Premier League club Everton isn't "looking to sell a minority stake" in the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, "although cannot rule it out in the future." Club sources said that "no such deal was being pursued, nor were talks about such a deal planned," but that "nothing could ever be ruled out with certainty if the economics of the situation required it." The team is set to move into its new 52,888-seat home prior to the 2025/26 season, with the stadium "seen as a game-changer for the beleaguered club in terms of potential revenue generation." Its construction has seen "plenty of financial pressure" placed upon the club at a time where a change of ownership seems imminent, with 777 Partners moving to take over Farhad Moshiri’s 94.1% majority stake (LIVERPOOL ECHO, 4/19).

Premier League club Manchester United has confirmed the appointment of Jason Wilcox as the club's new Technical Dir, with him "starting his new role with immediate effect." ManU has "reached an agreement" with Championship club Southampton for compensation over the appointment after "making an approach to the club last month." The appointment of Wilcox means that previous Technical Dir Darren Fletcher "looks set to take up a new role" at the club. Fletcher will likely "continue to 'play a key role in the football leadership team that works across the men's first team and the academy'" (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 4/19).

New NHL team owner Ryan Smith said today that "over 20,000 season-ticket deposits" have been made for the new franchise in Salt Lake City since the official announcement yesterday (X, 4/19). Smith said yesterday that his team received "more than 11,000 season ticket deposits" in their first few hours on the market. The unnamed Utah team already has a website, NHLinUtah.com, on which it is now offering season ticket deposits for $100 per seat. The Utah franchise will begin play in the 2024–25 season at the Delta Center, which will seat 12,000 fans -- "including some with obstructed views" -- in its temporary hockey configuration. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said yesterday that renovations "are expected within two seasons to increase the hockey capacity" at Delta Center to 17,000 (SBJ MORNING BUZZ, 4/19). 

The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations "criticized" World Athletics today for promising to pay $50,000 for each track and field gold medal won at the Paris Olympics. Last week’s move by the track body "broke with tradition" because the IOC "does not pay prize money, though many state governments and national Olympic bodies do." The ASOIF said today, "For many, this move undermines the values of Olympism and the uniqueness of the games." The organization added that there has been "consensus" that Olympic revenues "should, at least for the more commercially successful and financially independent IFs, be invested as a priority into development and integrity matters." ASOIF suggested "not all sports could or should replicate this move, even if they wanted to" (AP, 4/19).

Grass fires on the perimeter of turns as well as torrential downpours at the F1 Chinese Grand Prix "disrupted both practice and sprint qualifying" today. The FIA looked at footage from the opening sessions and "believes sparks off the skid blocks underneath the cars reached the grass, setting it on fire." Fires occurred on the inside of turn 7 in the first practice session before grass alongside turn 5 set alight at the end of sprint qualifying one. The problem was at least nullified by the "torrential rain," which fell "at the crucial point of sprint qualifying." Fresh paint on the circuit was also "leaving drivers struggling for grip." This is F1's first visit to China in five years because of COVID, meaning the ground-effect generation of cars, which run lower to the ground, were racing for the first time at the Shanghai International Circuit (London TIMES, 4/19).

TD Garden announced some new additions to its menu ahead of the playoffs. Many of the Garden’s newest food and drink options are limited to fans with tickets in suites, but everyone else can still access some gourmet additions. Some of the new options include the "spicy slap shot burger" that will be available in Loge 8 and Section 311; "buzzer beater birria fries" that can be found in Loge 15 and the Frito Lay test kitchen; and slow-cooked beef brisket with New England baked beans can be found in Loge 18 and Section 323. There will also be some new beverage options, including the "different here" mocktail made with orange juice, pineapple juice, grenadine and cream that is a "response to increased fan requests for non-alcoholic options." There is also a "playoffs pistachio mule," which is a twist on a standard Moscow Mule. Those in the club seats will have access to even more options, including a three-foot cheesesteak at an order of "gelato nachos" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/19).

Meanwhile, a new Bucks postseason "means new food and drink additions" around Fiserv Forum. For the arena's new food options, the F&B team "took Wisconsin flavor profiles and added their own flair to 'em." All of the Bucks burgers "are becoming handcrafted smashburgers" that include a "secret sauce made in-house." There will also be a loaded footlong hot dog, a Johnsonville brat burger, a steak and mushroom sandwich, Flamin' Hot Cheetos popcorn and much more (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 4/19).

Samsung, a longtime Olympic and Paralympic partner, has launched a new three-part docuseries that takes a look at the skateboarding, breaking and surfing Olympic athletes' road to the Paris Games and the impact of participating in the Games has on their respective communities. The docuseries stars Olympic athletes and hopefuls from Team Samsung Galaxy, including Sky Brown (Skateboarding, Great Britain), Grace "Sunny" Choi (Breaking, U.S.), and John John Florence (Surfing, U.S.), as well as community members Chris Cote, Eric Koston and David Shreibman (Samsung).

Core Power, the official protein drink of Team USA, has reached a new multiyear partnership with U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky. As part of the deal, an ad campaign is set to run across digital and social channels in April and on TV this summer, throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Core Power).

Clubs are "threatening to boycott" the FA Cup "in protest against the axing of replays" after the Football Association failed to quell a growing revolt against a deal with the Premier League that has also seen the Cup final lose its traditional place in the calendar, with furious English Football League teams warning they are "ready to withdraw from the competition" (London TELEGRAPH, 4/19).

The independent appeal board reviewing Everton's latest two-point deduction has announced that it will "attempt to confirm the decision of the appeal and have the outcome revealed before the last round of matches on May 19 in order to give certainty to the final league table" (LIVERPOOL ECHO, 4/19).

Bulgarian tennis umpire Pavel Atanasov was "banned for life" today by the International Tennis Integrity Agency for "breaking rules related to betting" 21 times from 2019-23 (AP, 4/19).

Take a look at the newly renovated Yankees Clubhouse 🔥👇 pic.twitter.com/cwIC6UFyUE

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 19, 2024

BREAKING: The two-minute warning and helmet communication is officially coming to College Football during the 2024 season, the NCAA announced. https://t.co/DdLcBRQ8Ws pic.twitter.com/ySjxDqzoNU

— On3 (@On3sports) April 19, 2024

The bleachers were flipped onto the racetrack at World Wide Technology Speedway in Madison, Illinois. @BommaritoAuto SkyFOX helicopter flew over the area Friday morning. pic.twitter.com/sFFUkV9OaZ

— FOX2now (@FOX2now) April 19, 2024

RT https://t.co/MseyODLaKS

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) April 19, 2024

Caitlin Clark sold more Fever jerseys in one day than the Cowboys sold last year for the entire team.

— Dick Weiss (@HoopsWeiss) April 19, 2024

Join Albane Valenzuela as she prepares for the first major of the LPGA Tour season this week at The Chevron Championship.

81%, 73% -- With the NBA Play-In games set for tonight, the Bulls have collected 81% of the tickets and 73% of the handle on the moneyline to beat the Heat, who will be without G Jimmy Butler after a sprained MCL (Fanatics Sportsbook).