The NHL begins its truncated '20-21 season tonight, and the league has released its first batch of testing results for players ahead of the start of the campaign. During training camps from Dec. 30-Jan. 11, 27 players tested positive for COVID-19, including 17 players alone with the Stars. Most Stars players are asymptomatic and recovering with no health issues. In total, nine different teams had players who tested positive for the coronavirus. About 12,000 tests were administered to more than 1,200 players during the two-week window (Mark J. Burns, THE DAILY).

However, the league's math "is certainly strange here." A statement from last Friday "revealing the Stars’ positive tests indicated six players and two staff members had tested positive." Meanwhile, a total of 14 players missed the team's practice yesterday. It is "unclear whether all 14 of the absent players tested positive or if some were out due to contact tracing." The league confirmed "that the 17 players are indeed just players, not including staff members" (THEATHLETIC.com, 1/12).

The Lightning will unveil their ‘19-20 Stanley Cup banner tonight before their season-opener against the Blackhawks “inside an empty arena,” as no fans will be permitted inside. The decision to go ahead with the ceremony was made with "input from all levels of the organization." The franchise planned to have around 4,000 fans at Amalie Arena tonight, but last weekend’s move to close the arena due to rising coronavirus cases locally “put a wrinkle into their plans.” The Lightning today "plan to unveil replica banners” throughout the community (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 1/12).

The Jacksonville City Council on Tuesday rejected a $233M development deal with Jaguars Owner Shad Khan to “build his proposed Lot J development next to TIAA Bank Field.” The “surprising vote bookended a turbulent month for the effort to pass the deal, which faced increasing opposition and scrutiny that derailed a final vote scheduled before the end of the year.” While the Jaguars could return to the negotiating table, team President Mark Lamping after the meeting said that Khan is “ready to move on and focus on the developing the Shipyards, the working name for another proposed project.” Lamping: “It’s time to turn the page on Lot J” (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 1/13).

Sacramento will field an NWSL team in '22, league Commissioner Lisa Baird told reporters "during her state-of-the-league address." The Athletic in August "reported the deal was finalized." L.A.-based Angel City will "join the league with Sacramento" in '22, Baird revealed Tuesday. Film producer Matt Alvarez is the "Sacramento owner leading the charge" on expansion. It is "unclear where Sacramento’s new NWSL team will play" at first, as construction for MLS expansion club Republic FC's $300M downtown stadium was "expected to start this fall but faced delays" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 1/13).

Sporting KC was SeatGeek’s first primary ticketing customer when the two signed a deal in '16, giving the MLS club an important place in the ticketing company’s relatively young history. The two properties have renewed that initial deal for an undisclosed term. SeatGeek Exec VP/Client Partnerships Jeff Ianello, citing recent deals with the Cavaliers, Dynamo and USL Colorado Springs Switchbacks, said, “When you look at all the great success that we’ve had here in the recent year, none of that is possible without the first team believing in your story. The first team that took a shot on us and believed in that vision was Sporting KC.”

Feedback from a Sporting KC fan survey found that 88% of the team’s supporters thought SeatGeek created the “best experience.” Since the initial Sporting KC deal, SeatGeek’s primary ticketing business has expanded to other teams in MLS, as well as the NFL, NBA and over half of the EPL. Sporting KC’s input is still highly valued, though; the club sits on SeatGeek’s Client Advisory Board, and it’s also been a guinea pig for SeatGeek’s growing enterprise offerings. As such, Sporting KC is now SeatGeek’s first primary ticketing partnership renewal.

“SeatGeek has gone above and beyond as our ticketing partner and we look forward to continuing our partnership,” said Sporting KC Chief Sales Officer Gregg Allen. “Our fans love using SeatGeek, and we have experienced a new benchmark in collaboration.”

Engine Shop

Engine Shop promoted marketing agency veteran Christopher Handy to CEO. Handy in '10 joined Engine Shop, which is now owned by Bruin Sports Capital, as Chief Business Officer and most recently was President. Previous CEO Brian Gordon has moved outside of the Bruin Sports portfolio to become CMO of wholesale distribution firm Accelerate360, but remains an advisor at Engine Shop. Handy played a pivotal role in the company’s evolution from an event-centric activation agency to a strategic, integrated engagement marketing agency. He counts two decades of business, sports and entertainment experience across sectors (THE DAILY).

Allied Esports and HyperX, the gaming division of Kingston Technology, have renewed their exclusive naming-rights agreement for Allied Esports’ global flagship property, HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas. Per the multiyear deal, HyperX will continue to receive prominent branding and signage inside and outside of the venue, as well as across all arena promotions, content and social media platforms. HyperX and Allied Esports will continue to partner on a variety of co-branded experiences and events at the arena focused on growing their gaming and esports communities (Allied Esports).

FIFA beginning today is launching a new eight-episode podcast series as part of a broader overarching strategy and brand focus around entertainment and culture. The "FIFA PlayOn Podcast" will be hosted by singer Liam Payne and is in collaboration with Universal Music Group for Brands. Each podcast will feature one global soccer star and a famous musical talent. The first episode will include Sevilla FC MF Ivan Rakitić and music group Morat. USWNT F Carli Lloyd and Nigerian F Asisat Oshoala are among future guests. New episodes will be released weekly on Wednesdays across various podcast platforms.

“This is about taking the FIFA brand into new territories,” said FIFA Dir of Marketing Jean-Francois Pathy. “We’re big believers in a multi-culturally future, both on the sporting side and on the music side and very much on the crossover between the two. The stories that will come out of these podcasts are relevant for any audience really. You don’t have to be a football geek or a music geek to be excited and interested by those stories.”

Actor Aldis Hodge promoted his new film, “One Night in Miami...” in which he portrays Pro Football HOFer Jim Brown. The film is a fictional account of one night where Brown, Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X and Sam Cooke gathered to discuss their roles in the civil rights movement. Hodge said Brown is “still cool, he’s still got that vibe.” Hodge: “Young Jim, he was a total force, man. That brother was smart, intelligent. It was fantastic getting into his mindset.” Hodge: “We know about the football, we know about the film work. But the activism, the business acumen, understanding where he was during this transition from career to career, to take control of his own value. And then a couple of years later, he starts a Black economic union. ... He was way ahead of his time.” Hodge said he has not met Brown in person yet, but “heard that he did like the film” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 1/12).

L.A.-based menswear brand Swet Tailor partnered with the Reese’s Senior Bowl to exclusively sponsor the off-the-field wardrobe for players, coaches and staff (THE DAILY).

"You continue to give me PTSD every time you ask me about the bubble. I start shaking and thinking about 96 straight nights in the place" -- LeBron James, joking with a reporter (USA TODAY, 1/13).

“I’d like to run the Tennis Channel in my next life” -- Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour, on what she would do if she was ever to leave Conde Nast (“Sway,” NYTIMES.com, 1/12).

“I’ve done games before, and some people love you and some people hate you. But I’ve never seen such an overwhelming response to a broadcast like I did after this one” -- CBS’ Nate Burleson, on his performance calling Bears-Saints on Nickelodeon last Sunday (L.A. TIMES, 1/13).

“It was a hard decision for the coach. I heard he bought a new hooded, sleeveless tuxedo for the occasion” -- NBC’s Jimmy Fallon, on Patriots coach Bill Belichick declining to accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Donald Trump (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 1/12).

SI.com goes with the header, "For USMNT, Representing The Country Amid Upheaval Remains A Complex Endeavor." The coronavirus shows "no signs of abating despite the advent of a vaccine." There is "scandal and chaos at the highest levels of government." And the USMNT, still "incomplete and unable to gather in full, trains under the shadow of it all, saddled with both the honor and complexity of representing the USA in 2020 and now 2021."

Also:

• A look at what is "like to be a GM candidate."
• Red Sox coach Bianca Smith has "spent her career proving she belongs."
• Coronavirus "wreaks havoc with winter sports schedules."
• The college football season was "filled with exasperation and exhilaration."
• Shane Bacon’s next act is "finding fun at the new-look Golf Channel."
• USTA National Campus at Lake Nona is "avoiding property taxes."

One interesting wrinkle to the Eagles' HC search: By rule, they can't interview Chiefs pass-game coordinator Mike Kafka until after KC is done. Window to do it was last week, and next window (SB bye) is specifically for 2nd interviews.

A price to pay for firing Pederson late.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 13, 2021

I’m still trying to understand how even a sliver of the upcoming “2020-21 NHL Season” gets played in 2020...🤔🤷🏻‍♂️

In faux-defiance I’m pondering referring to it as the 1999-21 season

At any rate, ‘Chel Hockey tomorrow, people!

— Daryl Reaugh (@Razor5Hole) January 13, 2021

Mark Emmert kicks off NCAA’s Convention (it’s virtual this year) with his State of College Sports.

"We need to make clear we are still determined to move forward with NIL and transfer rules. We are going to get it done. It’s going to take a little longer than we anticipated."

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) January 12, 2021

The @NFLPA certification process is step one. Clear that hurdle, and now you have to recruit.

There are ~850 certified agents competing for only ~2k @NFL players.

75% of the players are represented by ~15% of the agents. And ~300 agents don't have any clients.

So good luck. https://t.co/lGbsSFNa4O

— Warren K. Zola (@WarrenKZola) January 13, 2021

During this crisis impacting the sports business, we want everyone to be up-to-date on the latest news and information. Here are the top headlines from last night's SBJ Unpacks: Garber Preaches "Hard Deadline" In MLS CBA Talks.

• Will Tightened Protocols Get NBA Season Back On Track?
• NHL Spons-O-Meter: Who's On Board For The 2021 Season?
• Data Shows Canadian NHL Clubs Lead Growth On Twitter

More from SBJ College: Record Low For CFP Championship Audience:

• Alabama Blowout Puts Big Dent In CFP Audience
• CFP Title Game "Lacked Energy" Without Full Crowd
• Infinite Scale's CFP Work Doesn't Vary From Prior Years

More from SBJ Marketing: Hot In Cleveland:

• Starved NFL Fan Bases Buying Up Playoff Merch
• Frito-Lay Debuting NFL Ad Between Championships, Super Bowl
• Emmanuel Sanders Grows Retail Portfolio With Staples Endorsement

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

“When she first came to the world’s attention in 1957, she was dubbed ‘Muttnik’ by U.S. journalists.”

NBC’s Seth Meyers said of the PGA of America moving the '22 PGA Championship from President Trump’s Trump National Golf Course in Bedminster, N.J., “Once again, big golf tries to silence conservatives. First, it’s the media, then it’s big tech, now it’s famous ANTIFA-leftist Bill Belichick and the PGA tearing down our country. Don’t Belichick and the PGA know that what we need right now is healing and unity? How dare they hurt Mr. Trump’s feelings and the feelings of 74 million Americans by taking away his precious golf tournament from his private resort. Don’t they know how much those hard-working real Americans love to sit home on a Sunday and watch the PGA polyester fashion show by a bunch of trust fund semi-athletes named Cameron and Bryson and Brooks” (“Late Night,” NBC, 1/12).

"Who was Laika?" The Soviet dog was one of the first animals in space. 

To start the broadcast last night, guest host Ken Jennings once again paid tribute to late host Alex Trebek, saying, “I can’t overstate how great a man Alex Trebek was and one of the things that made him great was actually his humility. Here was a TV legend and yet, the last time I spoke to him with advice about hosting, what he reminded me of was something he had said many times: the contestants, not the host, are the star of ‘Jeopardy.’ He always put the players and the game ahead of himself. He was an amazing man” (“Jeopardy,” 1/12).