The WNBA “expects an imminent sale” of the Atlanta Dream despite co-Owner Kelly Loeffler previously stating that she “did not plan to sell” the franchise. Loeffler and Mark Brock have owned the team since ’11. Loeffler and the Dream’s players have been “embroiled in conflict” since the former U.S. Senator's comments this summer about the Black Lives Matter movement. The prospective owner was not named, and it is “not known whether the impending sale would mean the franchise would be moved from Atlanta” (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 1/20).

The Jaguars are "expected to hire Trent Baalke as their general manager." The deal is "not yet done nor official, but it is slated to be soon." Baalke has been with the team for "nearly a year," joining the front office as Dir of Pro Personnel in early February '20. The Jaguars also reportedly "parted ways" with John Idzik, the former Jets GM who was "brought on to work" with the recently fired Dave Caldwell as Special Assistant to the GM (NFL.com, 1/19).

MLB is planning to launch an investigation into newly fired Mets GM Jared Porter, and the probe "could lead to a suspension from MLB in which Porter would have to apply for reinstatement to work again in baseball." Of Porter's former employers, the Cubs franchise "plans to launch an investigation," while D-backs "have yet to determine whether they will also have an investigation." There "likely will be follow-ups within all of Porter’s previous organizations," including the Red Sox, "asking if anyone knew or ever saw signs of this abhorrent behavior" (USA TODAY, 1/19).

Athletes First

Athletes First has signed Ohio State QB Justin Fields, a likely top-five NFL Draft pick, for playing contract and marketing representation. Athletes First’s Bryan Burney last night said he had reached an agreement with Fields earlier this week and signed him after more than a year of courting. Burney said that being able to represent him for marketing, while Athletes First Partner and President of Team Sports David Mulugheta reps him for his on-field contract, was what clinched the deal.

"Justin has the looks, likeability, and the chops to represent that new breed, that self-assured game changer who charts his own course," Burney said. He added that he is close to completing a memorabilia deal for Fields, and is also pursuing an apparel and footwear deal.

Ticket prices are "rocketing" on the secondary market for this weekend's NFL conference championship games, with crowds capped at 17,000 at Arrowhead Stadium and around 6,500 at Lambeau Field. This is "expected to be among the priciest combination of teams in league history," and it "could foreshadow the whopper of a secondary Super Bowl ticket price." TicketIQ this week saw a Bills-Chiefs average price of $1,332, with a get-in price of $882. That would "trounce the costliest AFC title game in history," Jaguars-Patriots in '18. But the market in K.C. "might pale in comparison" to Buccaneers-Packers after nearly 6,500 tickets are sold today (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/20).

Ticket sales for the NFC game begin at 10:00am CT today on a "first-come, first-served basis on the Ticketmaster website." They will be sold only to Packers season-ticket holders who notified the team "before the season that they'd be willing" to buy tickets; about 11,000 opted in (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 1/20).

The legal dispute over the phrase “Inter” continues between Inter Miami and Serie A club Inter Milan, but the MLS club "insists the team is not in jeopardy of having to change its name or logo." Inter Miami and MLS said in a statement: “The trademark dispute between Major League Soccer and Inter Milan focuses on whether Inter Milan can claim an exclusive trademark ownership of, and the right to use, the commonly used term 'Inter' standing alone in commercial activity. The litigation does not concern the brand name or brand marks for Inter Miami CF."

Inter Milan, which "took a massive financial hit due to the pandemic, is undergoing a name and logo change in March." The club is changing its name from Football Club Internazionale Milano to Inter Milano (MIAMI HERALD, 1/21).

Netflix ended last year with more than 200 million subscribers, per its Q4 report, a milestone "powered by consumers left homebound by the pandemic, eager for entertainment, and rising demand in international markets where the streaming giant has a head start over many rivals." Netflix added 37 million subs in '20, and the continued growth comes "amid heightened competition from new streaming services" including Disney+ and Peacock (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/20). Its subscribers passed 100 million in '17 (CNBC.com, 1/19).

A COVID-19 vaccination site will open at Marlins Park today with a "goal of administering 1,000 doses a day" (MIAMI HERALD, 1/20). Fenway Park starting Feb. 1 will become Massachusetts' "second large-scale COVID-19 vaccination site," joining Gillette Stadium (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/20).

The USMNT will play its first match of ‘21 at Orlando’s Exploria Stadium against Trinidad & Tobago on Jan. 31. Tickets will be “available for purchase with a limited capacity of 4,500 fans” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/20).

Tyrrell Hatton, the No. 9-ranked golfer in the World Golf Ranking, has “re-signed to play Ping equipment.” Terms of the deal were not revealed (GOLFWEEK.com, 1/19).

The Professional Windsurfers Association today announced that its World Tour “will introduce equal prize money in the men's and women's fleets starting in the 2021 season” (REUTERS, 1/20).

“Brad blew us away. I'm a very big first-impression person and usually within two or three minutes of every interview, I'd write a quick note to myself on what was my first impression, and my first impression of Brad was, this is the guy" -- Lions President Rod Wood, on new GM Brad Holmes, who was introduced yesterday (DETROIT NEWS, 1/20).

"There are some guys who have no fear and then there are some guys who have tons of anxiety about it and there’s nothing you can do about that. That doesn’t make them weak, that makes them aware and so you’ve got to watch that, too" -- 76ers coach Doc Rivers, on how players' responses to the pandemic have varied (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 1/20).

The N.Y. POST goes with the header, "Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy Is A Pub Saver Amid COVID-19." Portnoy has spent the last month "leveraging his star power to raise tens of millions for mom-and-pop shops struggling to survive the pandemic." Since opening the Barstool Fund on Dec. 17 with $500,000 from his own pocket, Portnoy has raised $27M. Unlike the federal government’s coronavirus aid program, which provides a one-time loan, Portnoy has "vowed to provide his beneficiaries with funding every month until the pandemic ends."

Also:

• NFL owners "love to extoll the Rooney Rule -- and then hire White guys."
• Muslim community "takes pride in Jets hiring Robert Saleh."
• The fight over "hockey's racial reckoning."
• Jim Phillips leaves Northwestern in "better shape than when he took the AD job."
• Stadiums light up to honor "those who died from COVID-19."
• Inside the Lakers’ "fake crowd noise operation at Staples Center."

Real text from a former Tennessee classmate: "We are so stuck in the '90s that our cheating is based on Blue Chips"

— Ryan McGee (@ESPNMcGee) January 20, 2021

Nashville Superspeedway has a plan where it could bring in temporary grandstands to increase capacity from 25K to 40,000 (which also would increase the capacity if they are allowed a certain percentage of capacity). #nascar

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) January 19, 2021

Barstool Sportsbook was third in overall action in Pennsylvania, but did finish #1 in revenue, thanks to an unreal 19.1% hold percentage, which has to a sportsbook record for a month.

Translation: They made more money from their bettors per dollar than any book in history.

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) January 19, 2021

I've never met someone as willing to share their expertise and experiences as much as Don Sutton. From the grip on a knuckle curve to the proper tip on a free pizza at the hotel bar, he loved to share. Those of us who had a chance to learn from him are better for it. RIP.

— Tom Hart (@tom_hart) January 19, 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: Sandy Alderson On Mets' Path Forward.

• In-House Candidates Zack Scott, John Ricco Could Take Over Mets GM Role
• NHL's Bill Daly Stresses Engagement, Experience Over Finances For Fans' Return
• PGA Tour Third League To Join AGA's Responsible Betting Program

More from SBJ College: AD Carousel In Full Swing:

• High-Level AD Openings Add Intrigue To 2021
• Baylor Coach: Season About The "Almighty Dollar"
• Era Of Athlete Compensation Off To Rocky Start

More from SBJ Marketing: The Changing Connection With Fans:

• Horizon Media Survey Looks At Pandemic Effect On Fans/Sponsors
• Fans Hesitant About Returning To Venues
• Reimagining Sponsor-Fan Connections

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was "The Business of Travel."

"Adjusted for inflation, the nightly rate this company put in its name in 1962 is now $51."

Actor Casey Affleck, a Boston native and long-time Patriots fan, said he still has “love” for Buccaneers QB Tom Brady and “I’m always going to root for him.” Affleck: “I like watching him play. I think it was time for a change. It seemed like it was good for everyone. Sometimes you want to grow in a new way, you have to go to a new place and do it, but he’s the G.O.A.T. The other thing is that the Patriots can still win. Not this season, but they don’t need to have the G.O.A.T. to win. The team that wins is not the team with the best players.” Host Jimmy Fallon: “But when you say it worked out the best for everybody, you realize that it did not in any way work out well for the Patriots?” Affleck: “This is a building year. Give it time, give it time” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 1/19).

"What is Motel 6?"