G League to Offer $125K to Elite HS Prospects The G League will begin offering “select contracts” worth $125,000 next year to elite prospects who are not yet eligible for the NBA, a move that could slightly lessen the handful of one-and-done players at the college level. read more

Gym Defends Handling of Memberships During Sale Advance payments of yearly memberships has made the transition in management of a gym on Sutton Road anything but seamless. Nichole Holland, who owned Pure Fitness in leased space at 37 Sutton Road, acknowledged last week that she should have protected her customers who paid her advance monies for memberships by making their contracts part of the purchase-and-sale agreement with Everybody's Fitness Center, the new owner. Pure Fitness was sold to EFC Oct. 4. read more

NHL Takes Step Toward Expanding in Seattle The NHL is moving forward with plans to expand to Seattle. Commissioner Gary Bettman said Tuesday the Board of Governors' executive committee recommended proceeding with Seattle's expansion application, with an eye on voting to approve the league's 32nd franchise in December. The recommendation came a few hours after key stakeholders presented their case to the committee and hit it off enough that Seattle could be awarded the league's 32nd team two months from now. "The notion is have the board vote on expansion," Bettman said. "And assuming, as I think everybody is, that it would be approved - I don't want to be presumptuous of the board's prerogative - but everything seems to be on track." read more

High School Inks SportsPlex Naming Rights Deal Collierville High School announced that Landers Auto Group has secured the naming rights of its brand-new $18.5 million sportsplex. "We celebrate the generous sponsorship and donorship opportunities that Landers Auto Group has undertaken in support of our school system," Superintendent John Aitken said. "They really are invested in the community and have made a financial investment as well as a resource investment in other ways to better our school system and our community." Landers Ford managing partner Don Kitchens said that the auto group has agreed to a 10-year commitment to the school worth $50,000 annually, totaling $500,000. read more

Is Health Coaching the Missing Link in Your Fitness Business? Today’s health clubs offer a variety of “perks” to drive new business and attract the interest of consumers: free visits, free classes, free child care and kid-friendly activities, live music, eat-in cafes and even fully stocked bars. read more

New Mexico State to Net $1.9M for Bama Trip New Mexico State has yet to make its first trip to the mecca of college football, Tuscaloosa, Ala. Meanwhile, the Aggies already are planning for their second. NMSU athletic director Mario Moccia confirmed Wednesday an agreement to play Alabama on Nov. 13, 2021, for a $1.9 million guarantee. The two Crimson & White schools first are scheduled to meet for the first time next Sept. 7 with Alabama paying NMSU $1.7 million. read more

One-Stop Sports Complex Could Be Game-Changer Kendrick Ashton and Craig Dixon met as college underclassmen 24 years ago. Ashton would go on to make his fortune in finance. Dixon would make his in law. Then, about six years ago, these old friends got a new idea. And it's fair to say they think big. This week they'll open a sports and wellness complex so outsized that just about the only thing bigger is their ambition to take the concept national. read more

Esports Matures, Draws Big Crowds for Events More than 22,000 people paid their way into the Barclays Center in July to watch people play a video game. It was the Overwatch League Grand Finals, a two-day event that culminated in two teams competing for their share of a $1.4 million prize pool, including the $1 million grand prize. In addition to the fans cheering in person, there were another 300,000 watching online and on ESPN. The event proved what people in the gaming industry have long been saying: the Esports Era is upon us. Last month, esports became the focus of national attention when a gunman opened fire during a Madden video game tournament - named for famed football coach and TV analyst John Madden - in Jacksonville, Florida, leaving two dead and 10 wounded, authorities said. The gunman, a gamer identified as David Katz, 24, of Baltimore, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, read more