Two days ahead of Caitlin Clark’s sold-out preseason debut Friday in Arlington, Texas against the Dallas Wings, courtside tickets were listed for as much as $2,695 on the secondary market -- a supply and demand scenario that WNBA team executives expect to see all season long.

The Wings have never sold tickets to a preseason game, purposely staging a private morning game over the last several years at the College Park Center for season-ticket members. But Greg Bibb -- the team’s president, CEO and partner -- contacted the Fever after Indiana won the draft lottery in December, proposing a Fever-Wings exhibition game in Texas. At the time, Clark had not yet announced her intentions to join the WNBA ("there was no guarantee -- Caitlin could have gone back to school for another year," Bibb said), and the Fever agreed to the game.

Now, five months later, the Wings-Fever preseason game has become a must-see in the Dallas metroplex. Bibb waited until after the April 15 draft to put tickets on sale, changed the starting time from 11:30am to 7pm CT and raised the average face-value ticket price to $52, up from the usual $44.

Considering College Park Center’s WNBA seat-capacity is 6,251 -- and considering Bibb did not want to abandon his core fans or the Univ. of Texas-Arlington and move the game to the 19,000-seat American Airlines Center -- the game promptly sold out. As of Wednesday, on Vivid Seats' secondary market, a single mid-court ticket in the lower bowl was listed for as high as $516, with courtside seats offered for four times that.

Pacers Sports & Entertainment and Eli Lilly have reached an agreement to make the Indiana-based medicine company the newest jersey patch and health equity partner of the Indiana Fever. Lilly’s corporate logo will be displayed on the shoulder of each Fever jersey, and the companies will continue to collaborate to close gaps on health outcomes in Indianapolis and across the state of Indiana (Fever). Pacers Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Fever, "did not disclose" financial terms of the deal. Lilly also declined to disclose financial terms. The Lilly deal is in addition to the jersey sponsorship deal with Salesforce that began in 2019, which will keep that company's logo "prominently displayed under the team logo" during the upcoming season (INDIANAPOLIS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 5/1). The deal was brokered in house by the Fever and Pacers Sports & Entertainment. A team spokesperson said of the deal, "We’ve actually long had a relationship with Lilly, and this flowed naturally from that" (SBJ).

Diamond Sports Group and DirecTV have reached a multiyear renewal of their distribution agreement for the continued carriage of Diamond’s portfolio of RSNs. Under the agreement, DirecTV and DirectTV Stream customers who select a Choice, Ultimate or Premier package will maintain access to live, local MLB, NBA and NHL games and team related content featured on Diamond’s several RSN channels. Any DirecTV or DirecTV Stream customers who do not have direct access to Diamond’s RSN channels as part of their primary video service will be able to purchase Diamond’s direct-to-consumer product via DirecTV and access the full complement of local DTC content for any teams to which Diamond retains DTC rights (Diamond).

RELATED: Bally pulled from Comcast after contract expires

Microsoft Vice Chair & President Brad Smith and his wife, Kathy Surace-Smith, have "purchased a stake in the Mariners ownership group," the first new partners to join the franchise since Baseball HOFer Ken Griffey Jr. in 2021. They are just the third new partners since the ownership formed in 1992. Smith has spent more than 30 years at Microsoft and was promoted to his current role in 2015. Surace-Smith is SVP/Human Resources and Legal Affairs at NanoString Technologies, Inc. (SEATTLE TIMES, 5/1).

Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr.'s refusal to sign a preliminary NFLPA licensing agreement stems from "a deal that is allegedly being pitched to sophomores in college by ... Fanatics," according to sources cited by Pat McAfee on his ESPN show today. McAfee: "I guess there was an offer made to (Harrison) whenever he was a sophomore in college, which has happened to a lot of guys, where if you sign it for a card deal -- an autograph deal -- it's for four years. So it goes all the way in to your second year in the NFL." McAfee noted that Harrison "did not take that deal." McAfee: "So allegedly what is happening behind the scenes is a potential tiff or beef between Fanatics and the Marvin Harrison camp." McAfee added that Harrison will "be a part of the NFLPA when the time comes" ("The Pat McAfee Show, ESPN, 5/1).

The Univ. of Houston has informed the NFL that it "will proceed with plans to add an alternate blue uniform." The about-face comes six months after the NFL’s merchandising and licensing division sent a cease-and-desist letter to UH, "threatening legal action if the school did not halt what was described as UH’s 'blatant copying' of the Houston Oilers-themed uniforms." UH officials "weighed legal options and changed course with a letter sent in mid-April that notified the NFL of the school’s plans." UH had "not received a response from the NFL" as of late yesterday. A timetable for the uniform rollout has "not been finalized" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/1).

Twelve members of Congress sent a letter to F1 owner Liberty Media today "demanding answers for why it is excluding Andretti Global from the sport." A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the letter claimed that they have "concerns with the apparent anti-competitive actions that could prevent two American companies, Andretti Global and General Motors, from producing and competing in Formula 1." The lawmakers also "invoked the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 and sought answers for the rationale in ejecting the team, including whether it is designed to unfairly protect the European teams from competition in the U.S." Rep. John James (D-Mich.) said, "We hope that we can resolve this to do business together for our mutual benefit, but particularly for America. But if not, we will have our questions answered" (NBC NEWS, 5/1).

RELATED: F1 rejects Andretti's bid to join F1 in coming seasons, but keeps door open for 2028

Wrexham owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds "plan to develop" the club’s Racecourse Ground into a stadium "with up to 55,000 seats." The club will be playing in League One next season after back-to-back promotions, and they've gained "a worldwide fanbase thanks to the FX docuseries Welcome to Wrexham." But the Racecourse holds only about 12,600 fans, with a "temporary stand on the derelict Kop end behind one goal." McElhenney said, "We have a plan in place right now that would work from stand to stand so eventually you get all four sides." McElhenney and Reynolds also "expressed frustration" with U.K. building regulations, with McElhenney noting, "It’s a lot harder to build in the U.K. than I have found almost anywhere else in the world." Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground is the world’s oldest international football stadium that still hosts matches, having staged its first Wales home game in 1877 (London GUARDIAN, 5/1).

The Red Sox have hired the Sportsology Group to "conduct an audit of the organization and offer recommendations" to Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow about potential changes (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/1).

D.C. United and supermarket company Harris Teeter have agreed to a multiyear partnership deal. Harris Teeter will receive branding throughout Audi Field, premium client appreciation benefits at D.C. United home matches, a season long consumer sweepstakes, and exposure and inclusion across the club’s social and digital media channels (D.C. United).

The NHL for the sixth year is accepting applications for NHL Power Players, a youth advisory board of fans ages 13-17 that provide input to the league on hockey-related topics. Starting today through May 22, fans may apply here to be considered for participation in the program (NHL).

Cincoro Tequila has added to its list of co-owners, including Serena Williams, Baseball HOFer Derek Jeter, LIV golfer Dustin Johnson, PGA Tour player Keegan Bradley and DraftKings co-founders Jason Robins, Matt Kalish and Paul Liberman (Cincoro).

Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa has collaborated with lifestyle brand Perry Ellis to create the Tua X Perry Ellis line, featuring styles inspired by his Hawaiian heritage. This is the debut collection for a multiyear partnership between Tagovailoa and Perry Ellis (Perry Ellis).

The American Association of Professional Baseball will make all live games on AABaseball.TV available for free to consumers starting on opening day, May 9 (American Association).

Everton FC has "begun talks with debt-restructuring experts" in a move that has raised further questions about the protracted takeover by 777 Partners (London TELEGRAPH, 5/1). Meanwhile, 777 Partners is "in the grips of a new crisis in Australia," where an airline it wholly owns called Bonza "entered administration" on Tuesday. Hundreds of passengers were "stranded across Australia" after low-cost airline Bonza abruptly "cancelled all flights following the repossession of its four Boeing 737-Max 8 aircraft" earlier that morning (London GUARDIAN, 5/1). 

More:

• French charity boycotts Olympic torch relay over Coca-Cola partnership.
• The $95.7M Chelsea hotel deal that Premier League refuses to sign off.

New WNBA ticket sales data via @StubHub on ⬆️interest:

-Overall WNBA sales on StubHub are up 93% compared to last year, and 41x from this time in 2018
-Aces ticket sales up 190% compared to May '23
-Fever ticket sales up 13x compared to May '23
-Sky have tripled sales from '23

— Ben Pickman (@benpickman) May 1, 2024

We are pleased to announce that we have just reached a multi-year distribution agreement with DirecTV to continue the carriage of Bally Sports. Combined with the recently announced multi-year renewals with Charter and Cox Communications, customers will have continued access to…

— BallySportsHelp (@ballysportshelp) May 1, 2024

Apple has announced a price drop for the MLS Season Pass, effective immediately:

- The pass now costs $69 for the remainder of the 2024 season, down from its original price of $99.
- Exclusive to Apple TV+ subscribers, the MLS Season Pass is available at a special rate of $59… pic.twitter.com/8BEKJnAPkc

— Favian Renkel (@FavianRenkel) May 1, 2024

Tennessee has sold out all 70,500 football season tickets for second year in a row -- and the third time in 23 years. UT led the SEC and was 4th nationally with average attendance of 101,915. UT also has had 13 straight home sellouts.

— Jimmy Hyams (@JimmyHyams) May 1, 2024

A carriage dispute between Comcast and Diamond Sports Group is impacting several Major League Baseball teams including the #Braves. As a result, Comcast customers are currently unable to watch our games. Customers using other cable providers or streaming services are not…

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 1, 2024

Here's the blue-shaded Ferrari for Miami this weekend. pic.twitter.com/7HuNahpGGW

— Adam Stern (@A_S12) May 1, 2024

The Browns belong downtown. It's important for the city and team to make that happen. This team in this city should have a downtown stadium.

— PatMcManamon (@PatMcManamon) May 1, 2024

"He shouldn't be umpiring and he is, and they know it."

MASN announcer Jim Palmer rips into home plate umpire C.B. Bucknor (again) pic.twitter.com/Xh7Kw0SAju

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 1, 2024

I had a great day in DC meeting with @RepLaHood & @SenToddYoung discussing Major League Soccer and World Cup 2026 initiatives. pic.twitter.com/ayyK7EJ1K2

— Don Garber (@thesoccerdon) May 1, 2024

In what may have been his last game at TD Garden, retiring Bruins play-by-play voice Jack Edwards last night bid adieu to the Bruins faithful alongside longtime partner and color analyst Andy Brickley.

2000 -- 76ers ownership Josh Harris, David Blitzer and David Adelman, alongside Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, are teaming up to purchase and distribute more than 2,000 tickets to Game 6 of the team's first round series against the Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The tickets will be distributed to first responders, health care professionals, community groups and other local Philadelphia-based organizations (X, 5/1).