Longtime Olympics sponsor Visa has renewed its deal with U.S. Ski & Snowboard, re-upping through the ‘26 Games. A partner since ‘86, Visa will get entitlement rights to a new series under development, the “Visa City Big Air,” which will bring a snowboard/freeski big air competition to major stadiums each December. Also in the new deal, Visa will have a presence at the annual Toyota U.S. Grand Prix series. Terms were not disclosed, but major NGBs typically price top categories in the low seven figures.

The payment company’s prior deal was up last summer, but negotiations continued into this year. “We kind of ripped up the old deal and started with a blank sheet of paper,” said USS Chief Commercial Officer Dan Barnett. Gold Medal-winning skier and Visa endorser Mikaela Shiffrin was scheduled to announce the deal in social media posts this morning.

MLB owners today are beginning a winter business meeting in Orlando, with planned discussion centered around a wide range of issues yet to be resolved with the start of Spring Training just days away. Owners will confer on the historically slow free-agent market that still sees dozens of top players, including Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, without signed contracts. Talks also will center on bidding for the Fox RSNs that includes an entry from the league itself and another that involves Twins Owner Jim Pohlad and Liberty Media Chair John Malone. Also on the agenda is the ongoing conversation with the MLBPA on potential rules changes.

The NBA Trade Deadline hits today, and if Pelicans C Anthony Davis remains with his current team after 3:00pm ET, the Pelicans "would probably look to shut him down to a certain extent." But if that happens, Davis "will probably file a grievance." This could in turn prompt some course of action from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who "doesn't want the stigma of teams tanking." Shutting down Davis would be a "really tough blow to try to pacify, especially the people of New Orleans, that you've got a healthy Anthony Davis wanting to play" ("Posted Up With Chris Haynes," SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/6).

Atlanta-based SunTrust Banks and North Carolina-based BB&T plan to merge in a $66B "all-stock combination to create the sixth-largest bank in the U.S." The combined company, which will "merge under a new name, will be based in Charlotte." The merger is "expected to be completed by the end of this year." SunTrust owns the naming rights for the Braves' ballpark, which "will likely see its name changed only a few years after it opened to the new company’s moniker." A Braves spokesperson declined comment (AJC.com, 2/7).

BB&T has its name on a number of sports venues and events, including BB&T Center (NHL Panthers), BB&T Ballpark (MiLB Charlotte Knights), BB&T Field (Wake Forest football) and the ATP BB&T Atlanta Open (THE DAILY). See BB&T’s entire sports portfolio.

Former college football coach Bob Stoops reportedly "will be named head coach and general manager of Dallas' new XFL franchise." A formal announcement is expected today at 1:00pm CT at Globle Life Park, the team's "home field for its inaugural season" (DALLASNEWS.com, 2/6). The hiring of Stoops "gives the XFL a splash as it works to close the gap" on the Alliance of American Football, which will begin play this weekend with a "one-year head start" (NEWSOK.com, 2/7). The hire is a "coup for the XFL in its competition" with the AAF (Ft. Worth STAR-TELEGRAM, 2/7).

A Rhode Island state Senate committee last night "unanimously passed a bill that would let anyone within the state's boundaries place a bet on a game from their phone or computer." The vote "sets up potential fast-track passage of the bill as soon as Tuesday." This comes as the state Lottery announced that Twin River's two casinos had received $6.5M in Super Bowl-related bets, but nearly 77% of "bets against the spread were on the winning" Patriots. That contributed to a $2.4M loss on Super Bowl betting, "of which the state’s hit" was $1.2M (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 2/7).

cordish cos

Comcast Spectacor and real estate developer Cordish Cos plan to build a new $80M office tower at the Philadelphia Sports Complex area. The Pattison Place office building will be next to the Xfinity Live! entertainment district, which was also developed by Comcast Spectacor and Cordish. The Sports Complex area includes Wells Fargo Center, Lincoln Financial Field and Citizens Bank Park. Beyer Blinder Belle and Philadelphia-based BLT Architects designed the new 200,000-square-foot office building. Cordish has also partnered with team owners at sports-anchored developments such as Ballpark Village in St. Louis and Texas Live! in Arlington. The Xfinity development in Philadelphia currently has bars and restaurants.

NBC Sports today will reveal details of its IndyCar Pass OTT product, which will start at $50 before increasing by $5 next month. The pass will include live coverage of all NTT IndyCar Series qualifying and practice sessions, live coverage of Indy Lights races and replays of races that range from full-event to 15- to 30-minute cutdowns. NBC Sports’ usual booth of Leigh Diffey, Townsend Bell and Paul Tracy will call the coverage, marking the first time all qualifying and practice sessions will receive TV-quality production. IndyCar used to stream practices and some qualifying sessions itself on its website. The IndyCar Pass is part of the NBC Sports Gold streaming network.

Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski appeared on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” last night carrying the Lombardi Trophy. Host Jimmy Fallon said, “I know you're having fun, you always are, you're Gronk, that's what you're supposed to do. Really, that's why I think we all love you. We can relate to you.” Gronkowski replied, “Same with you, man.” Fallon: “There's been footage of you partying, because the parade, millions of fans showed up ... and you had to go full Gronk on everybody.” Gronkowski: “You have to. The parade is hands down the best party. It's the best experience anyone can go through.” Gronkowski said during the parade, fans were throwing shots of liquor and beer cans at players, and “everyone on the duck boat is juking them," so "we're getting good practice in for next season.”

Fallon noted Gronkowski has “not answered” whether he will retire or play next season: “There's buzz everywhere that you're going to be the next Hollywood action star.” Gronkowski: “First off, I got to see where I'm at. Right after a season, you can't make a decision. It's so emotional, big win like that. You got to settle down, you got to see how your body responds.” Fallon: “Are you bruised?” Gronkowski: “I was supposed to come on your show Monday night. I literally couldn't make it, I was that bruised up” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 2/6).

Big League Weekend in Las Vegas is "scratched" for '19 but "will return" for '20 at the Triple-A PCL Aviators' new ballpark in Summerlin. The event in March usually features the Cubs hosting "two spring training games in Sin City" (LVSPORTSBIZ.com, 2/6).

The Penguins plan to "begin the first phase of construction for the long-delayed redevelopment of the former Civic Arena site in Pittsburgh this fall" (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 2/7).

Tailgate Guys announced a partnership with Army West Point Athletics (Army).

The Bucks at last night's home game against the Wizards recognized the 1 millionth "customer to attend an event at Fiserv Forum since the arena opened in August." Wisconsin resident Samantha Holschuh received a cart full of freebies, including "playoff and concert tickets" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 2/7).

“I don’t get into politics. But I won’t be going" -- Red Sox CF Jackie Bradley Jr., on if he would visit the White House (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/7).

"I’d hate to see it go from a selfish standpoint. But I can completely understand how everybody would rather see the David Ortizes of the world hit rather than Joey Lucchesi" -- Padres manager Andy Green, on a proposal to bring a DH to the NL (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/7).

"I can see where the attention would be grand. But the truth of the matter is the circuitry of our system is very, very silent" -- MLB agent Scott Boras, who reps Bryce Harper, on if he would be in favor of a "staged announcement" for Harper's signing (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2/7).

The N.Y. POST goes with the header, "Tanking A Touchy -- And Costly Subject -- For Local Broadcasters." The subject of tanking is a "sensitive topic," for RSNs these days. The Knicks, losers of 14 straight, "claim they aren't tanking," so broadcasters for MSG, which is owned by James Dolan, "aren't going to talk about it." For network execs, tanking is "largely out of their hands." They broadcast the teams’ games, but have "no say in how things are run."

Also: 

• A profile of ESPN "news and opinion guru" Chuck Salituro.
• Portland's MLS, NWSL supporters groups help out local charities.
• Europe is college football's "next frontier" when it comes to recruiting.

So, life update tweet: Happy to say I'm joining @TheWeek as senior writer covering business & technology. Phew. Glad I got my announcement in before Bryce Harper.

— Zach Schonbrun (@zschonbrun) February 6, 2019

Golf fans/media: Ugh Brooks is great but he has no personality.

Brooks: Ok how about I just drop truth bombs on everyone from now on and give zero effs.

Me: 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 https://t.co/rzGuzXATY0

— Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg) February 6, 2019

ProAm DO - participate in the game, act interested in your partners, pay attention to their shots. ProAm DON’T - make it your practice round, putt all around the greens while your Ams are putting. Not hard. They pay the bills. Act like it.

— Brad Fritsch (@BradFritsch) February 6, 2019

It’s been a while since we’ve had a mega bank merger like this but these deals have been chaotic for facility naming rights, perhaps no more so than in Philly where arena rights started w CoreStates and then went to First Union, Wachovia and now Wells Fargo amid series of mergers

— Eric Fisher (@EricFisherSBJ) February 7, 2019

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The Bruins and C Patrice Bergeron are teaming with WBZ-FM for the annual "Pucks and Paddles" ping pong tournament from 4:00-7:00pm ET at the Royale Boston.

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

“Germany has land borders with nine countries and only maritime boundaries with two countries, the United Kingdom and this one across the Baltic.”

British actor Daniel Radcliffe appeared on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and talked about how throwing a Super Bowl party makes him "fully Americanized.” Radcliffe said sarcastically, “Wasn’t that a great game we were all really satisfied by?” Host Jimmy Kimmel: “Were there Brits at the Super Bowl party? Because I wonder when you’re used to watching soccer, if you watch (the Super Bowl) and go, ‘Wow, this is a high scoring game.’” Kimmel later asked, “Were you guys betting on this?” Radcliffe: “No. There were some prop bets on the game, like songs Maroon 5 would sing. ... We were all just writing down the Super Bowl we wanted to see, like, 'What do you this the longest touchdown will be?' We were like, ‘45, 50, 80 yards!’ One 1-yard touchdown” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 2/6).

NBC’s Seth Meyers said “officials in Boston are saying 12 people were arrested” on Tuesday during the Patriots' Super Bowl victory parade. Meyers: "So at least it was more exciting than the game” (“Late Night,” NBC, 2/6).

Last night’s edition of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” featured show correspondent Michael Kosta investigating the growing popularity of esports. Kosta: “Before I started covering the news on cable TV, I was a successful professional athlete. What sport? Tennis. I was ranked 864 in the world, so I was a natural to investigate the newest sport sweeping the nation: Video games?” (“The Daily Show,” Comedy Central, 2/6).

“What is Sweden?”