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Nashville hosted a "record-breaking weekend" for the NFL Draft, as attendance figures released yesterday by the league noted the city "welcomed an estimated 600,000 draft-goers across the three day event." NFL VP/Communications Brian McCarthy "confirmed the record-breaking attendance" yesterday afternoon via Twitter (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 4/28). Country music artist Dierks Bentley, who closed out the NFL Draft main stage last night with a post-selection concert, said prior to performing, "This must be the greatest day I've ever had here in Nashville." A "sea of swarming football fans ... greeted Bentley with drink-raising elation as he ran on to the towering Lower Broadway draft stage" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 4/28). Fellow country musician Tim McGraw "closed down the NFL Draft main stage" on Friday night, playing a "celebratory 75-minute set" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 4/27).

Overwatch League's first competition in a home-team venue got off to a rocky start yesterday when a power outage at the Allen Event Center outside Dallas stopped play just 10 minutes into the action. The first match of the two-day, eight-game Bud Light Homestand Weekend, London Spitfire v. Paris Eternal, was delayed for roughly 45 minutes while technical staff addressed the problem caused by a traffic accident affecting the grid that serves the venue. The remainder of yesterday's action played out without incident in front of a sold-out crowd of 4,500. The Bud Light Homestand Weekend is the first time OWL games have been operated by a team in their own venue; all prior regular-season games had been operated by OWL at Blizzard Arena in L.A., but the league is preparing to shift the entire schedule into home venues in '20. Envy President & COO Geoff Moore said the event's budget was in the mid-to-high six figures, and will turn a profit.

DOTESPORTS.com addressed the power outage yesterday under the header, "Blackout Occurs At Overwatch League Dallas Homestand Games," while ESTNN.com went with, "Allen Event Center Loses Power During OWL Spitfire/Eternal Game At Dallas Ultimate Weekend."

The Canadian Premier League, the "latest attempt to build a sustainable coast-to-coast domestic soccer league" in Canada, kicked off at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton yesterday. The afternoon game "attracted a crowd of 17,611," with supporters groups for both Forge FC and York9 FC "in full force." Attendance was "helped by the fact the Forge did not charge admission to the game, a community gesture" by Hamilton-native and Forge FC Owner Bob Young. The soccer was "decent, and the pace was "good." The CPL has "a coast-to-coast feel, something that will be evident" today in the league’s second match between the Halifax Wanderers and Pacific FC in Victoria, B.C. (TORONTO SUN, 4/28). The seven-team CPL is "seen as a platform for young Canadian talent." While the teams had only been together for seven weeks, the opener "delivered on entertainment" (CP, 4/27).

Blue Jays 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made his MLB debut at Rogers Centre on Friday, and he has already "created a sensation rarely witnessed in Toronto." Guerrero as a "tribute" to his father -- Baseball HOFer Vladimir Guerrero -- arrived at the ballpark "outfitted in an Expos jersey with his dad's now-famous No. 27 across the back" (GLOBE & MAIL, 4/27). The crowd at Rogers Centre on Friday "topped 28,000, well above" the Blue Jays' average attendance this season (GLOBE & MAIL, 4/27). Guerrero made his debut amid a "crush of media attention and fanfare," with the elder Guerrero "also on hand." The crowd at Rogers Centre also "included huge walk-up numbers" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/27).

A's manager Bob Melvin said of the atmosphere at Rogers Centre, "A lot of hoopla out here. I walked out, and it almost looked like a playoff game" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 4/27). Blue Jays P Marcus Stroman said having Guerrero on the team is "like having Zion Williamson on your team; it's like a once-in-a-lifetime kind of talent" (ESPN.com, 4/27).

Half a dozen candidates are "expected to put their names forward to stand against disgraced American Justin Gimelstob for one of the key roles in governing men's tennis." Candidates have until tomorrow "to declare themselves for next month's election to the main six-person ATP Board, which has turned into a crisis for the sport with Gimelstob seemingly determined to run again when he is up for renewal on May 14." Senior figures in the game are "horrified that the unfolding public relations disaster for the men's tour will get a whole lot worse if Gimelstob manages to survive" (London DAILY MAIL, 4/26). The N.Y. Times' Christopher Clarey tweeted: "I know one former member of the ATP top 10 from the U.S. intends to declare soon" (TWITTER.com, 4/26).

The city of Baltimore "reached a tentative agreement Friday with the owners of Pimlico Race Course to receive -- but not make public -- an engineering report that led to the closing of 6,670 seats for the Preakness Stakes next month." Lawmakers from Baltimore have been "pushing" for The Stronach Group, which owns the Maryland Jockey Club, to "release the report so that they -- and the public -- can assess the findings for themselves." Stronach has said that it is "willing to provide the report ... to state horse racing regulators and the city, but only under a confidentiality agreement since the study examining the track’s condition is related to its defense of the city’s pending lawsuit against the company" (BALTIMORE SUN, 4/27).

Univ. of Virginia men's basketball coach Tony Bennett announced Friday that his team "would decline an invitation to celebrate" its NCAA championship at the White House, continuing "a trend of basketball champions’ spurning the traditional fete during the polarizing Trump administration." Bennett said in a statement posted to the team’s Twitter feed: "With several players either pursuing pro opportunities or moving on from UVA, it would be difficult, if not impossible to get everyone back together. We would have to respectfully decline an invitation.” It was "not immediately clear whether an invitation had already been extended or whether the two sides had engaged in any talks over a visit." It was also "not clear" how UVA "reached its decision, but one member of the university’s powerful Board of Visitors -- its version of a Board of Regents -- said Saturday that the board as a whole had not been involved" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/28).

The playing surface at Yankee Stadium has been "a hot topic" around MLS, and Orlando City F Nani "experienced it for the first time during Orlando City’s 1-1 draw" with NYCFC yesterday. Nani said, "It was not the best field I’ve played in my life." Orlando City coach James O'Connor said of NYCFC coach Domenec Torrent, “You feel for him and the staff and for the players. It’s a difficult field for them to have to go and play on. A lot of people have expressed their view, and everyone knows the situation, but having experienced it, it’s definitely a difficult arena and a difficult field" (PROSOCCERUSA.com, 4/27).

Matt Vasgersian, Jessica Mendoza and Alex Rodriguez will "return to Minute Maid Park" tonight for ESPN's telecast of Indians-Astros, and once again they will be "calling the action from the Crawford Boxes behind left field." It is "a scenic vantage point" for the "SNB" crew but it also "creates certain challenges." Meanwhile, the recent addition of the Astros' HOF on the walkway behind the Crawford Boxes will "provide the ESPN crew ample opportunity for cutaway shots and discussion between innings Sunday night" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 4/26).

The Bruins "paid homage" to late Basketball HOFer John Havlicek last night before Game 2 of their Stanley Cup playoff series against the Blue Jackets at TD Garden. The Bruins "requested a moment not of silence but applause" for Havlicek, who died Thursday, followed by a video tribute (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/28).

The Rockets made the "unusual move of traveling to the Bay Area in preparation for their second-round series" with the Warriors, "even though the Warriors had not yet won their first-round series." Rockets officials "figured if the Clippers took the series to seven games ... and won, then the Rockets could head back to Houston for a Game 1 on Wednesday" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/28).

76ers co-Owner Michael Rubin in an Instagram post said that a Pennsylvania judge has "denied rapper Meek Mill's probation request to travel with the team" to Toronto for the team's Eastern Conference semifinals against the Raptors (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 4/27).

Miller Park was "packed" with 40,000 fans for Billy Joel's "first Milwaukee concert in 11 years and his only Midwest concert" of '19 (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 4/28).

"Actually, I think Adam and I have worked very well together. I'm sure, like in any process, there are times where ... you know, you work through the process" -- NFL Jets GM Mike Maccagnan, on reports of a rift between he and new coach Adam Gase (ESPN.com, 4/26).

"My goal is to win. My goal is to build a dynasty here. Not just win a Stanley Cup, but multiple Stanley Cups over several years" -- Golden Knights Owner Bill Foley, on his plans for the franchise (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/28).

"What would surprise my dad if he was still alive is the variability and variety that now exists in stadiums. I think that would be something -- he would love it -- but I think that would be a gigantic surprise" -- FC Dallas President Dan Hunt, on the evolution of concessions (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4/26).

The DALLAS MORNING NEWS wrote under the header, "What Modern Challenges To Dallas-Area Pro Sports Teams Face While Competing In An Evolving Concessions Game?" Gone are the days when hot dogs, popcorn and soda "were the best -- and perhaps only -- ways to satisfy an appetite in stadiums." While those essentials "still dominate stadium stands, creativity, pricing and expectation for options has evolved to a point where chicken tenders can be bigger than the birds, nachos are often 'ultimate,' and vegans, vegetarians or those on a diet can find several compliant choices."

Elsewhere:

• Friends of "Jeopardy" champion James Holzhauer share their stories.
• A look inside the NFL Draft's Selection Square as teams make their picks.
• The N.Y. Times profiled British semi-pro soccer team Hashtag United.

One thing about the Clippers under Steve Ballmer: The richest owner in pro sports works under the same salary cap as everyone else with players but not with the front office. There's a reason Michael Winger turned down Minnesota and Trent Redden may do the same with New Orleans.

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) April 28, 2019

Guess the Chiefs are still deeply distrurbed enough to put out pathetic statements on Tyreek Hill, but not distrurbed enough to actually do anything about it. I'm deeply distutbed by Clark Hunt's deeply disturbing record on DV/abuse dating back to the Jovan Belcher murder/suicide

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) April 28, 2019

Nashville wrote a case study on how to host and optimize an event. The 2019 NFL Draft attracted over 600,000 people—more than double the previous record of 250,000. Other cities must evaluate how they can maximize place, entertainment offerings and activation to draw top crowds.

— Alicia Jessop (@RulingSports) April 28, 2019

Colin Kaepernick was permanently blacklisted by the NFL for championing civil rights.

Nick Bosa was taken #2 overall in the NFL Draft after echoing white supremacist rhetoric.

America.

— Dylan (@dyllyp) April 27, 2019

One of most meaningful parts of the draft’s last day is thanking all the ESPN staffers who do so much to make these three days possible. They cut highlights, research facts, produce these shows, coordinate schedules. @McShay13 thanked many by name. All of us feel the same. TY.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 27, 2019