• The NHL was forced to pause the first of its two outdoor games at Lake Tahoe on Saturday between the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights after the first period for more than eight hours due to poor ice conditions resulting from excessive sunshine and a lack of cloud cover, which led to the game being completed on cable network NBCSN rather than broadcast network NBC and ending at 1:50 a.m. ET, more than 10 and a half hours after it began. The league also pushed the start of yesterday’s Lake Tahoe game between the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers back from the afternoon to 7:30 p.m. ET, which also led to it being bumped from broadcast to cable. (The Associated Press)

• The Seattle Mariners are expected to release a statement today in response to controversial remarks made by Kevin Mather, the team’s president and CEO, in a speech made to a local rotary club earlier this month that reportedly has many angry fans calling for his dismissal. In his Feb. 5 comments, which have been removed from YouTube after being uploaded Friday, Mather offered sensitive information on the team’s financial situation, touted the club’s low payroll last season as beneficial to the team’s bottom line, called star third baseman Kyle Seager “overpaid” and ranted about the “terrible” English-speaking capabilities of several members of the organization. (The Seattle Times)

• The NFL is seeking media rights fee increases of close to 100 percent from its current network partners, but people familiar with the matter said Walt Disney Co. is less likely than the league’s other three networks — Comcast Corp.-owned NBC, ViacomCBS Inc. and Fox Corp. — to accept such a substantial rate hike. The league is reportedly hoping to get its primary package renewals done by March 17, but Disney is said to have rejected paying anything close to $3.8 billion for its new deal, as it is already paying significantly more for its “Monday Night Football” package than the other networks are paying for their respective rights. (CNBC)

• The NCAA announced plans to host tens of thousands of fans at both its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, which begin next month in Indianapolis and San Antonio, respectively, a decision that allows the association to generate millions in ticket revenue — though still far less than in a typical, non-pandemic year — but risks spread of the coronavirus across the country as fans travel to attend the games. The men’s tournament will allow crowds of up to 25 percent capacity at venues ranging from the 9,100-seat Hinkle Fieldhouse to the 70,000-seat Lucas Oil Stadium, while the women’s tournament will admit crowds of up to 17 percent capacity from the regional semifinals through the championship final, which will be held at the 31,900-seat Alamodome. (The New York Times)

Cable Networks Remain Profitable Despite Cord-Cutting—but Upheaval Is Coming
Jason Lynch, Adweek

Cable’s reckoning isn’t quite at hand—yet. Even with cord-cutting hitting an all-time high last year during the pandemic, the robust ad revenue and monthly cable carriage fees that media companies collect on their sometimes enormous basic cable portfolios remain vital to their bottom lines.

Over 16 months later, NBA is still exiled from much of China’s vast TV market
Bill Shea, The Athletic

It’s unclear when the NBA will be back on CCTV. The league declined to comment on its relationship with the Chinese broadcasters. The 76ers also declined to comment about the situation or say whether potential reaction from China was a discussion topic when Morey was hired.

The Return on Investment for 2021 Super Bowl Ads
Jo Craven McGinty, The Wall Street Journal

In less than four hours, 65 commercials costing an average of $5.6 million per 30-second spot aired in front of 91.5 million Super Bowl LV viewers, according to the market-research firm Kantar Group. The total spend during the 2021 game was an estimated $485 million.

Ex-NFL players’ lawsuit over painkillers moves closer to trial after ruling
Daniel Kaplan, The Athletic

Nearly seven years after a group of former NFL players, including Pro Football Hall of Famer Richard Dent, sued the league over an alleged overuse and abuse of prescription pain pills, the case finally gained approval Friday from a federal judge who also scheduled deadlines for class certification arguments, underscoring the lawsuit could incorporate thousands of retired players.

Timberwolves fire coach Ryan Saunders; will hire Raptors’ Chris Finch: Sources
Jon Krawczynski and Shams Charania, The Athletic

The Minnesota Timberwolves fired head coach Ryan Saunders late Sunday night and will hire Toronto Raptors assistant Chris Finch on a multi-year contract to replace Saunders, sources tell The Athletic. The Timberwolves officially announced Saunders’ firing less than an hour before midnight ET, saying an announcement about the next head coach would be made Monday.

Private seating, hefty prices: In-person NYC sports are back amid COVID pandemic
Rich Calder, New York Post

The Nets are offering a luxe, exclusive experience for a select number of fans at a steep price: roughly $600 to $5,000 courtside, sources told The Post. Rather than open its doors to the full 10 percent capacity as permitted by state pandemic rules, the 19,000-seat Brooklyn arena plans to fill just 300 seats for the Nets next three home games beginning Feb. 23 against the Sacramento Kings, and none were listed for sale on secondary market sites Friday.

NBA: Selling season
John Lombardo, Sports Business Journal

The selling period is hardly typical, thanks to the fact that many season-ticket holders simply rolled over their accounts during the pandemic as the schedule was upended and fans were kept away from most venues. That has some teams already looking at 90% renewal rates, so instead of having to make an all-out push on renewals, the major emphasis for the period this year will be on re-engaging fans and rebuilding their connection with the team and arena.

Dodgers working with state officials to allow fans to attend opening day
Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times

The Dodgers are working with the governor’s office and local public health officials on proposals that call for Dodger Stadium to operate at limited capacity at the start of the season, team president Stan Kasten said in a video sent Friday to season-ticket holders. The proposal could require the state to modify its current guidance, which allows a team to sell to 20% capacity if its county is in the orange tier, indicating moderate spread of the coronavirus, and 25% capacity if the county is in the yellow tier, indicating minimal spread.

Rockies’ Ian Desmond decides to opt out of second consecutive MLB season
Steve Gardner, USA Today

Desmond announced Sunday on Instagram that “for now,” he has decided to opt out of the 2021 season. “My desire to be with my family is greater than my desire to go back and play baseball under these circumstances,” Desmond wrote. “I’m going to continue to train and watch how things unfold.”

David Pastrnak, Bruins blitz Flyers as second Lake Tahoe game goes smoothly
The Athletic

David Pastrnak notched his 11th career hat trick and the Bruins routed the Flyers 7-3 on Sunday in Lake Tahoe, Calif., as the second of two NHL outdoor games went much more smoothly than Saturday’s delayed event. Saturday’s Avalanche-Golden Knights game was postponed after the first period for more than eight hours because the ice was softening under the midday sun.

More hurdles emerging as NHL looks into pushing back 2021 NHL Draft
Sportsnet

As the NHL and National Hockey League Players’ Association continue to discuss the logistics of staging the 2021 Draft, several teams have indicated a preference to have the draft pushed back. But exploring the specifics of how that change would function in practice has led to the emergence of big hurdles, and pessimism that the adjustment will be able to happen.

Louisville’s NCAA infractions case for violations when Rick Pitino was coach to be handled by IARP
David Cobb, CBS Sports

Louisville’s NCAA infractions case will be resolved through the Independent Accountability Resolution Process, the NCAA announced Friday, as the Cardinals continue to wait for a resolution following allegations that their basketball program violated NCAA rules. Louisville’s case joins a long list of programs that includes NC State, Kansas and Memphis, among others, whose cases will be decided by the relatively new panel.

Bielema Trial In Razorback Foundation Battle Pushed Back To 2022
Micahel McCann, Sportico

The legal battle between Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema and his former employer, the Razorback Foundation, is poised to last even longer. According to an amended final scheduling order issued this week in Arkansas, the jury trial date for Bielema v. Razorback Foundation has been rescheduled from June 1, 2021, to Jan. 10, 2022.

UK offers to host Euros
Tim Shipman et al., The Sunday Times

Britain is offering to host the entire European football championships this year after ministers drew up plans to let fans back into football stadiums and outdoor music festivals by the end of May. Oliver Dowden, the culture secretary, has signalled to Uefa, European football’s governing body, that progress on vaccinations means the UK will have crowds back in stadiums before most of Europe.

Winley joins MLS as chief DEI officer, a first for league
Mark J. Burns, Sports Business Journal

For the first time in its soon-to-be 26-season history, MLS has a chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer. Sola Winley, formerly an executive vice president of corporate strategy and planning at A+E Television Networks, started in the role last week and reports to MLS Commissioner Don Garber.

Bell snags first Cup victory in another surprise Gibbs win
Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press

Bell defied the odds Sunday and earned his first career Cup series victory — in just his second race since Joe Gibbs Racing pulled him back into its inner circle — to close out an unpredictable week of racing at Daytona International Speedway. Bell and McDowell have snagged coveted berths in the 16-driver playoff field, a troubling trend for mid-pack teams that need all 26 regular-season races to point their way into the championship picture.

Deal to bring NASCAR to COTA a bit of a throwback
Adam Stern, Sports Business Journal

Speedway Motorsports says its unique arrangement with Circuit of the Americas is succeeding, with tickets and sponsorships being sold and the two sides figuring out how to work together on NASCAR’s first visit to the track. The Charlotte-based track promoter struck a deal with COTA that will result in NASCAR visiting the Austin-based Formula One track in April, which involves Speedway Motorsports renting the track from COTA, promoting the NASCAR events that weekend, and then pocketing the related revenue.

Djokovic wins 9th Australian Open, 18th Slam title
The Associated Press

Djokovic used improved serving, along with his usual relentless returning and baseline excellence to grab 11 of 13 games in one stretch and beat Medvedev 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 for a third consecutive Australian Open trophy. “Definitely, emotionally, the most challenging Grand Slam that I ever had, with everything that was happening — injury, off-the-court stuff, quarantines,” Djokovic said. “A roller-coaster ride.”

Naomi Osaka Beats Jennifer Brady at Australian Open for Her 4th Grand Slam Title
Karen Crouse, The New York Times

Osaka, the pride of Japan who spent much of her childhood in Florida, would appear to have a leg up on the rest of her competition in an increasingly deep women’s game. She is 4 for 4 in Grand Slam finals, a feat achieved in the Open era only by Monica Seles on her way to nine total championships and Roger Federer on his way to 20.

Djokovic: Documentary of AO Triumph Coming
TennisNow

Novak Djokovic will open the curtain and take fans behind-the-scenes of his show-stopping run to his ninth Australian Open title. After conquering Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 to remain undefeated in Melbourne finals and collect his 18th career Grand Slam championship, Djokovic announced a documentary film chronicling his run is in the works.

Genesis Invitational: After a nearly four-hour wind delay, golfers resume play
Todd Kelly, Golfweek

On a bright and sunny Saturday just north of Los Angeles, play was suspended for nearly four hours during the third round of the Genesis Invitational due to high winds. It wasn’t just that golf balls were rolling off greens because of the gusts. The safety of players, caddies and staff became a concern.

eFuse raises $6M from investors including pro athletes
H.B. Duran, Esports Insider

Esports social media startup eFuse has raised $6m (~£4.28m) in post-seed capital funding, with the round led by the Ohio Innovation Fund and a number of professional athletes. Notable athlete investors include Odell Beckham, Jr. and Denzel Ward of the Cleveland Browns, Seth Curry of the Philadelphia 76ers, Ezekiel Elliot of the Dallas Cowboys, and Chase Winovich of the New England Patriots.

Coca-Cola Set to Acquire Controlling Interest in BodyArmor
Martín Caballero, BevNet

The Coca-Cola Company has begun the process of acquiring a controlling stake in sports drink brand BodyArmor. A spokesperson for Coca-Cola confirmed that the company has notified U.S. antitrust regulators of its plans. In August 2018, Coke, which also owns Powerade, became BodyArmor’s second-largest stakeholder behind co-founder and chairman Mike Repole.

Brand signage took center stage with nearly empty venues. Will that visibility stay long term?
Terry Lefton, Sports Business Journal

A lingering question in the industry’s recovery will be how much of the excess signage inventory created for sponsor make-goods will remain. Every big stick-and-ball league avers that they “don’t want to be like NASCAR.” Still, value and ROI are under more scrutiny than ever, and camera-visible assets are easy to track. It’s going to be a buyer’s market for some time.

The Covid Vaccine Can Change Pro Sports. But Will Players Take the Shot?
Ben Cohen and Andrew Beaton, The Wall Street Journal

The country’s biggest and richest leagues are dealing with another problem: The players haven’t decided if they want the shot. The NBA, NFL and Major League Baseball officials say a significant percentage of players—perhaps even a majority in some leagues—have expressed concerns about taking the vaccine when it becomes available to them. 

Ex-NBA Star Chris Webber, JW Asset Launch $100 Million Cannabis Fund
Henry Ren, Bloomberg

Former NBA All-Star player Chris Webber is launching a private-equity fund with $100 million in assets to support entrepreneurs from minority groups in the cannabis industry. Webber will join forces with JW Asset Management, an active investor in the sector, to provide entrepreneurs of color with resources in areas including research and development, retail licensing and marketing.

The Australian Open Promised Lessons for Pandemic Sports. Just Not These Ones.
Matthew Futterman, The New York Times

As the virus inevitably made its presence felt both directly and indirectly, the Australian Open experienced unforeseen headaches and complications that became warnings for the next group that tries to pull off a major international sporting event (hello, Tokyo Olympics).

Kevin Mather’s Rotary speech made public should be the last strike for Mariners’ CEO
Larry Stone, The Seattle Times

Every minute Mather is still on the job is a further indictment of the organization and what it stands for. The clincher is Mather’s highly inappropriate attitude regarding the Mariners’ foreign players. He comes across as elitist, entitled and culturally insensitive, and that’s an indefensible combination.

It’s Time For Major Brands To Come Off The Bench And Get Back In The Game
Will Johnson, Ad Age

Major brands including Coca-Cola, Budweiser and Pepsi skipped the Super Bowl, the biggest advertising day of the year, citing various pandemic-related reasons, such as spending money on COVID relief rather than TV spots. Another decision point looms with the next major advertising showcase, the NCAA’s basketball tournament, set to tip off in just a few weeks.