The Jacksonville Jaguars fired head coach Urban Meyer just 13 games into his first season, in which the team went 2-11, amid reports of rising tensions between Meyer and his players and staff. Jaguars owner Shad Khan said Meyer failed to regain the organization's "trust and respect" since the early October emergence of a video showing the coach partying after a loss with a woman who was not his wife — one of several embarrassing incidents for Meyer since taking the Jaguars job — and added that general manager Trent Baalke will remain in place. (ESPN)
The NFL officially launched its Home Marketing Areas program aimed at building the league's international fandom, awarding 18 teams with commercial rights in eight different countries: Australia (1 team), Brazil (1 team), Canada (2 teams), China (1 team), Germany (4 teams), Mexico (9 teams), Spain (2 teams) and the United Kingdom (6 teams). In their new international territories, teams will have the right to sell preseason TV rights, regular-season radio rights, engage in digital and in-person marketing, host fan events, sell merchandise, sell corporate sponsorships and form co-marketing relationships. (Sports Business Journal)
The Canadian province of Ontario unveiled new rules in response to a surge in COVID-19 cases that will limit the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors and Ottawa Senators to 50 percent capacity at home games beginning Saturday. Ontario is the first jurisdiction to reinstate a capacity limit for NHL or NBA teams this season. (Sportsnet)
New Florida Bill Would Allow Schools to Facilitate NIL Deals Ross Dellenger, Sports Illustrated
Florida's amended bill, if passed, will allow schools more freedom to facilitate and discuss NIL deals with current athletes. The new bill strikes language in the original bill that prohibited schools from "causing compensation to be directed" to athletes.
Greater Cincinnati's fastest-growing company inks naming rights deal at UC's Nippert Stadium Steve Watkins, Cincinnati Business Courier
Gravity Diagnostics, a clinical laboratory company, reached a five-year deal totaling $625,000 with UC. It will pay $125,000 a year to get its name on the West Pavilion Club Level - the 300 level - at Nippert. This is Gravity's first sports naming-rights deal.
Impression S&E to sell Univ. of Virginia basketball court naming rights Bret McCormick, Sports Business Journal
Impression Sports & Entertainment has been retained by the Univ. of Virginia athletics department to conduct a valuation and sales campaign for basketball court naming rights at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville. Playfly COO Craig Sloan estimated the deal could be worth seven figures per year for UVA.
