The NHL concussion settlement that would pay $18.9M for more than 300 former players "could be withdrawn" today, with "some lawyers scrambling to get their clients to opt in before time runs out." The tentative agreement announced in November "includes a 75-day deadline" that expires today for "all 318 players to sign off on the deal; anything less than unanimity and the NHL can scrap the settlement." It is "not clear if it would exercise that option," as the terms are "widely viewed as favourable to the league" (GLOBE & MAIL, 1/18).

UFC and ESPN+ are activating heavily in Brooklyn ahead of tomorrow's UFC Fight Night card at Barclays Center. ESPN+ has strategically placed icons around the city for fights fans to interact with, and UFC is holding an interactive fan festival today and tomorrow outside the arena. Activations at the festival include a Striking Challenge where fans can test their punch power; a space where fans can create their own shareable UFC champions moment; and another spot where they can create their own walkout video. The card, headlined by Henry Cejudo-T.J. Dillashaw, is the MMA promotion's first on ESPN+ (UFC).

ufc

Arrowhead Stadium has been "freshly resodded" ahead of Sunday's Patriots-Chiefs AFC Championship game. The crew "had not planned on replacing the turf between the AFC Divisional game last Saturday" and the conference title game, but "Mother Nature had other plans." After the win over the Colts, 10 inches of snow from the field and "all the snow left in the stadium had to be hauled out on the sidelines" (KCTV5.com, 1/17). Temperatures during Sunday's game are "now expected to be in the low 20s with wind chill in the teens" (K.C. STAR, 1/18).

Meanwhile, the Chiefs "plan to give away" special red rally towels in the "shape of a jersey" for the AFC title game. The towels, to be given to the first 50,000 fans in the stadium, "have the words 'Let's Roll' and '2018 Conference Championship Game' along with the date on them" (KANSASCITY.com, 1/17).

Be one of the first 50,000 fans inside the stadium at #NEvsKC to get your jersey-shaped rally towel. 🙌@HyVee @CocaCola pic.twitter.com/iZk3fylZWW

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 17, 2019

The Wizards beat the Knicks 101-100 in yesterday's NBA London Game, and a "pro-Knicks contingent filled much of the sellout crowd of 19,078" at The O2 arena. Every Knicks basket "drew huge applause from the crowd, particularly on the rare occasions that the points came from European players Frank Ntilikina or Mario Hezonja" (NEWSDAY, 1/18). Fans were "decidedly cheering harder for the Knicks, though many applauded for both teams' made baskets" (N.Y. POST, 1/18). This is the ninth straight season the NBA has staged a game in the U.K., and the "culturally diverse and international crowd" on hand "behaved like basketball fans" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/18).

The NBA once again will celebrate the Chinese New Year from Jan. 30-Feb. 18. To tip off the campaign, three TV spots titled "When it Begins," "Favorite Part" and "So Special" will debut today featuring Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo, Trail Blazers G Damian Lillard and Warriors G Klay Thompson, as well as Chinese singer and NBA Chinese New Year brand ambassador Cai Xukun. This marks the first time that the campaign has featured a Chinese celebrity (NBA).

Puma is "building a new North American headquarters" in Somerville, Mass., and when the "building opens in 2021, Puma North America will have approximately 550 employees there." The shoe and apparel company "plans to combine its downtown Boston design and marketing center with sales, operations and corporate offices that are now located in Westford, and add about 100 new hires" at the Somerville facility (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/18).

In an effort to bring more of a digital focus to the fore, Baseball America will partner with Lee Berke’s LHB Sports to produce and license content focused on the sport’s future stars, including a docu-series about three high-school players. The new initiative will use the 38-year old magazine's archives to create historical profiles of current players. Baseball America will use LHB Sports to license content deals with various outlets. Two years ago, minor league team owner Alliance Baseball LLC bought the publication with plans to grow it digitally.

NASCAR HOFer Glen Wood, who "founded the Wood Brothers Racing team with brothers Leonard and Delano," died earlier today at 93. Wood Brothers Racing "remains the oldest continuous racing team in NASCAR." Wood "retired as a driver at the age of 39, assuming full-time duties as the team’s chief administrator, a role that he handled for nearly 30 years before relegating the role to sons Eddie and Len" (NBCSPORTS.com, 1/18). Wood had been the "oldest living member" of the NASCAR HOF, inducted into its third class in '12 (NASCAR.com, 1/18).

Boxer Canelo Alvarez has "agreed to fight fellow middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs on May 4." DAZN "will broadcast the fight," which is expected to take place at T-Mobile Arena (L.A. TIMES, 1/18).

Complexity Gaming, the esports organization owned in part by Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones, will exclusively use HyperX gaming headsets, keyboards, mice, mousepads and internal memory as part of a new two-year partnership (HyperX).

Former NHLer Jarome Iginla's No. 12 Flames jersey "will be retired" by the team on March 2 ahead of their game against the Wild at Scotiabank Saddledome (CALGARY SUN, 1/18).

"There’s a few things that have come up in the last 10 days about Puerto Rico. It’s a topic that back home is huge. But like I said, if I go, I’ll represent Puerto Rico the right way" -- Red Sox manager Alex Cora, a Puerto Rico native, on whether he will personally accept President Trump's invitation to the White House next month (BOSTON HERALD, 1/18).

"I don’t think you can tell players, coaches, staff: ‘Don’t make the playoffs and tank!’ We will never, ever tank" -- Wizards Owner Ted Leonsis, on his 19-26 team and their outlook for the rest of the NBA season (WASHINGTON POST, 1/18).

"It wasn’t best on best in the World Cup. It just wasn’t. You had a North American team, a European team. I wasn’t a huge fan of that. It’s not the Olympics" -- Lightning C Steven Stamkos, on why he is not upset that the '20 World Cup of Hockey was canceled (TORONTO STAR, 1/18).

The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE writes under the header, "April's Final Four Will Cost U.S. Bank Stadium Millions More Than Super Bowl." The NCAA "doesn't reimburse prep costs," meaning taxpayers will "foot the bill" for the big event. Meanwhile, changing the football stadium "into a basketball venue for 70,000 fans will be the biggest transformation in the building’s 2 ½-year history."

Also: 

• Florida AD Scott Stricklin on football ticket sales and the CFP committee.
• Why the NFL playoffs "weren't designed to produce upsets." 

I would watch @S10Bird talk about pretty much anything but watching her talk to @KevinGarnett5KG about learning the front office ropes in Denver is particularly excellent

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) January 18, 2019

Thanks to Mike Piscotty, who movingly accepted the Tony Conigliaro Award on behalf of his son Stephen at Boston Baseball Writers Dinner Thursday night. He laid out a vision for finding a cure to ALS. #FightALS #OaklandAs #Amazinggrace

— Gordon Edes (@GordonEdes) January 18, 2019

Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, on his son, Wes, who is Washington's tight ends coach: "Wes is a young offensive coach who knows Sean McVay, if anyone is looking for a head coach."

— Rich Hammond (@Rich_Hammond) January 17, 2019

The guy next to me on the F train at 730am is watching the entire 1998 Yankees “Old Timer’s Day” game on his phone. 🧐

— Daniel Roberts (@readDanwrite) January 18, 2019

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

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

“After it was auctioned in 2018, a work by this artist was renamed ‘Love Is in the Bin.’”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “A Trophy Category.”
$200: “The Harley J. Earl Perpetual Trophy, given to the winner of this Florida car race, is named for the guy who put fins on Cadillacs.”
$400: “This college football trophy is named for a coach who got his law degree from Penn in 1892.”
$600: “Estimated to be worth $4M, the Woodlawn Vase representing victory in The Preakness, is a sterling silver piece dating back to 1860 designed by this New York City jeweler."
$800: “This prestigious award is named for its donor; Frederick Arthur, a governor general of Canada.” 
$1000: “Winners of this major golf tournament get a trophy depicting the clubhouse along with a nice jacket.”

Fox’ Michael Strahan appeared on NBC’s “Late Night” and discussed President Trump serving the Clemson football team fast food. Strahan: “You go to the White House and you get burgers? Like, you get fast food? I was thinking, ‘You know what, I would buy those kids lobster, man.’ They deserve a great meal for a great game, for a great season.” Strahan also talked about partnering with Patriots QB Tom Brady and film director Gotham Chopra on the digital series "Religion of Sports." Strahan said he has “so much respect” for Brady, adding Brady is a “great business partner because as hard as he works to be a great football player, he works that hard off the field as well in our business.” Strahan: “But there’s nothing like hitting a quarterback like Brady, man. ‘Woo! Gisele, I see why, girl, I see why!’” (“Late Night,” NBC, 1/18).

“Who is Banksy?”

Correct responses to the “A Trophy Category” category:
$200: “What is the Daytona 500?”
$400: “What is the Heisman Trophy?”
$600: “What is Tiffany’s?”
$800: “What is the Stanley Cup?”
$1000: “What is The Masters?”