Expansion MLS club Atlanta United "will open" the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a match July 30. Construction on the new venue was "supposed to be finished March 1," but that date was "pushed to June 1, and then to the summer because of delays related to the completion of the roof." AMB Sports & Entertainment CEO Steve Cannon "expects that they will be able to take over the stadium possibly as early as late April to begin preparing it for events." Cannon said that there will be a "series of small events for varying audiences before and after the Atlanta United opener" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 1/7).

NASL and the USL were "both given provisional Division II status" on Friday by the U.S. Soccer Federation's BOD. The USSF said that neither league "meets all its standards and the federation will determine additional requirements and a timeline for meeting them" (AP, 1/7). USSF reached a decision that "should give both the NASL and USL time to figure out their natural and ideal place on the country’s professional pyramid." Attempts at some kind of compromise "went nowhere" (SI.com, 1/6).

ESPN last night "rolled out a blue carpet" for a group of athletes, celebrities and network personalities for its Party at the Playoff event in Tampa ahead of tomorrow's CFP title game. Among those in attendance were ESPN personalities Jemele Hill, Rece Davis, Booger McFarland and Cari Champion, along with "about a half dozen others" from the net. Rock band X Ambassadors also played at the event (TAMPABAY.com, 1/8). Meanwhile, fans waited "more than an hour" yesterday at Playoff Fan Central to "throw footballs through a bus window" or pose next to the championship trophy (TAMPABAY.com, 1/7).

Day 1 of the CFP's Playoff Playlist Live on Friday "was a bust," as attendance was "nowhere near the projected 10,000 to 20,000." The event "surely broke four figures but not by all that much" (TAMPABAY.com, 1/7). Day 2 was a "much more obvious success, despite windy winter weather [that] occasionally made the concert feel like a five-hour test of human endurance" (TAMPABAY.com, 1/8). 

The NBA postponed last night’s Pistons-Trail Blazers matchup at Moda Center because of a "dangerous forecast in Portland that called for freezing rain and snow throughout the night." The game was rescheduled for 6:00pm PT tonight (DETROIT NEWS, 1/8). Meanwhile, the NC State-North Carolina men's basketball game tipped off today at 1:00pm ET after being postponed last night "amid concerns about icy road conditions." The ACC’s general weather policy is if both teams, game officials and operations crew can "make it to the site, the game will go on as scheduled." There were "safety concerns specifically on UNC’s end" (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 1/8). 

The Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER's Luke DeCock writes on its face, UNC's "position is correct." But that is "part of a bigger debate over how the ACC and its schools value safety compared to the wishes of ESPN and crowded schedules." This particular postponement "flouts not only ACC precedent, but UNC precedent" (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 1/8).

Lines to buy Cubs Spring Training tickets "started forming" yesterday at Mesa, Ariz.'s Sloan Park at about 3:00am PT, with tickets going on sale "seven hours later." Fans willing to "pay a premium were able to buy tickets Friday." MasterCard users were charged 15% more, and "other forms of payment used" included an additional 20% fee (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/8).

Eagles OT Lane Johnson filed a 45-page federal lawsuit late Friday against the NFLPA, NFL and NFL Management Council over his 10-game suspension for alleged PED use, seeking unspecified actual and punitive damages. Johnson claims his rights under labor law were violated. The lawsuit alleges the NFL and NFLMC breached their obligations under the CBA and the NFLPA violated its duty of fair representation under the National Labor Relations Act and also violated the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act. The NFL declined comment. The NFLPA did not respond to a request for comment.

The case alleges 10 causes of action and Johnson's attorney, Stephen Zashin, called the process around the suspension "a sham proceeding" and alleged multiple provisions of the '15 collectively-bargained PED policy were violated. "This case is a harsh example of an employer and union who have chosen to withhold and manipulate the terms and conditions of employment in violation of the law," Zashin said.

5-hour Energy has "made its first entry" into e-sports with a "sponsorship of multigame organization Detroit Renegades." Michigan-based Living Essentials owns 5-Hour, and the Renegades are owned by Celtics F Jonas Jerebko. Under the deal, the e-sports organization's Overwatch team will "include the 5-hour Energy name in its team name, i.e. the Detroit Renegades 5-hour Energy Overwatch team, although the sponsorship also extends to the entire Renegades brand" (ESPN.com, 1/7).

Tonight's Warriors-Kings game will be streamed in India by the NBA through Facebook Live. The game marks the Kings' fourth annual Bollywood Night, which is a celebration of traditional Indian culture, cinema and music. The stream will include every moment of the game, as well as in-arena entertainment. Kings Managing Partner Vivek Ranadive in '13 became the NBA's first Indian owner (Kings). The stream is the "latest example" of the Warriors "helping spearhead an NBA initiative." In addition to "being the first NBA team to wear short-sleeved jerseys, the Warriors were the first franchise to create a team-specific account on the Chinese-based social media platform Weibo" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/8).

Patriots QB Tom Brady yesterday launched his own verified Instagram profile, and he soon thereafter "made his first post, a photo of himself" outside in the snow. Brady "hinted he would join another social media network in a pair of posts he made this week on Facebook, which owns Instagram." He "revealed his choice in a Facebook video" (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 1/7). By presstime, Brady had amassed more than 713,000 followers (THE DAILY).

You can take the boy out of California... and I think they took the California out of the boy! Instagram is coming...

A photo posted by Tom Brady (@tombrady) on Jan 7, 2017 at 1:26pm PST

The 94th annual American Football Coaches Association Convention "kicks off" today at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, with most of the nation's FBS and FCS coaches "expected to attend." The convention will "last four days and on Tuesday feature the AFCA Awards Show, which for the first time will be televised live" on CBS Sports Network from 8:00-9:00pm CT from the Grand Ole Opry House (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 1/8).

U.S. intelligence officials have determined that last year's cyberattacks on WADA "originated with the Russian government, perpetrated in apparent retaliation" for what Russia President Vladimir Putin "deemed to be an American-led effort to defame Russia for widespread doping" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/7).

The Penguins are honoring their '09 Stanley Cup-winning team before today’s 5:00pm ET game against the Lightning, and many players from that team were "on hand watching practice" yesterday. Five players from the '09 squad are "still on the Penguins" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 1/8).

Former WNBAer Tamika Catchings today begins "working as an analyst on ESPN's SEC Network" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 12/7).

A crowd of 14,423 attended yesterday's FCS National Championship game, in which James Madison defeated Youngstown State by a score of 28-14 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 1/8).

A federal judge on Friday "froze the assets" of Boston Grand Prix President & CEO John Casey as part of an $11M bankruptcy case "stemming from the collapse of an Indycar race that had been planned" for last Labor Day weekend (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/7).

"Having the conference championships and then to go on to play (three) playoff games, it would be ridiculous to do. It’s just too much to ask" – Clemson TE Jordan Leggett, on an eight-team CFP (SI.com, 1/7).

"I want to instill pride. Who else are Las Vegans going to root for -- the Bellagio? People (in the community) need to bond" – Raiders Owner Mark Davis, on his push to move the franchise to Las Vegas (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 1/8).

"The UFC is the NFL. Bellator is like the Canadian Football League. ... World Series of Fighting is like Arena Football" – Legacy Fighting Alliance President Ed Soares, comparing the fighting series to one another (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/7).

"I'm not going to fire him. We're already talking about next year" – Texans Owner Bob McNair, on coach Bill O'Brien (ESPN.com, 1/7).

The DENVER POST's Nicki Jhabvala writes Broncos Exec VP/Football Operations & GM John Elway is "attempting his toughest comeback" as the team begins an offseason filled with question marks. Elway is tasked with finding a new coach after Gary Kubiak resigned, not to mention the uncertainty surrounding the Broncos' ownership situation. Elway’s task "appears taller and his drive to his next comeback bumpier than ever."

The WASHINGTON POST's Dan Steinberg addressed the city's sports teams, writing it is "okay to say 'you're fired'" now that President-elect Donald Trump is set to be inaugurated this month. No team in pro sports "ever fires a coach anymore." Words like "relieved of duties" and "parted ways" are much more common.

Elsewhere:

• Who should "call the Home Run Derby" with Chris Berman stepping aside?
• How a Canadian law professor "uncovered Russia's doping conspiracy."
• The NHL's playoff format "punishes some of the league's best teams."
•  Former Gawker editor A.J. Daulerio reflects on the Hulk Hogan case.

The NHL Panthers on Friday night called upon 25-year-old Account Exec Bobby Segin to "fill in" as a backup goaltender after starter Roberto Luongo was injured during warmups. Segin, a member of the team's ticket sales staff, served as the "emergency backup" during the game against the Predators, but "was not called upon" by coach Tom Rowe to enter the game. Segin said that he was "walking around the arena with his sales team" when Panthers Assistant to the GM Braden Birch "called to tell him he would be needed" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/6).

#NFLPlayoffs Top 5 Most Marketable

1. Tom Brady
2. Aaron Rodgers
3. Eli Manning
4. Odell Beckham Jr.
5. Dak Prescott#SportsBiz

— Bob Dorfman (@BobDorfman) January 7, 2017

Save for the rain, Tampa the best CFP title site so far. All events, most hotels downtown. Fans already everywhere. Feels like a Final Four.

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) January 7, 2017

Being professional, fair and objective important to me. If I owe Falcons an apology for having some fun with Richard Sherman, they have it

— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) January 8, 2017

Intended point to Richard Sherman was I'm covering Cowboys playoff game next week so whether I cover Seahawks again depends on them winning

— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) January 8, 2017

Sources: There have been preliminary discussions about moving the Michigan-Florida season opener at AT&T Stadium... https://t.co/W3SxYBpYRu

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) January 7, 2017

The Gasparilla Pirate Ship is a must have pic for @CFBPlayoff fans! #TampaBay2017 ☀️🌴🏈👊🏻 pic.twitter.com/0liApWwCQe

— Rob Higgins (@RHiggins_TBSC) January 7, 2017