon then played the game “Face Breakers,” in which they chipped golf balls at glass windows with their faces on it. FedEx donated $1M to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the winner’s name (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 8/15).

The Little League World Series kicks off today in Williamsport, Pa., and LLWS Senior Dir of Communications Brian McClintock said that fans and other visitors "can expect a few changes," including three new scoreboards. McClintock added that the LED video boards have been "erected at both stadiums and at the back of Lamade Stadium to offer fans throughout the concourse a 'unique game day experience.'" Fans will be "kept informed with interactive displays, social interactions and other activities." Little League officials decided to install the scoreboards after "assessing the difficulty and cost to repairing the old ones" (WILLIAMSPORT SUN-GAZETTE, 8/10).

Ready and waiting. #LLWS pic.twitter.com/SpLzeuOHi7

— Little League (@LittleLeague) August 15, 2018

Uruguay and FC Barcelona F Luis Suarez is "switching from Adidas to Puma" in a deal worth about US$1.3M per year (DAILYMAIL.co.uk, 8/16).

The Maryland football program "opened a portion" of yesterday's practice to the media for the "first time all summer." This comes a day after school officials accepted responsibility for the death of Jordan McNair (WASHINGTON TIMES, 8/16).

Tencent Holdings shares today "fell as much as 5%" in Hong Kong after the Chinese internet company "reported its first quarterly profit drop in more than a decade." The selloff "extended a rout that has wiped out more than" $175B of the company’s market value since January (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 8/16).

Arizona State is "expanding beer and wine sales at Sun Devil Stadium to include all concession areas other than those behind the student section in the south end zone." The alcohol sales "coincide with ASU no longer allowing re-entry to the stadium once a ticket is scanned" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 8/16).

The Beau Rivage Resort in Biloxi and Gold Strike Casino in Tunica were the "first Mississippi casinos to offer sports game on August 1," and several more are "expected to be approved for sports betting" at the state Gaming Commission’s meeting today in Jackson (MISSISSIPPITODAY.org, 8/15).

The U.S. Alpine Championships are "returning to New England" as Waterville Valley in New Hampshire will host both the '19 and '21 championships (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/15).

The Blues hired Joey Vitale as their new radio analyst alongside play-by-play man Chris Kerber. He "succeeds Kelly Chase" (STLTODAY.com, 8/16).

"This kind of clears the soccer thing out of the way. We don’t have to worry about that any more. If people tell you we can still get one, don’t believe them" -- Bexar County (Texas) Judge Nelson Wolff, on San Antonio's hopes for an MLS franchise after the Austin City Council approved a stadium deal (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 8/16).

"We’re in the business of having big events here. That game is an instant sellout. UConn-Tennessee is like Yankees-Red Sox" -- WNBA Connecticut Sun CEO Mitchell Etess, on his desire to host the revival of the women's hoops rivalry at Mohegan Sun Arena (New London DAY, 8/15).

The Cleveland PLAIN DEALER goes with, "The Big Ten Chased The Money, And It Led The Conference Here." The circumstances at Ohio State and Maryland "aren't the same," but it all "lives in the same world." Maryland "tries to catch up, Ohio State works to stay on top, everyone urges Big Ten football to get better, the university presidents demand the conference make more money," and the tragedy of Jordan McNair becomes "the reality."

Also:

• How Roberto Alomar is "building Puerto Rico's baseball future."
• Does social media handcuff MLB broadcasters?
• The tech revolution has "finally hit the NFL -- and the Vikings are ready." 
• Eagles S Malcolm Jenkins "remains stoic" in fight for social causes.

Maryland Board of Trustees calls special closed meeting Friday. Topics include “removal, resignation, employment, litigation, legal counsel or personnel matters” related to university’s impending lawsuit & possibly future of President Wallace Loh, AD Damon Evans & Coach DJ Durkin

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 16, 2018

Way to self-police the joy right out of your game, baseball!

— Erik Rydholm (@ErikRydholm) August 16, 2018

The continued success of Hard Knocks makes me puzzled why the NBA doesn’t approach an HBO or Showtime about it. The 0-16 Browns prove any team could work. Do one on Orlando or Phoenix or Atlanta—teams that could use the buzz. It would kill.

— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixYS) August 16, 2018

I’d love to co-author a scouting book with Jalen Ramsey, titled-One Word Player Evaluation. It’s like 6 min abs for scouting.

— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) August 15, 2018

Based on @jalenramsey comments in @GQMagazine, here is how he fared against each QB organized by his reviews.

Opposing 👍QBs: 3 TD, INT, 87.2 passer rating when Ramsey was in coverage

Opposing 👎QBs: TD, 5 INT, 69.0 passer rating when Ramsey was in coverage pic.twitter.com/YXANjozGF1

— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) August 15, 2018

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

The @EasternLeague is pleased to unveil a new logo. The new logo was created by @Brandiose and it is the first logo change for the league since the 1998 season. https://t.co/FM15LGhVGJ pic.twitter.com/JExLO4SPmt

— Eastern League (@EasternLeague) August 15, 2018

Always great to see my friend @QuavoStuntin! Appreciate him taking the time to stop by before his show tonight at Little Caesars Arena! No doubt @Migos @Drake will knock everyone’s socks off pic.twitter.com/b66atRrrl5

— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) August 15, 2018

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 “Exploration Name’s The Same.”

“The deepest part of the Mariana Trench and a submersible that went there share the name of this space shuttle.”

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon said in the past weeks President Trump has "insulted several notable African-Americans, like Omarosa, LeBron James and Don Lemon, but today Trump said he’ll stop because those are all the African-Americans he knows” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 8/15).

CBS’ Stephen Colbert discussed the allegations by Omarosa that Trump is a racist, which has “spawned a national debate." Colbert: "Exactly how big of a racist is the president? On a scale of drunk uncle on Thanksgiving to drunk uncle at Trump rally.” The scale also included, “But I like Chief Wahoo” (“The Late Show,” CBS, 8/15).

CBS

“What is Challenger?”