The Bears this afternoon at 1 pm ET are set to announce a $4.6B plan to "build a new enclosed stadium and improved lakefront area," with "half of the money coming from taxpayers," according to sources. The stadium itself would cost $3.2B to build, with another $1.4B in "proposed infrastructure improvements." Sources said the Bears "plan to pledge" $2.3B, which includes "some financing through the NFL." But the plan also includes an additional $2.3B in "public financing, along with refinancing outstanding debt for prior publicly financed stadium projects" for the Bears and White Sox. Taxpayers would be "on the hook for the proposed infrastructure improvements along with" about $1B in "new borrowing" to finance the new stadium south of Soldier Field, sources said (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/23).

This season’s NBA Play-In Tournament was easily the most-watched edition of the event since it started as a six-game tourney in 2021 (not included in regular-season numbers). TNT, truTV, ESPN and ESPN2 averaged 3.2 million viewers over the six games, 22% higher than last year and 12% better than the prior record set back in 2021. This year saw the second- and third-best Play-In Game audiences yet in Kings-Warriors (4.1 million) and Lakers-Pelicans (3.9 million), respectively. The record remains Lakers-Warriors back in 2021 (5.6 million).

 

PGA Tour members will receive an email today "notifying them of the current value of award grants" earmarked for them via PGA Tour Enterprises' Equity Program, "be it tens of millions of dollars, or none at all." The 193 eligible recipients will receive a letter from PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, who is the CEO of PGA Tour Enterprises, "explaining the number of equity units they receive and the fair market value of said equity," which comes from Strategic Sports Group's investment into the Tour. The Tour "intends to keep the list of award recipients confidential." The recipients are "sectioned" into four groups: 

• Group 1 will see $750M in value doled out to 36 players. That’s a little more than 80% of the prize going to "just a few dozen pros." 
• Group 2 will see an extra $75M in value issued to a total of 64 players considered "steady performers and up-and-comers." 
• Group 3 will see a total of 57 players "earn from a pile of" $30M "based on tournaments won, career money and number of times finishing in the top 125 of the FedEx Cup." 
• Group 4, who are considered "past legends," will see 36 players receive their share of $75M "based, again, on Career Points" (GOLF, 4/23).

Tiger Woods today will receive an email from the tour informing him that he will receive up to $100M in equity "for staying loyal to the PGA Tour," with Rory McIlroy "benefitting possibly to the tune of" $50M for not joining LIV. Meanwhile, the likes of Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas will be due equity worth around $30M (London TELEGRAPH, 4/24).

The NWSL Players Association has agreed to a multiyear sponsorship extension with Ally Financial that runs through 2027 and keeps Ally as the official retail banking partner of the NWSLPA. The first official partner the NWSLPA brought onboard in February 2022, Ally’s initial investment allowed the organization to add to its staff, increasing the NWSLPA’s ability to further its progress in improving professional standards, player safety, pay and benefits, as well as broadening access to opportunities and resources for players on and off the field. OneTeam Partners, the sponsorship and licensing partner of the NWSLPA, facilitated the partnership (NWSLPA).

The NWSL has renewed and expanded its agreement with AI-powered video provider Spiideo, increasing the number of camera installations at each stadium from one to three and enhancing the data analysis tools for teams. Spiideo has tracked every NWSL match since 2021, when the league-wide deal began after half the clubs had already become users. Until this season, many NWSL venues had only a single automated camera perched at the midline, but now cameras will also be placed above each goal. Spiideo (rhymes with “video”) operates the league’s cloud-based video exchange, which records every match and applies AI through its AutoData feature to identify tactics and track player performance.

Kraft Sports and Entertainment and The Kraft Group have partnered with technology consultant Team D3 to produce a digital twin of Gillette Stadium and Patriot Place. The replica of the home of the New England Patriots and Revolution, as well as the 1.3-million-square-foot mixed-use development, will provide a digital avenue to enhance the logistics and safety protocol for the entire venue while also allowing for enhanced event planning and future enhancements testing. This is Team D3’s first digital twin of a sports or entertainment venue. Past work for the company has included projects in the aviation, government and energy sectors. 

On this week’s pod, SBJ’s Austin Karp has two Big Get interviews. The first is with TNT’s Stan Van Gundy as he breaks down the NBA Playoffs from the booth. Later in the show, we hear from ESPN VP/Programming & Acquisitions Tim Reed as the NFL Draft gets set to kick off on Thursday night in Motown. SBJ’s Tom Friend also joins the show to share his insights into NBA viewership trends.

 

Through the first two weeks of this season, MLB’s average nine-inning game was 2 hours, 39 minutes -- a minute less than what MLB games averaged over the course of last season (Erik Bacharach, SBJ).

The Washington Mystics’ June 7 game against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever at Capital One Arena "sold out its first run of tickets in under three hours" after they went on sale at 10am ET yesterday. The Mystics "didn’t say how many seats sold," but confirmed that "more tickets would be made available in coming weeks" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 4/23).

The city of Wichita won a bid to host the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Intrust Bank Arena from Jan. 20-26, 2025. This is the first time Wichita, and the state of Kansas, has hosted the championship event (WICHITA EAGLE, 4/23).

A group of Boston residents is "moving forward with a lawsuit" against the city over a proposal to convert White Stadium in Franklin Park into the home of a professional women’s soccer team, despite a judge’s refusal last month to temporarily stop the project (MASSLIVE, 4/23).

The Raiders and NV Energy have "joined forces to make it easier for eventgoers to charge their electric vehicles" at Allegiant Stadium, installing 13 Blink Charging Co. Series 8 charging stations in the parking lots (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/23).

The Hawks, State Farm Arena and Kimberly-Clark Professional have reached a new multiyear, sustainability-focused partnership that will see Kimberly-Clark Professional branding and products, including Scott paper towels and Kleenex tissue, soap dispensers and hand sanitizers, featured at select Hawks’ home games. Kimberly-Clark Professional branding will also appear on the uniform shirts worn by the Hawks’ Mop Crew (Hawks).

"I knew they were going to do the light show, but I had no idea it was going to look like that. It looked like a movie. I mean, like a Hollywood type of thing. I was like, 'Wow!'" -- Giants P Camilo Doval, on the lightshow that the team put on at Oracle Park as he walked out of the bullpen in the ninth inning Monday night (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 4/23).

The San Jose MERCURY NEWS looks ahead to tomorrow's NFL Draft under the header, "The 2024 NFL Draft is 49ers GM John Lynch’s prove-it moment." Lynch was "responsible for one of the worst moves in recent NFL history" -- trading three first-round picks for the right to select QB Trey Lance in 2021. The quarterback is now gone, traded away before the 2023 season, and "all the 49ers received in return" was a Day 3 draft pick. No GM "should survive a disaster like that," yet Lynch "remains, and he’s as entrenched as ever." Three years after the Lance debacle, the "outside perception is that the Niners are none the worse for wear." After all, the team played in the Super Bowl -- their second NFC title in four years -- and they have "elite players at top positions," as well as Mr. Irrelevant -- QB Brock Purdy, who they believe is a franchise quarterback. But "don’t let the outside perception fool you -- beneath the surface, things are murky in Santa Clara." Now, Lynch’s seat is "ice cold," but this week’s NFL Draft "is a critical moment" for the Niners' GM.

More on the NFL Draft:

• Dave Hyde: Dolphins GM Chris Grier is on the clock -- and so is his Dolphins’ era.
• How NIL money is affecting the 2024 NFL draft. 'I would have went pro.'

Also:

• Browns’ in-stadium announcer Jeff Shreve reflects on career heading into 25th season.
• The Coyotes are gone. Someone please tell ex-owner Alex Meruelo.
• This town had a reputation problem. Premier League soccer changed things.
• How former Galaxy player Eddie Lewis became a soccer training tech innovator.
• Arsenal, Spurs, Man Utd and Newcastle: How new stadiums shape a club’s future and soul.

Love listening to our four media partners at the Business of Women’s Sports Summit telling this audience why they invested in the @NWSL 📺 🥰 @CBSSports @amazon @EWScrippsCo @espn and @axios @sarafischer is one of the best moderators in the biz! #DeepBlue pic.twitter.com/iUdq5oNLdx

— Jessica Berman (@JessicaBerman1) April 23, 2024

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, headed into the last year of his contract, has hired agent Don Yee to represent him. Yee represents Jim Harbaugh, Sean Payton and Tom Brady, amongst others. pic.twitter.com/cE0tvZzYkb

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 24, 2024

On the recent Rory McIlroy rumours, Greg Norman, in Adelaide, says LIV Golf never made McIlroy any offer, but if he wanted to sit down he would be happy to

— Evin Priest (@EvinPriest) April 24, 2024

.@HullCharley 🤝 @OscarDeLaHoya and @FreddieRoach

The 2x LPGA Tour winner stopped by @premierboxing media day to go behind the scenes with some absolute boxing legends 🥊 pic.twitter.com/P4cyxaR5lq

— LPGA (@LPGA) April 23, 2024

I think the Zurich would be fun as a match play event, and it could enhance the “team” feel of the event.

You could keep the full field, have two days of stroke play (one apiece in four-balls and foursomes) and then cut to low 16 teams. Then two days of match play, two rounds…

— Sean Martin (@PGATOURSMartin) April 23, 2024

"We just saw A-Rod and Mark Lore. Glen Taylor is seated directly across from them."

"You think they're gonna have dinner tonight? You think they're gonna get together after the game."

Spero Dedes and Greg Anthony comment on the Timberwolves' bizarre ownership situation. pic.twitter.com/vhydRO04Hq

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 24, 2024

Just take 23 seconds of your time and listen to Bob Wischusen here. A goal call by Bob never fails to impress me, and I don’t believe I’m exaggerating when I say that if ESPN sticks with the NHL, Bob Wischusen will be the Doc Emrick and Gary Thorne for this new generation. https://t.co/hetwbdbDHz

— Braylon Breeze | NHL Zone (@Zone_NHL) April 24, 2024

"In the 1850s the .925 sterling silver standard was instituted by this company, the first American one to do so."

"What is Tiffany & Co.?"