NBA Announces Structure and Format for 2020-21 Season

Image via NBA

NEW YORK – The NBA today announced the structure and format for the 2020-21 season, which will include a Play-In Tournament to determine the teams that will fill the seventh and eighth playoff seeds in each conference.

The NBA’s 75th regular season will begin on Tuesday, Dec. 22, and feature 72 games for each team.  The opponent breakdown for the regular season is available here and described below:

• Each team will play three games against each intraconference opponent (42 total games per team), with each pairing featuring either two home games and one road game or one home game and two road games. Within each team’s division, the league office has randomly assigned which two opponents will be played twice at home and which two opponents will be played twice on the road.

• All five teams from within a division will play all five teams from one other intraconference division twice at home, and all five teams from the remaining intraconference division twice on the road.

• Each team will play two games against each interconference opponent (30 total games per team), with each pairing featuring one home game and one road game.

The 2020-21 regular-season schedule will be released in two segments.  The schedule for the First Half of the season will be released around the start of training camp.  The schedule for the Second Half of the season will be released during the latter part of the First Half portion of the schedule.  The Second Half schedule will include the remainder of each team’s 72 games not scheduled in the First Half as well as any games postponed during the First Half that can reasonably be added to the Second Half schedule.

The All-Star break is scheduled to take place March 5-10, 2021, between the First Half and Second Half of the regular season.

Earlier today, the NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved a proposal to implement a playoff Play-In Tournament on a one-year basis for the 2020-21 season.  The Play-In Tournament, which will take place after the regular season and before the first round of the playoffs, will include the teams with the seventh-highest through the tenth-highest winning percentages in each conference.

The teams with the seventh-highest and eighth-highest winning percentages in each conference will each have two opportunities to win one game to earn a playoff spot.  The teams with the ninth-highest and tenth-highest winning percentages in each conference will each have to win two consecutive games to earn a playoff spot.

At the conclusion of the regular season, the team with the seventh-highest winning percentage in each conference will host the team with the eighth-highest winning percentage in its conference in a Play-In Game (the “Seven-Eight Game”).  The winner of the Seven-Eight Game in each conference will be the seventh seed in the playoffs for its conference.

The team with the ninth-highest winning percentage in each conference will host the team with the tenth-highest winning percentage in its conference in a Play-In Game (the “Nine-Ten Game”).  The loser of the Seven-Eight Game will host the winner of the Nine-Ten Game in a Play-In Game, and the winner of that game will be the eighth seed in the playoffs for its conference.

Below is the tentative schedule calendar for the 2020-21 season:

• Dec. 11-19, 2020: Preseason games

• Dec. 22, 2020 – March 4, 2021: First Half of regular season

• March 5-10, 2021: All-Star break

• March 11 – May 16, 2021: Second Half of regular season

• May 18-21, 2021: Play-In Tournament

• May 22 – July 22, 2021: 2021 NBA Playoffs

via NBA Communications

NBA Draft 2020 presented by State Farm®: By the Numbers

For Official Release

Orlando, FL – NBA Draft 2020 presented by State Farm® will be held virtually on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. ET at ESPN’s studios in Bristol, Connecticut, airing live on ESPN, ESPN Radio and the ESPN App.  ESPN’s pre-draft coverage will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Image via NBA

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum will appear in studio at ESPN to announce the selections for the first and second rounds, respectively.  Select draftees, including many of the potential top picks, will appear virtually throughout the broadcast.

Here is a by-the-numbers look at this year’s NBA Draft:

History

• 1 – NBA Draft 2020 presented by State Farm® will be the league’s first virtual draft and the first draft held at ESPN.

• 7 – Seven players have played in the NBA G League before being drafted by an NBA team, the most recent being Alen Smailagić, the 39th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors.

• 10 – A college freshman has been selected with the first overall pick in each of the last 10 The last non-freshman to be the first overall draft pick was Oklahoma sophomore Blake Griffin in 2009.

• 14 – This marks the 14th consecutive year that Adam Silver will announce draft selections as either deputy commissioner (seven years) or commissioner (seven years including 2020).

• 107 – The distance between Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, the venue for the last seven NBA Drafts, and ESPN’s studios in Bristol, Connecticut, the site of this year’s draft, is approximately 107

• 146 – The 2020 NBA Draft will take place 146 days after its originally scheduled date of June 25.

• 1975 – This is the first NBA Draft not held in June since 1975.

• 1989 – The current two-round format for the NBA Draft was adopted in 1989.

Teams

• 1 – The Minnesota Timberwolves are set to make the first overall pick in the NBA Draft for the second time. In 2015, the Timberwolves used the first overall pick to select two-time NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns.

• 2 – The Warriors are poised to make the second overall pick in the NBA Draft for the first time in the common draft era (since 1966).

• 3 – The Boston Celtics hold three first-round picks (Nos. 14, 26 and 30) after making three first-round picks last year.

• 5 – The Philadelphia 76ers have a league-high five picks in this year’s draft (No. 21 in the first round and Nos. 34, 36, 49 and 58 in the second round).

• 11 – With the 11th selection of the first round, the San Antonio Spurs are preparing to make their highest draft pick since selecting Tim Duncan with the first overall pick in 1997.

Class Superlatives

• 1 – Memphis center James Wiseman was ESPN’s 1-ranked high school player in the Class of 2019.

• 6 – Iowa State guard Tyrese Haliburton recorded the sixth triple-double in school history during the 2019-20 season.

• 8 – USC forward Onyeka Okongwu matched a single-game school record last season with eight blocked shots in his first collegiate game.

• 16 – Maccabi Tel Aviv guard-forward Deni Avdija made his professional debut with his current team at age 16 (he turns 20 in January).

• 1 – Georgia guard Anthony Edwards was the nation’s freshman scoring leader at 19.1 points per game in the 2019-20 season.

• 107 – Dayton forward Obi Toppin, the 2019-20 consensus National Player of the Year, led the nation and set a single-season school record with 107 dunks last season.

• 2005 – Last season, Illawarra Hawks guard LaMelo Ball became the first player to post triple-doubles in back-to-back games in Australia’s National Basketball League since 2005.

 Family Ties

• 5 – Duke guard Tre Jones and his brother Tyus of the Memphis Grizzlies combined to win five Gatorade Minnesota Boys Basketball Player of the Year awards in high school.

• 6 – Arizona guard Nico Mannion is the son of Pace Mannion, who played six NBA seasons.

• 8 – Duke center Vernon Carey Jr.’s father, Vernon Sr., played eight NFL seasons as an offensive lineman with the Miami Dolphins.

• 12 – North Carolina guard Cole Anthony’s father, Greg, now a basketball analyst for Turner Sports, was the 12th pick in the 1991 NBA Draft.

• 16 – Washington forward Jaden McDaniels is the brother of Charlotte Hornets forward Jalen McDaniels, who appeared in 16 NBA games as a rookie in the 2019-20 season.

• 1,512 – Vanderbilt guard Saben Lee is the son of former Florida State All-America running back Amp Lee, who rushed for 1,512 yards in the NFL.

• 1982 – Maccabi Tel Aviv guard-forward Deni Avdija’s father, Zufer, won a bronze medal with Yugoslavia at the 1982 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

• 2000 – IMG Academy forward KJ Martin is the son of Kenyon Martin, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft.

• 6M – Illawarra Hawks guard LaMelo Ball, the brother of the New Orleans Pelicans’ Lonzo Ball, has more than 5.6 million followers on Instagram.

Global Game

• 3 – This year’s draft class has the potential to break the record (three) for most players from one Basketball Without Borders camp in the same draft. Killian Hayes (France), Josh Green (Australia), Leandro Bolmaro (Argentina), Paul Eboua (Cameroon) and Vit Krejčí (Czech Republic) all participated in BWB Global 2018 as part of NBA All-Star 2018.

• 5 – This year’s draft class has the potential to break the record (five) for most players from Africa selected in one NBA Draft.

• 7 – Seven players in this year’s draft class have ties to Nigeria. Kansas center Udoka Azubuike and Memphis forward Precious Achiuwa are from Nigeria, and an additional five potential draftees have at least one parent from Nigeria: Isaac Okoro (Auburn), Onyeka Okongwu (USC), Zeke Nnaji (Arizona), Daniel Oturu (Minnesota) and Jordan Nwora (Louisville).

• 7/22 – Deni Avdija and Killian Hayes are seeking to become the highest-drafted players ever from Israel and France, respectively. If Hayes is drafted in the top seven, he will be the highest-drafted French player ever. If Avdija is drafted in the top 22, he will be the highest-drafted Israeli player ever. Avdija and Hayes competed against one another at Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Global 2019 as part of NBA All-Star 2019. Avdija was named MVP of the camp while Hayes was named an All-Star.

• 13 – There have been 13 international players drafted No. 1 overall, most recently the Phoenix Suns’ Deandre Ayton (Bahamas) in 2018.

• 27 – A record 27 international players were drafted in 2016, including a record 15 in the first round and a record-tying 12 in the second round.

• 69 – Since 2001, 69 former Basketball Without Borders campers have been drafted into the NBA or signed as free agents.

Partnership/Tech

• 17 – ESPN will deliver live look-ins from 17 team draft rooms.

• 18 – ESPN will present the NBA Draft for the 18th consecutive year.

• 19 – Nineteen broadcast satellite trucks will be used to help present the draft, including 15 trucks throughout the U.S. and four trucks internationally to connect with prospects located in France, Greece, Israel and Spain.

• 30 – In this unique year, 30 draft prospects received NBA Draft Gifting Lockers, which featured media kits (Microsoft Surface tablet, Beat Powerbeats Pro earbuds, iPhone with tripod, Ring light, Beats Pill wireless speaker) and a variety of products from NBA partners including Spalding, New Era, Beats By Dr. Dre and Oculus.

• 180 – More than 180 young people from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Learn Fresh, TAPS and Jr. NBA joined 30 Draft prospects for a NBA Cares “Road to Success” virtual community series presented State Farm® on Monday, discussing topics such as physical and mental wellness, leadership, activism, mentorship and more.

via NBA Communications

The Weeknd to Headline Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show Sunday, February 7, 2021, on CBS

Image via NFL

New York, NY (November 12, 2020) – Pepsi, the NFL and Roc Nation announced The Weeknd, one of today's most compelling and significant artists of a generation, will perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show on CBS at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Fla. on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021.  

Image via NFL

In less than a decade, The Weeknd has amassed a global fanbase, become a multi-award winning artist, and recently, was named one of the most influential people of 2020 by Time Magazine. Regarded for his creative vision, The Weeknd is known for his genre-bending music and redefining storytelling, both sonically and visually. 

Marking the second year of this collaboration, Pepsi, the NFL and Roc Nation are excited to bring The Weeknd to the world's biggest stage for what is sure to be a transcendent performance.

The Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show telecast will be produced by DPS with Roc Nation and Jesse Collins serving as executive producers, and Hamish Hamilton serving as director. Roc Nation is also serving as the strategic entertainment advisors of the live performance.

"We all grow up watching the world's biggest acts playing the Super Bowl and one can only dream of being in that position. I'm humbled, honored and ecstatic to be the center of that infamous stage this year," The Weeknd said. 

"The Weeknd has introduced a sound all his own. His soulful uniqueness has defined a new generation of greatness in music and artistry," said Shawn JAY-Z Carter. "This is an extraordinary moment in time and the Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show is going to be an extraordinary experience with an extraordinary performer."

"We are thrilled to have The Weeknd join us in Tampa Bay on the Pepsi Halftime Stage," said Brian Rolapp, NFL Chief Media and Business Officer, "Halftime Show performances have a history of excellence and creativity and we look forward to seeing what he will bring to Super Bowl LV. " 

About The Weeknd: Filtering R&B and pop through an ambitious widescreen lens, The Weeknd took over popular music and culture on his own terms. The multi-platinum three-time GRAMMY Award winner is one of the most listened to artists in the world on Spotify (over 51 billion streams) and is a top 10 artist of all time for RIAA singles. His 2020 album After Hours is the #1 most streamed R&B album of all time (followed by his 2016 album Starboy at #2), and his 80's nostalgic track "Blinding Lights" went 5X RIAA-certified platinum and broke the record for Billboard's longest-running #1 on its US radio chart at 46 weeks and counting. Alongside his gilded musical career, he's graced the covers of TIME, Forbes, Variety, Rolling Stone, Esquire, Harper's Bazaar, and GQ along with the late night stages with heralded performances on SNL, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert and the VMA's where he accepted the awards for Video of the Year and Best R&B. In recent times he has made acting appearances in TV and film with 2019's film Uncut Gems as well as starring in and co-writing an episode of the hit show American Dad.  

He generously shares, with over $2M in donations made in 2020 to various charities. The continuous record breaking of charts, sales and streams, headlining the biggest festivals and stadiums in the world, and his ever mysterious public persona combined solidifies The Weeknd as one of the most compelling and significant artists of the 21st century.

About the Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show:

The Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show is the most-watched musical performance of the year, with more than 104 million viewers tuning in to last year's show.  Super Bowl LV marks Pepsi's tenth year as title sponsor of the Super Bowl Halftime Show and 19th year as an NFL partner. Past halftime performances include Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Prince, Madonna, and more.

Viewers can expect unprecedented access to the making of pop culture's biggest event and should stay tuned for more details. For ongoing updates on the Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show, follow @Pepsi on Instagram and Twitter.

For more information about Super Bowl LV, visit SuperBowl.com.

Link to Key Visual asset: https://we.tl/t-FN96svhdBM 

#  # #

Contacts:
Jana Fleishman, janaf@rocnation.com
Ron Berkowitz, Ron@berkcommunications.com  (for Roc Nation)
Traci Otey Blunt, Traci.Blunt@nfl.com
Alix Ekstrom, alexandra.ekstrom@pepsico.com ​

Thirty-three Amateur Athletes Selected as Semifinalists Voting for the AAU James E. Sullivan Award opens

Image via AAU

ORLANDO, Fla. (March 9, 2020) – The best in amateur athletics will be put to a public vote this week for the historic 90th AAU James E. Sullivan Award presented by Eastbay. This award has been presented annually since 1930 to the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. Representatives from the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) created the AAU James E. Sullivan Award with the intent to recognize contributions and achievements from amateur athletes across the country.
 
This year’s group of semifinalists includes:
 

• Brittany Bowe, Speed Skating, USA Speed Skating

• Jade Carey, Gymnastics, Oregon State University

• Lauren Cox, Women’s Basketball, Baylor University

• Teahna Daniels, Track and Field, The University of Texas

• Yianni Diakomihalis, Men’s Wrestling, Cornell University

• CJ Van Eyk, Baseball, Florida State University

• Justin Fields, Football, The Ohio State University

• Makenzie Fischer, Water Polo, Stanford University

• Adeline Gray, Women’s Wrestling, USA Wrestling

• Jenna Gray, Women’s Volleyball and Track and Field, Stanford University

• Evita Griskenas, Rhythmic Gymnastics, USA Rhythmic Gymnastics

• Morgan Hentz, Women’s Volleyball, Stanford University

• Ryan Hoffer, Men’s Swimming, University of California Berkeley

• Grant Holloway, Track and Field, University of Florida

• Markus Howard, Men’s Basketball, Marquette University

• Sabrina Ionescu, Women’s Basketball, University of Oregon

• Trevor Lawrence, Football, Clemson University

• Spencer Lee, Men’s Wrestling, University of Iowa

• Kaitlin Leslie, Karate, USA Karate/AAU Karate

• Erin Matson, Women’s Field Hockey, University of North Carolina

• Paige McPherson, Taekwondo, USA Taekwondo

• Beata Nelson, Women’s Swimming, University of Wisconsin

• Maggie Nichols, Gymnastics, Oklahoma University

• Yossiana Pressley, Women’s Volleyball, Baylor University

• Dana Rettke, Women’s Volleyball, University of Wisconsin

• Sha’Carri Richardson, Track and Field, Louisiana State University

• Kyla Ross, Gymnastics, University of California Los Angeles

• James Seamus, Men’s Diving, USA Diving (Committed to Duke University)

• Pat Spencer, Lacrosse and Men’s Basketball, Loyola University Maryland (fifth year: Northwestern University)

• Lauren Stivrins, Women’s Volleyball, University of Nebraska

• Megan Taylor, Women’s Lacrosse, University of Maryland

• Abbey Weitzeil, Women’s Swimming, University of California Berkeley

• Cassius Winston, Men’s Basketball, Michigan State University

 
“We are thrilled to celebrate the 90th year of the AAU James E. Sullivan Award,” said Dr. Roger J. Goudy, President and CEO of the AAU. “Many of the previous recipients have gone on to do great things in the world of sport, and we are excited to name some of the top amateur athletes in their sport to this semifinalist list, who display leadership, citizenship, character, and sportsmanship both on and off the field.”
 
Last year, AAU saw its second volleyball player named to this prestigious honor, the ESPNW Player of the Year and NCAA National Champion Kathryn Plummer, who helped Stanford University to its third NCAA National Championship title in the last four years.
 
Plummer joined a world-renowned list of Sullivan Award recipients, including famed Olympians
Michelle Kwan (2001), Michael Phelps (2003), Paul Hamm (2004) and Shawn Johnson (2008); University of Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning (1997), Penn State guard John Urschel (2013); 200m backstroke world record holder Missy Franklin (2012) and University of Wisconsin setter Lauren Carlini (2016).
 
“The semifinalist list this year is incredible. These young athletes have made such an impact,” said Melissa Willis, AAU James E. Sullivan Award National Chair. “It is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for us to recognize our outstanding amateur athletes across a number of different sports – from basketball and karate to gymnastics and track and field.”
 
Voting for the award is open to the public at www.aausullivan.org. The semi-finalist round opens at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 9 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 13. Finalists will be named at the AAU Gussie Crawford Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony on Monday, March 23, and the AAU James E. Sullivan Award presentation will be held at the prestigious New York Athletic Club on Tuesday, April 21.
 
ABOUT THE AAU:
The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest- non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the country. As a multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports programs. Founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in sports, the AAU philosophy of “Sports For All, Forever” is now shared by nearly 700,000 members and 150,000 volunteers across 41 sports programs and 55 U.S. districts. For more information, visit www.aausports.org.
 
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Keri Burns, AAU Marketing and Communications Coordinator
p: 407-828-3055
c: 407-280-5110
e: kburns@aausports.org

New NBA All-Star Game format makes every quarter count for Chicago charities

Image via David Dow/Getty Images

NEW YORK – The NBA announced today a new format for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game designed to increase the level of competition throughout the game, provide additional excitement at the finish and make the outcome of every quarter count for charity.

The changes include a new fourth-quarter format that will honor the late Kobe Bryant, who earned 18 NBA All-Star selections and a record-tying four NBA All-Star Game MVP awards.  Additional plans to honor Bryant during NBA All-Star 2020 in Chicago will be announced at a later date.

In the 69th NBA All-Star Game, Team Giannis and Team LeBron will compete to win each of the first three quarters, all of which will start with the score of 0-0 and will be 12 minutes long.  At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the game clock will be turned off and a Final Target Score will be set.

The Final Target Score will be determined by taking the leading team’s total cumulative score through three quarters and adding 24 points – the 24 representing Bryant’s jersey number for the final 10 seasons of his NBA career.  The teams will then play an untimed fourth quarter and the first team to reach the Final Target Score will win the NBA All-Star Game.

For instance, if the cumulative score of the first three quarters is 100-95, the Final Target Score would be set at 124 points.  To win the NBA All-Star Game, the team with 100 points would need to score 24 points in the fourth quarter before the team with 95 points scores 29 points, and vice versa.  With no minimum or maximum time on the clock in the fourth quarter, the NBA All-Star Game will end with a made basket or a made free throw.

As part of NBA All-Star 2020, more than $1 million will be contributed to Chicago community non-profit organizations through NBA Cares outreach efforts.  These efforts will culminate during the NBA All-Star Game when each team will play for a Chicago-based charity beneficiary, as selected by team captains Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The community organization selected by the winner of each of the first three quarters will receive $100,000 – a total of $300,000 donated to charity for those three quarters.  The winner of each of the first three quarters will be the team with the higher score at the end of the 12-minute quarter.

The winning team in the NBA All-Star Game (i.e., the team that reaches the Final Target Score first) will earn $200,000 for its community organization.

If the first or second quarter ends in a tie, the $100,000 charity award for that quarter will be added to the next quarter’s award.  If the third quarter ends in a tie, the $100,000 charity award for that quarter will be added to the award of the team that wins the NBA All-Star Game.

If one team wins each of the first three quarters and reaches the Final Target Score first, $500,000 will be donated to the winning team’s charity and $100,000 will be donated to the losing team’s charity.

The 2020 NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, Feb. 16 at the United Center in Chicago, airing live at 8 p.m. ET on TNT and ESPN Radio in the United States.  The NBA All-Star Game will reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages.

###

NFL ANNOUNCES LIVE VISUAL ALBUM, SUPER BOWL LIV LIVE

via Super Bowl LIV Live

FEATURING AUDIO AND VISUAL OF EACH MUSICAL PERFORMANCE AT SUPER BOWL LIV​

AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 2, FOLLOWING EACH MOMENT

ALBUM PRE-SAVE WILL BE AVAILABLE STARTING TODAY

MIAMI (Jan 30, 2020) –The NFL announced today a revolutionary new visual album, Super Bowl LIV Live. Set to release on Super Bowl Sunday, the album will feature each performance at Super Bowl LIV, including the National Anthem (Demi Lovato), America the Beautiful (Yolanda Adams accompanied by The Children's Voice Chorus) and the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show (Jennifer Lopez and Shakira).

Each performance will go live shortly after it happens on digital service providers, such as Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal and YouTube. The Super Bowl LIV Live will be available for pre-order and pre-save at participating providers starting January 30.

All proceeds from the National Anthem and America The Beautiful performances will benefit the NFL's Inspire Change grant program, focusing on organizations that work to create positive change in the areas of education and economic advancement, police and community relations, and criminal justice reform.

"With the abundance of technology in today's world, it was extremely important to us that we are able to share the ground-breaking Super Bowl performances with our fans across the globe after they occur," said BRIAN ROLAPP, EVP and Chief Media & Business Officer. "This visual and audio album is the first of its kind and will allow fans to experience the greatness of the artists' performance on Super Bowl Sunday at their fingertips and across multiple platforms anytime they choose so. We are happy to continue the way we enhance the fan experience for NFL fans everywhere."

The album can be pre-saved at NFL.com/SuperBowlLive

# # #

Contacts:

Traci Otey Blunt, NFL: Traci.Blunt@nfl.com

NFL Network's Exclusive Coverage of Reese's Senior Bowl, East-West Shrine Bowl and NFLPA Collegiate Bowl

Via NFL

Saturday, January 18 EXCLUSIVELY on NFL Network –

East-West Shrine Bowl at 3:00 PM ET

NFLPA Collegiate Bowl at 7:00 PM ET

Exclusive Live Coverage of the Reese's Senior Bowl Saturday, January 25 at 2:30 PM ET on NFL Network​

Senior Bowl Practice Recap Shows Tuesday, January 21 – Thursday, January 23 at 8:00 PM ET

Via NFL Communications

NFL Network provides exclusive live coverage of three collegiate all-star games during the month of January, beginning Saturday, January 18 with the East-West Shrine Bowl at 3:00 PM ET and the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl at 7:00 PM ET, and concluding Saturday, January 25 with the Reese's Senior Bowl at 2:30 PM ET.

For the East-West Shrine Bowl from Tropicana Field, play-by-play announcer Andrew Siciliano is joined in the booth by analysts Daniel Jeremiah and Charles Davis, while Kimberly Jones provides reports from the sidelines.

For the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl from the Rose Bowl Stadium, play-by-play announcer Rhett Lewis is joined in the booth by analysts Bucky Brooks and Marc Ross, while Omar Ruiz provides reports from the sidelines. This marks the first of a multi-year agreement between NFL Network and the NFLPA to exclusively broadcast the annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on the network.

For the Reese's Senior Bowl from Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Siciliano is joined in the booth by Jeremiah and Davis, while Brooks provides analysis from the field and Tom Pelissero provides reports from the sidelines.

In addition to airing on NFL Network, all three games can be streamed live through the NFL and NFL Network apps on smartphones, tablets, PCs and connected TV devices. Access is available for NFL Network subscribers of participating TV providers. For more information, go to NFL.com/watch.

Live editions of NFL Total Access air on Saturday, January 18 at 6:00 PM ET and 10:00 PM ET, and on Saturday, January 25 at 2:00 PM ET and 5:30 PM ET on NFL Network.

Last week, the NFL announced several initiatives in partnership with the 2020 East-West Shrine Bowl. The strengthened enhancements are designed to continue growing the game through the development of personnel and increasing engagement with players through all levels of their athletic life cycle. To learn more about the East-West Shrine Bowl, visit https://www.shrinegame.com/.

For the third year, NFL Legends will serve as captains for the Senior Bowl and provide mentorship throughout the week to participating players. To learn more about the Senior Bowl, visit https://www.seniorbowl.com/.

For complete information on the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, visit http://collegiate.nflpa.com/

Leading up to the Reese's Senior Bowl, one-hour 2020 Senior Bowl Practice recap shows air Tuesday, January 21 – Thursday, January 23 at 8:00 PM ET on NFL Network, with Siciliano, Jeremiah, Davis, Brooks, Pelissero, Ross, Ian Rapoport, and Mike Garafolo. Additionally, NFL Now provides live updates from Senior Bowl practices Tuesday-Thursday at 1:00 PM ET, and the Move the Sticks Podcast will be on-location throughout Senior Bowl week providing interviews with players and NFL decision-makers.

NFL.com provides complete news reports and analysis throughout the lead up to the 2020 NFL Draft at NFL.com/Draft and on Twitter (@NFLDraft).

 ###

ABOUT NFL MEDIA

NFL Media is comprised of NFL Network, NFL Films, NFL.com, the NFL app, and NFL RedZone.

Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, fans turn to NFL Network to receive information and insight straight from the field, team headquarters, league offices and everywhere the NFL is making news. Launched in 2003, NFL Network gives fans unprecedented year-round inside access to all NFL events, including the Super Bowl, Playoffs, regular season, preseason, Pro Bowl, Pro Football Hall of Fame induction weekend, NFL Draft, NFL Scouting Combine, Senior Bowl, league meetings, minicamps and training camps.

For fans on the go, all NFL Network programming can be streamed live through the NFL and NFL Network apps on smartphones, tablets, PCs and connected TV devices (Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, PlayStation 4, Roku and Xbox One). Access is available for NFL Network subscribers of participating TV providers. For more information, go to NFL.com/nflnetwork. For NFL Network audio programming, download the TuneIn app.

NFL Announces Nominees for 2019 Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year

The National Football League today announced the five finalists for the 2019 PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR award.

Starting today, fans can vote for one of these five players on NFL.com/rookies through Monday, January 20 at 3:00 PM ET to determine the 2019 PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR.

The 2019 PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR award will be recognized in Miami during Super Bowl LIV festivities and online at NFL.com/rookies.

The five finalists were selected for their outstanding performances through the 2019 NFL season. Each week, five nominees were chosen for the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week and fans voted for the winner on NFL.com. Those results were used to help determine the finalists.

A closer look at the finalists:

• San Francisco 49ers DE Nick Bosa

A 2020 Pro Bowl selection, Bosa set a rookie franchise record with 16 tackles for loss, in addition to nine sacks in 2019. He began the season with seven sacks in his first seven games, tied for the second-most by a player in his first seven games since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. In Week 8, Bosa also joined Julius Peppers (October 13, 2002) and Kevin Williams (December 28, 2003) as the only rookies to record at least three sacks and an interception in a single game since 1982. 

• Tennessee Titans WR A.J. Brown

Brown led all rookies with 1,051 receiving yards and tied for the most receiving touchdowns among rookies with eight. Brown became the second wide receiver to reach 1,000 receiving yards as a rookie in franchise history, joining Ernest Givins in 1986. This season, Brown joined Isaac Curtis (five in 1973), Willie Gault (four in 1983) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss (five in 1998) as the only rookies with at least four touchdown receptions of 50-or-more yards since 1970.

• Oakland Raiders RB Josh Jacobs

Jacobs led all rookies with 1,150 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns, while his 1,316 scrimmage yards led all AFC rookies in 2019. Jacobs surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen (697 in 1982) for the most rushing yards by a rookie in team history. This season, Jacobs also became the first rookie since Cincinnati’s Ickey Woods (1988) to have at least two rushing touchdowns in three of his first eight career games.

• Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray

Murray led all rookie quarterbacks with 3,722 passing yards and 544 rushing yards in 2019. His 2019 season set rookie franchise records in passing yards, passing touchdowns (20) and passer rating (87.4). Murray joined Carolina’s Cam Newton (2011) as the only rookie quarterbacks with at least 3,500 passing yards and 500 rushing yards in NFL history.

• Philadelphia Eagles RB Miles Sanders

Sanders led all rookies with 1,327 scrimmage yards (818 rushing, 509 receiving) in 2019 and joined Saquon Barkley as the only rookies with at least 800 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards since 2000. He surpassed LeSean McCoy (637 in 2009) for the most rushing yards by a rookie in franchise history and surpassed DeSean Jackson (1,008 in 2008) for the most scrimmage yards by an Eagles rookie in team history.

This is Pepsi’s 18th year as the official soft drink sponsor of the NFL and the 17th year that Pepsi will present the NFL Rookie of the Week and NFL Rookie of the Year award.

#  #  #

About PepsiCo:

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $64 billion in net revenue in 2018, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Purpose. "Winning with Purpose" reflects our ambition to win sustainably in the marketplace and embed purpose into all aspects of the business.  For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

Media Contacts

John Deighton, NFL

646-876-6028

John.Deighton@nfl.com

Jillian Galasso Djukic, Pepsi

914-253-3174

jillian.galasso@pepsico.com

2019 NFL Playoff Preview

Image via NFL

2019 NFL PLAYOFFS GET UNDERWAY

Orlando, FL – The NFL playoffs begin on Saturday and Sunday, January 4-5, with Wild Card Weekend. On Saturday, the Buffalo Bills play at the Houston Texans (ESPN/ABC, 4:35 PM ET) and the Tennessee Titans visit the New England Patriots (CBS, 8:15 PM ET). Wild Card Weekend continues Sunday with the Minnesota Vikings at the New Orleans Saints (FOX, 1:05 PM ET) and the Seattle Seahawks traveling to face the Philadelphia Eagles (NBC, 4:40 PM ET).

The following week (January 11-12), the Baltimore Ravens (Saturday, CBS, 8:15 PM ET) and Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, CBS, 3:05 PM ET) in the AFC and the Green Bay Packers (Sunday, FOX, 6:40 PM ET) and San Francisco 49ers (Saturday, NBC, 4:35 PM ET) in the NFC host the Divisional Playoffs. The Ravens and 49ers own home-field advantage for the Conference Championship Games (January 19) if they win their Divisional contests. 

The 2020 Pro Bowl (ESPN, with simulcast on ABC, 3:00 PM ET) will be played on Sunday, January 26, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, and Super Bowl LIV will take place on Sunday, February 2 (FOX, 6:30 PM ET), at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.

TURNAROUND TEAMS & CONSISTENT WINNERS HIGHLIGHT PLAYOFF FIELD

Six playoff teams – the BALTIMORE RAVENS (14-2), GREEN BAY PACKERS (13-3), KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (12-4), NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (13-3), NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (12-4) and SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (13-3) – each won at least 12 regular-season games in 2019, tied with 2003 and 2011 for the most such teams in a single postseason in NFL history.

The combined winning percentage of the 2019 playoff field is .708 (136-56), the highest combined winning percentage among postseason teams since 2005 (.719, 138-54).

There are five new playoff teams in 2019: BUFFALO, GREEN BAY, MINNESOTA, SAN FRANCISCO, and TENNESSEE.

Since 1990 – a streak of 30 consecutive seasons – at least four teams have qualified for the playoffs in every season that were not in the postseason the year before.

Download the full 2019 NFL Playoff Preview HERE.

Download the 2019 NFL Postseason Media Guide HERE.

Darrell Armstrong to be Inducted Into Magic Hall of Fame

Image via NBA

DECEMBER 10, 2019 | ORLANDO, FL

The Orlando Magic will induct former guard and fan-favorite Darrell Armstrong into their Hall of Fame on Friday, February 21 at 4 p.m. in Amway Center, near the Nutrilite Magic Fan Experience**. Armstrong becomes the ninth inductee into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame.

Image via NBA

In addition to the induction ceremony, Armstrong will be honored that night during Orlando’s game vs. Dallas. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. and tickets are available through OrlandoMagic.com or by calling 1-800-4-NBATIX.

“During his nine seasons with the Orlando Magic, Darrell Armstrong gave everything he had to the organization, both on the court and in our community,” said Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins. “Fans always look back fondly at our ‘Heart & Hustle’ era, and Darrell was the leader of that group that left it all on the court 20 years ago. We are thrilled to induct him into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame.”

A true underdog story, Armstrong went undrafted in 1991 out of Fayetteville State University. He played professionally in several minor leagues, as well as overseas in Cyprus and Spain, before signing as a free agent with Orlando on April 8, 1995. Armstrong went on to spend 14 seasons playing in the NBA, including nine seasons with the Magic from 1995-2003.

“It is an honor to be recognized for the things I did in Orlando, and I am especially proud as a player who wasn’t drafted,” said Armstrong. “I am not only excited that the organization is rewarding me, but I am also thankful to the fans there as well. Magic fans always had my back and supported me. It is a great honor and I share this with them.”

Armstrong played in 502 regular season games with Orlando (291 starts), averaging 11.7 ppg., 5.1 apg., 3.3 rpg. and 1.65 stlpg. in 28.4 minpg., while shooting .888 (1,156-1,302) from the free throw line. During the 1998-99 campaign, he earned both the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, as well as the NBA’s Sixth Man Award. Armstrong became the first player in NBA history to win both honors during the same season.

Entering this season, Armstrong stood among the Orlando Magic all-time leaders in steals (second, 830), assists (third, 2,555), games played (fifth, 502), three-point field goals attempted (fifth, 1,892), minutes played (sixth, 14,234), three-point field goals made (sixth, 654), free throws made (eighth, 1,156), free throws attempted (ninth, 1,302), field goals made (tenth, 2,044), field goals attempted (tenth, 4,878) and points scored (tenth, 5,898).

Armstrong is also a two-time recipient (1998, 2000) of the Rich and Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award, which recognizes a player’s efforts in the Central Florida community.

The Magic unveiled its inaugural Hall of Fame class on April 9, 2014, naming the first two inductees, Magic co-founder Pat Williams and the team’s first-ever draft pick and current community ambassador, Nick Anderson. In 2015, Shaquille O’Neal became the third member inducted, while Senior Chairman Rich DeVos joined the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame in 2016. Anfernee ‘Penny’ Hardaway and “founding father” Jimmy Hewitt were inducted in 2017, Tracy McGrady was honored in 2018 and longtime announcer David Steele was inducted last season.

The Orlando Magic Hall of Fame honors and celebrates the great players, coaches and executives who have had a major impact during the team’s illustrious 31-year history. The HOF bridges the past with the future of Magic basketball, and the exhibit, located in Amway Center on the terrace level near Nutrilite Magic Fan Experience, provides Magic fans an opportunity to learn some Magic history while in the building. The inductees are selected based on their overall on and off the court contributions to the team and organization, years of service, impact in the community and general character of the individual.

Source: Orlando Magic | NBA

NFL and TikTok Announce Multi-Year Partnership to Bring NFL Content to Fans Around the World

Via NFL

Launch of Official Account with New Content Every Week of the Year

Worldwide Hashtag Challenges Starting with #WeReady to Kick Off NFL's 100th Season

Sept. 3, 2019 -- The National Football League (NFL) and TikTok, the leading destination for short-form mobile video, announced today a new multi-year partnership to bring the excitement of the NFL experience to TikTok's global community, combining the passion surrounding NFL football with the fast-growing digital platform.

As part of the partnership, the NFL is launching its official TikTok account, delivering content to fans across the platform's global markets. NFL content will include uniquely packaged highlights, sideline moments, and behind-the-scenes footage. Additionally, the NFL and TikTok will partner together around a series of NFL-themed hashtag challenges, inviting members of the TikTok community to express their passion for their favorite NFL clubs and players on TikTok. The NFL and TikTok will also be partnering together on unique marketing opportunities for brands to activate around NFL content on TikTok.

#WeReady Kick Off Campaign
The NFL and TikTok are rallying fans to join in the excitement of kickoff with the #WeReady hashtag challenge campaign. From September 3rd - September 5th, fans are encouraged to show their pride for their favorite team by creating their own unique TikTok videos with the #WeReady hashtag. Popular TikTok creators and NFL clubs will join fans in showing their team spirit and excitement to get "back to football" ahead of the NFL's 100th season.​

TikTok will also be celebrating the NFL's 100th season kickoff live in Chicago on September 5. Attendees can experience TikTok in real life at Soldier Field and create their own unique TikTok videos that show their love for their favorite teams and players in an NFL-themed experience.

"Partnering with TikTok is a natural extension of our media strategy," said Blake Stuchin, Vice President, Digital Media Business Development for the NFL. "The platform reaches a fast-growing global audience of NFL fans and future fans. The NFL programming and hashtag challenges are a perfect way to kick off the NFL's 100th season – with fun, new content that will entertain fans and invites them to celebrate and experience their NFL fandom in a way that's authentic to the unique experience of TikTok."

Sports is a popular and beloved category on TikTok. Sports fans crave authentic moments, and people find that in TikTok's unique and creative short videos that capture the humor, passion, and surprise of the sports world. From the fans and the food to the mascots and players, this partnership will bring the excitement of an NFL game day to TikTok's diverse content ecosystem while involving the TikTok community in the broader NFL experience.

"We're thrilled to partner with a powerhouse in the sports industry like the NFL to bring new life and a fresh perspective to the sports entertainment experience," said Mayan Scharf, Global Partnerships, TikTok. "TikTok is a destination where fans can feel like they are a part of the team and we look forward to showcasing content from the NFL that is exciting, authentic and surprising to TikTok community."

 ###

About TikTok
TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Our mission is to inspire and enrich people's lives by offering a home for creative expression and an experience that is genuine, joyful, and positive. TikTok has global offices including Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo. www.tiktok.com.​

Media Contacts:
Laura Perez, TikTok
pr@tiktok.com

Brenna Webb, NFL
brenna.webb@nfl.com

Asia McMillan Named FAPSC Graduate Of The Year

On August 1, 2019, Asia McMillan received the honor of being named the “2018-2019 Graduate of the Year” (degree-granting institution) by the Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools & Colleges (FAPSC) during the FAPSC Annual Conference held in Hollywood, FL.

After earning her Bachelor of Science in Sports Marketing and Media from Full Sail University, Asia entered the sports industry to explore her passion for Sports Business, Marketing, and Philanthropy. Currently, Asia works as the Multimedia Coordinator for the Amateur Athletic Union( AAU), where she focuses on creating and distributing engaging and meaningful content that promotes the overall objectives of the organization. 

Within her first month in the position, Asia executed a social media campaign that generated an increase of over 40,000 percent engagement. She was also tasked with forming a new brand identity and brand guidelines for the AAU to utilize across all aspects of marketing and media. Her latest challenge has been to help the NFL Alumni Association Central Florida Chapter improve their community presence and engagement through her contributions as the Media Director. Asia is the founder of Sports Marketing Perspective (SMP), a platform that provides content from the perspective of sports marketing students and young sports marketing professionals. Asia began SMP while a student at Full Sail and continues to engage consumers after graduation. For Asia, being a sports marketer and emotionally connecting fans with their favorite organization is a passion she has been chasing for many years.

Most recently, Asia started the BeyondFour Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization whose mission is to use sports to inspire and support creativity, education, health, and wealth outside of four walls, four years, and four quarters. Through their Four Pillars and Fundamental Values, the BeyondFour Foundation will create a community of events, workshops, and tools surrounding Individual Creativity, Social and Community Responsibility, Value Creation, and Community Service (education, health, and wealth). Within the BeyondFour Foundation, Asia also aspires to create a scholarship fund to help further education in sports, business, marketing, and media degree programs.

Asia is paving the way for future sports industry professionals by providing consulting, mentorship, and various platforms for students and young professionals to showcase their talents and skills.

###

For more information on Asia, visit AsiaMcMillan.com

Special thanks to Full Sail University and FAPSC

NFL BUILDS ON COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL JUSTICE...

Via NFL

Let’s Listen Together initiative will highlight ongoing engagement efforts among players, owners, law enforcement, and civic organizations to improve communities

As part of its ongoing work to support its players, the NFL today announced a joint player and ownership commitment focused on social justice. The campaign, Let’s Listen Together, launches today and includes a multi-layered roll-out including digital content and brand spots highlighting the player-led work on social and racial equality. The platform will also include social media support, as well as individual letters from players and owners sharing their stories and personal reasons for making social justice a priority.

The working group committee, which held its first meeting at the league office in December, includes Arizona Cardinals Owner and President MICHAEL BIDWILL, Atlanta Falcons Owner and Chairman ARTHUR BLANK, Cleveland Browns Owner JIMMY HASLAM, Jacksonville Jaguars Owner SHAHID KHAN, and Miami Dolphins Owner STEPHEN ROSS. The player representatives are New York Jets offensive tackle KELVIN BEACHUM, NFL Legend ANQUAN BOLDIN, New York Jets quarterback JOSH MCCOWN, Washington Redskins cornerback JOSH NORMAN and NFL Legend AENEAS WILLIAMS. Quotes from each owner and player on the committee are below. The group will focus on supporting programs and initiatives that reduce barriers to opportunity, with a priority on supporting improvements in education and economic development, community and police relations, and the criminal justice system. It will work directly with league staff to help identify future initiatives that have both broad support and a potential for high impact, and make financial recommendations accordingly.

The NFL Foundation is also launching a new grant today for active and retired players who develop social justice programming or partner with local non-profit organizations committed to this work. A similar grant will be open for club foundations later this month.

In addition, the league’s government affairs division is working to provide support to the Players Coalition, players and clubs who are interested in criminal justice reform at the local, state and/or national level.

"The collaboration between the NFL and its players should be celebrated, as it’s the first professional league or entity that has taken the concerns of its players and put resources behind it,” said NFL Legend ANQUAN BOLDIN. “Our country has some real issues when it comes to social and racial equality that must be addressed. The only way these issues will get solved is to fight together."

 “We are pleased to have developed a new initiative that focuses on creating meaningful solutions to improve our communities,” said NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL.  “In developing this plan, we have taken the lead from our players and are honored to join them in this work.  Their work has deepened our understanding of the unique platform we have to help advance progress in a profound and unifying way.”

Many teams and owners are engaged in ongoing social justice work.  This season alone, NFL teams, together with ownership and hundreds of players, have hosted or taken part in more than 100 events pertaining to social justice. Examples include New York Jets Chairman and CEO CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON spending time with Jets players learning about criminal justice reform in the Bronx in December; New England Patriots President JONATHAN KRAFT joining Patriots players at Harvard Law School earlier this month to hear from advocates for education and economic advancement; and Philadelphia Eagles CEO and Chairman JEFFREY LURIE and Commissioner Goodell joining Eagles players to gain perspective on criminal justice reform this fall. Commissioner Goodell also joined Dolphins players for a day of conversation and high school roundtables with law enforcement through the Ross Initiative for Sports Equality (RISE) earlier this season.  This ongoing work is built upon the constructive dialogue that has been taking place for the past year among owners, players and NFL teams.

In the coming days and weeks, the NFL will highlight various societal issues, individuals and organizations through the lens of its players in a series of NFL Network features debuting this Thursday, January 25 during NFL Total Access, which airs at 7:00 PM Eastern.  The first feature includes Philadelphia Eagles safety MALCOLM JENKINS and his focus on racial bias and social and emotional intelligence training for police officers. Future pieces will address other social justice issues led by DEVIN MCCOURTY and DOUG BALDWIN, JR, among others.

For more information, visit www.nfl.com/letslistentogether.   

NFL, PepsiCo and U.S. Bank Stadium Partners Team Up...

via Sports Marketing Perspective/NFL

NFL Communications

"Rush2Recycle" Will Intercept Waste at U.S. Bank Stadium, Home of the Minnesota Vikings

Project Aims to Set New Standard for Recycling and Waste Management at Future Large-Scale Events

The NFL, in partnership with PepsiCo, Aramark, U.S. Bank Stadium and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, today announced Rush2Recycle, a game plan to recover more than 90% - more than 40 tons - of stadium waste at Super Bowl LII on Sunday, Feb. 4. After months of preparation to eradicate trash materials from the stadium, the 90%+ gameday goal will maximize recycling and composting. This zero waste effort aims to leave a positive green legacy at U.S. Bank Stadium and in the Super Bowl host city, and create a playbook for other leagues, teams, site operators and fans to intercept waste in their communities.

On gameday, every chef, custodian and fan will be part of the team working to recover at least 90% of stadium waste by recycling bottles and cans, composting organic materials like food waste and service ware, and repurposing items like discarded handbags, signage and construction materials through local community organizations. Rush2Recyle staff will encourage stadium fans to recycle and compost. Through this process, stadium partners introduced a tri-bin waste collection system, invested in a dedicated organics compactor and implemented a detailed post-game waste sort to insure each waste stream is contaminant-free. This work will leave a lasting impact after the final whistle, as the stadium's waste diversion infrastructure will be permanent installations at U.S. Bank Stadium, helping protect the environment and reduce waste hauling costs.

"The NFL is a responsible steward of the environment in all areas of our business," said NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL. "For 25 years, the NFL has strived to reduce the environmental impact of its events and leave a positive green legacy in host communities. Through this project, the League and its partners hope to set a new standard of environmental sustainability at the Super Bowl."

The effort will also engage fans nationwide, inviting them to join the Rush2Recycle team and providing tips to recycle more and intercept waste at Super Bowl parties and year-round. PepsiCo and the Rush2Recycle ambassador - Super Bowl XL MVP and Pittsburgh Steelers Legend HINES WARD - are launching a social media campaign to showcase recycling MVPs across the country, and inspire fans to tackle waste in their communities. Ward will be sharing his own recycling end zone dance, the Rush2Recyle Shuffle, which will be made available at www.Rush2Recycle.com, along with tips and other resources.

"At PepsiCo, we know that developing more sustainable packaging and reusing and recycling materials are key to sustaining our success in the long-term, both as a company and as a society," said PepsiCo Chairman & CEO, INDRA NOOYI. "And we could not be more thrilled to join this groundbreaking effort. There's no grander stage in all of American sports than the Super Bowl, and we look forward to working with our partners at the NFL, Aramark, and U.S. Bank Stadium to shine a spotlight on the critical importance of recycling and waste reduction."

"The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority is proud of the hard work and dedication put forth by all stadium partners to build a sustainable, zero-waste program for U.S. Bank Stadium. This dedication echoes the State of Minnesota's commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and building an operation that is friendly to our environment," said MICHAEL VEKICH, Chair of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, owner of U.S. Bank Stadium. "We're excited to be working with the NFL and PepsiCo to officially kickoff our zero-waste initiative, an operational program that will leave a lasting impact on our facility for years to come."

"Aramark takes great pride in championing innovations that positively impact the communities we serve while inspiring others to make a difference," said ERIC J. FOSS, Chairman, President & CEO of Aramark. "As U.S. Bank Stadium's food and beverage partner, we are excited to be at the forefront of collaborating with the NFL and its partners to implement our industry-leading waste minimization practices and create a sustainable game day environment that will also benefit Minneapolis far beyond Super Bowl LII."

This project brought all key stakeholders in the Minneapolis community together with one goal in mind – a dramatic reduction in waste on an ongoing basis leading up to and following Super Bowl LII. The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, the stadium's operator SMG, and Aramark have worked diligently to create and implement a robust set of waste initiatives aimed at reducing the overall amount of landfill waste. In addition to the partners listed above, Minnesota Vikings leadership teams, recycling officials from Hennepin County, executives from waste hauler Republic Services and community outreach staff from the Minnesota Super Bowl LII Host Committee provided support for this initiative. Since June 2017, U.S. Bank Stadium partners have increased the stadium's diversion rate by roughly 55%, reaching a high of 83% by January 2018. Achieving zero-waste (90% waste diversion) at Super Bowl LII will be an accomplishment that all partners have worked together to achieve.

For more than 25 years, the NFL has been the leader in sports event sustainability; creating the first significant stadium solid waste recycling project in America at Super Bowl XXVIII in Atlanta in 1994. The NFL and the Minnesota Super Bowl LII Host Committee developed a series of initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of Super Bowl LII activities and leave a "green" legacy throughout the area. Through the NFL Environmental Program, solid waste from Super Bowl events is being recycled and leftover décor and construction materials will be donated to local organizations for reuse and repurposing. Tens of thousands of pounds of unserved, prepared food from Super Bowl events will be distributed to local shelters and community kitchens. U.S. Bank Stadium, the site of Super Bowl LII, and several other major NFL Super Bowl event venues will be powered using "green energy" to reduce the climate impact of Super Bowl events. A Super Bowl E-waste event was held in October and diverted 42,081 pounds of E-waste from the landfill for responsible recycling. The NFL's Super Bowl urban forestry program planted more than 12,000 trees, 4,000 native plants and 8 pollinator gardens in Minnesota. On Thursday, Jan. 18, more than 100 local schools joined in a community initiative called Super Kids-Super Sharing which put books, sports equipment and school supplies into the hands of local children in need.

# # #

About the NFL Environmental Program: As a leader in the community, the NFL is a responsible steward of the environment in all business areas, using resources efficiently and minimizing waste. The NFL Environmental Program focuses on greening NFL tentpole events and facilities and provides resources for NFL clubs to help them operate their business in sustainable, eco-friendly ways. The NFL was the first professional sports organization to take on full programming for environmental impact at large-scale sporting events such as Super Bowl.

2017-20 USA Basketball Women’s National Team Pool Unveiled

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Headlined by 13 Olympic and/or FIBA World Cup gold medalists, 29 athletes today were named to the 2017-20 USA Basketball Women’s National Team pool, from which the 2018 USA World Cup Team is expected to be selected. The 2017-20 USA National Team pool was selected by the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee.

The 29 members of the 2017-20 USA National Team roster announced today include: Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx); Sue Bird (Seattle Storm); Tina Charles (New York Liberty); Layshia Clarendon (Atlanta Dream); Napheesa Collier (Connecticut); Elena Delle Donne (Washington Mystics); Skylar Diggins-Smith (Dallas Wings); Stefanie Dolson (Chicago Sky); Asia Durr (Louisville); Sylvia Fowles (Minnesota Lynx); Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury); Tiffany Hayes (Atlanta Dream); Jantel Lavender (Los Angeles Sparks); Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm); Kayla McBride (Las Vegas Aces); Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream); Kelsey Mitchell (Ohio State); Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx); Chiney Ogwumike (Connecticut Sun); Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks); Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces); Katie Lou Samuelson (Connecticut); Odyssey Sims (Los Angeles Sparks); Breanna Stewart (Seattle Storm); Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury); Morgan Tuck (Connecticut Sun); Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx); Courtney Williams (Connecticut Sun); and A’ja Wilson (South Carolina).

Additionally, in continuing its preparations for the 2018 FIBA World Cup of Basketball and future USA Basketball Women’s National Team events, available members of the USA pool will participate in a minicamp Feb. 9-11, 2018, at the University of South Carolina. It will mark the second camp under the direction of Dawn Staley, 2017-20 USA Basketball Women’s National Team and South Carolina head coach.

“I’m incredibly pleased with the pool of players that make up the 29 and the different experiences that they bring to the team,” said Staley, whose Gamecocks currently are 9-1 and ranked No. 4/5 nationally (as of 12/14/17). “I’m looking forward to putting my stamp on this training camp, because it’s new, it’s different. Yet, you can give the 29 members of the pool anything to run, and they’re going to make you look good. We just have to get together to form some chemistry. Many of us have been together and worked together, just not in this capacity. So, anytime we can get the USA National Team together and work for a few days, it’s only going to benefit us in the long run.

“Anytime you can assemble the best players in our country together in one place, it always is an incredible thing. I think USA Basketball has done a great job of making things convenient for everyone in bringing people together in a place in which, I think everyone who comes will be pleasantly surprised at what Columbia has to offer and what our university has to offer. It’s a tremendous time that will be spent wisely, and it’ll be enjoyable.”

“This is a very talented group, from four-time Olympians Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, to the younger players who are hoping to compete in their first USA National Team competition,” said Carol Callan, USA Basketball Women’s National Team director and chair of the USA Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee. “As we looked toward the future, the committee first had to look at the past. We acknowledged that what has made the USA National Team program such a resounding success over the past two decades was the way our teams have seamlessly blended youth with veteran leadership. And because of that, we wanted to make sure we continued with that recipe in building a team.

We can’t say enough about the veterans. We win simply because our best players want to play over and over again.

“We are happy to be able to take advantage of this time, and I want to thank the University of South Carolina for allowing us to train there in February. USA Basketball is blessed with an array of talent, but that means that our athletes are in demand around the world in many different professional leagues. But, that is also a challenge for us in that we need to be able to find small pockets of time to train in order to be fully prepared to defend the gold medal at the 2018 FIBA World Cup in Spain. We are hoping to be able to get together for another minicamp prior to the start of the WNBA season, where we will continue to prepare and hope to have even more athletes available. We appreciate everyone who is able to participate in our training camps as we feel it’s invaluable to everyone to become more familiar with Dawn’s style of coaching and continue to build on the team culture that has been one of the hallmarks of our success.”

As was the case over the past three quadrenniums, the 2017-20 USA National Team roster will be fluid. It is expected that the official, 12-member 2018 USA World Cup and 2020 U.S. Olympic teams, should the USA qualify to compete in Tokyo, will be comprised of players from the 2017-20 USA National Team.

The USA will train at 10 a.m. (EST) daily Feb. 9-11 at the Carolina Coliseum, and the final roster of minicamp participants will be announced at a later date.

Collegiate members of the 2017-20 USA squad, Collier, Durr, Kelsey Mitchell, Samuelson and Wilson, as well as those competing professionally in Asia, which currently includes Fowles, Loyd and Stewart, will be unavailable to participate in the camp.

All 29 athletes possess prior USA Basketball international experience. Combined, the athletes own 100 gold medals, two silver medals and four bronze medals in official junior and senior level five-on-five competitions, as well as seven gold medals in international 3×3 events. The list of USA National Team members is underscored by a total of 25 Olympic and 19 FIBA World Cup gold medals.

NBA G League Games to Stream Live on Twitch

– Up to Six Weekly Games Featuring Fan Commentary and Cutting-Edge Interactive Stats –

NEW YORK, NY – NBA G League games will stream live on Twitch, the world’s leading social video service and community for gamers with 15 million daily active users, beginning Dec. 15.  This will represent the first time a major sports league has tapped into several technological innovations unique to Twitch.

During the 2017-18 regular season, basketball fans can expect up to six NBA G League games to stream live on Twitch each week at twitch.tv/nbagleague.  After each live broadcast, these games will be available on demand.

The partnership expands NBA G League game distribution and aims to ambitiously innovate the digital presentation of basketball.  In addition to the main broadcast, this partnership will feature co-streaming with select Twitch personalities and basketball fans.  Co-streaming allows a creator to share another channel’s video feed, but with their own commentary and community, resulting in a more personalized, social experience that includes the ability for viewers to chat with commentators during the game.  At launch, GoldGlove and more than a dozen other top personalities on Twitch will take part in the co-streaming initiative.

Additionally, this partnership will introduce interactive functionality for Twitch viewers in the form of a channel overlay that provides easy access to a wide range of stats and the ability to accrue loyalty points.

To enhance the viewing experience, Twitch is adding interactive features with the NBA G League Extension.  This is a channel overlay created using Twitch Extensions, which are a new set of tools that allow developers to help creators customize their channel pages with interactive experiences.  The NBA G League Extension provides the following features for Twitch viewers which will update and evolve over time:

• Stats: Viewers can click on a team’s name or logo next to the scoreboard to view player, team, game, and season stats. There will also be a ticker featuring league stats related to other games from around the league.

• Loyalty Display: Logged in viewers will be rewarded with loyalty points for passive and active behaviors and interactions with the stream. Viewers can compete to unlock achievements, climb season long leaderboards, and more to eventually earn prizes.

“Our deal with Twitch will be groundbreaking,” said NBA G League President Malcolm Turner.  “By leveraging fan commentary, new technology and a passionate community, Twitch elevates video in a unique, engaging way that resonates with young viewers.  We look forward to collaborating with their team to create something truly special for basketball fans.”

“From day one, the NBA team got what Twitch is all about.  We aren’t a traditional sports experience on TV; we are much more,” said Michael Aragon, Senior Vice President of Content, Twitch.  “From our broadcasters to our engaged community to our interactive product that brings everyone together, collaborating with their team is going to bring a unique experience to basketball fans worldwide.  We are thrilled to be working with the NBA G League and look forward to seeing the impact of social video on mainstream sports.”

As a research and development arm of the NBA, the NBA G League tests rules, technological innovations and equipment in an effort to elevate the game.  This season, the league played with four-person referee crews during the month of November, while testing rules such as the innovative Coach’s Challenge and a two-minute overtime period.  During the league’s 17-year history, it has experimented with the international goaltending rule, away-from-the-play fouls and in-game flopping penalties, among other rules.

About the NBA G League

The NBA’s official minor league, the NBA G League prepares players, coaches, officials, trainers and front-office staff for the NBA while acting as the league’s research and development laboratory. Featuring 26 teams with direct affiliations with NBA franchises for the 2017-18 season, the league offers elite professional basketball at an affordable price in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. An all-time-high 44 percent of all NBA players at the end of the 2016-17 season boasted NBA G League experience.  In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA Cares programs.  NBA G League games are available on ESPN’s family of networks and NBA TV.

About Twitch

Twitch is the world’s leading social video service and community for gamers. Each day, millions of community members gather to watch, talk, and chat about shared interests. Twitch’s video service is the backbone of both live and on-demand distribution for all types of content, including the entire video game ecosystem, the creative arts, vlogging (IRL), and more. Twitch also runs TwitchCon, an annual convention for celebrating the Twitch community. For more information about Twitch, visit ourPress Center, Twitter feed (#Twitch), and Blog.

MGM Resorts Selects ‘Las Vegas Aces’ as New Name for WNBA Franchise

via WNBA

LAS VEGAS, NV – MGM Resorts International today announced that its WNBA franchise will be called the Las Vegas Aces. Las Vegas’ first major professional basketball team – formerly the San Antonio Stars – will begin play in its new home in the 2018 season.

Las Vegas Aces President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach Bill Laimbeer was joined by MGM Resorts President Bill Hornbuckle and WNBA President Lisa Borders to reveal the team’s name and logo at a news conference at Mandalay Bay.

“Selecting a new name is an important and symbolic step,” said Laimbeer, a two-time WNBA Coach of the Year and four-time NBA All-Star. “Las Vegas has enthusiastically embraced us, and we’re incredibly excited for this opportunity. We have a strong roster driven to succeed, which makes this name an ideal choice. ‘Las Vegas Aces’ is a nod to the excellence, confidence and competitive spirit of our new hometown.”

Borders said, “We are ecstatic to officially welcome the Las Vegas Aces to the WNBA family. The Aces are already embracing the opportunity to develop a deep connection with the local community, and we can’t wait to watch them bring the WNBA’s brand of world-class basketball to their new home in 2018.”

Hornbuckle added, “This is a great time to bring women’s professional basketball to the Las Vegas community. The WNBA represents some of the world’s best athletes and will showcase its incredible talent for our hometown fans. Young girls and boys in our city will undoubtedly gain dynamic role models for professionalism, teamwork, dedication and discipline.”

Las Vegas-based entertainment and hospitality leader MGM Resorts received unanimous approval from the WNBA and NBA Board of Governors in October in connection with its purchase and relocation of the team from San Antonio to Las Vegas. In its inaugural season in Las Vegas, the Aces are expected to play 17 home games at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, adding to MGM Resorts’ outstanding lineup of live entertainment experiences. The company is home to more than 20 world-class arenas, theaters and outdoor venues, selling 8 million tickets annually for live events ranging from performances by renowned artists such as The Rolling Stones, Cher and Bruno Mars to some of the biggest fights in the history of combat sports.

The Aces will become the second major professional sports team in Las Vegas, following the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, who play at T-Mobile Arena. The NFL’s Oakland Raiders are expected to relocate to Las Vegas by the 2020 season.

Las Vegas’ new WNBA franchise was originally established for the league’s inaugural season in Salt Lake City before moving to San Antonio prior to the 2003 season.

Fans can make a deposit for Las Vegas Aces tickets through AXS.com. Deposits can be applied toward season tickets, multi-game packs, or single game tickets. The opportunity to buy season tickets will be offered to deposit holders in the order in which they signed up and seat availability is not guaranteed. Season tickets will go on sale to the public in early 2018.

Follow @LVACES, #LVACES and visit wnba.com/lasvegas for additional information.

About the WNBA

The WNBA – which features 12 teams and is the most successful women’s professional team sports league in the world – is a unique global sports property combining competition, sportsmanship, and entertainment value with its status as an icon for social change, achievement, and diversity. Through WNBA Cares, the WNBA is deeply committed to creating programs that promote a healthy lifestyle and positive body image, support youth and family development, and inspire and empower women. For more information on the WNBA, log on to www.wnba.com.

About MGM Resorts International

MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is an S&P 500® global entertainment company with national and international locations featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos, state-of-the-art meetings and conference spaces, incredible live and theatrical entertainment experiences, and

an extensive array of restaurant, nightlife and retail offerings. MGM Resorts creates immersive, iconic experiences through its suite of Las Vegas-inspired brands. The MGM Resorts portfolio encompasses 27 unique hotel offerings including some of the most recognizable resort brands in the industry. The company is expanding throughout the U.S. and around the world, developing MGM Springfield in Massachusetts and MGM COTAI in Macau, and debuting the first international Bellagio branded hotel in Shanghai. The 77,000 global employees of MGM Resorts are proud of their company for being recognized as one of FORTUNE® Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies®. For more information visit us at www.mgmresorts.com.