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MLS Commissioner Don Garber today said that the newly announced media deal with Apple "will help the league appeal to younger consumers." Garber: "This is what they’ve asked for. And we’re going to deliver them every match anywhere, anytime, anywhere around the world without any restrictions." Apple Senior VP/Services Eddy Cue added, “We’re going to take all of the things that Apple is really good at -- experiences, style, the approach we take to making great products -- to this.” MLS Deputy Commissioner Gary Stevenson, referring to the cord-cutting trend, said the league is taking advantage of the “greatest transition in the way sports media would be distributed since the advent of cable television” (CNBC.com, 6/14).

Clarifying some of the deal details, SBJ's Alex Silverman notes the "full slate of MLS matches will NOT be included with an Apple TV+ sub." Rather, it will be a "separate service housed in the Apple TV app." That also means that viewers "won't need to buy Apple TV+ to watch MLS." Apple TV+ "will have select matches, but not all" (TWITTER.com, 6/14).

Meanwhile, data from the Kantar Sports Monitor 2022 Fan Engagement study shows why a deal with Apple makes so much sense for MLS given its streaming-friendly fanbase (SBJ).

Candy Digital CMO Andre Llewellyn said being a relatively new company in a young industry, “by definition, we're innovating.” Speaking today at the '22 SBJ Brand Innovation Summit in Chicago, Llewellyn said brand innovation is “literally what we're doing on a daily basis.” One way Candy does that is by using digital collectibles, like NFTs, to bring fans “closer to that sport or that fandom that you love with different engaging types of experiences, all built upon each other with this digital ecosystem.” WWE Senior VP/Strategy & Revenue Scott Zanghellini also said the promotion “felt like we were a first mover” when it came to NFTs, and the success they had “led to larger partnerships” for WWE.

The metaverse also was discussed as a space for innovation, and Meta VP/Reality Labs Partnerships Ash Jhaveri said “bringing games and athletes and things into these digital spaces” will “create a lot of opportunity for brands and teams and IP holders to continue to interact outside of the arenas.” Jhaveri noted Meta’s investment into VR and AR as part of its “mission of providing tools and platforms to allow people to connect, to allow brands to connect with people.” Zanghellini noted an important aspect of getting involved with these new technologies is how to “educate a fan base who aren't crypto native, aren't used to the metaverse and NFTs.” But he added the “beauty of it is that instant feedback,” which is why companies looking to innovate “have to take those calculated risks.” Llewellyn said the metaverse is “still very primitive,” so there is “no wrong or right way” to explore how to use it.

A court in Russia has "extended the pre-trial detention" for WNBA Phoenix Mercury C Brittney Griner, as she now will "remain in custody at least through July 2." Her detention was extended for another 18 days at "the request of the investigation," according to a representative from the Khimki Court of the Moscow Region. Griner has "been detained in a Russian prison for 117 days." A U.S. State Department spokesperson said last month that a U.S. consular officer was "able to meet with Griner on May 19" (ABCNEWS.GO.com, 6/14).

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The USTA confirmed that it "will not follow Wimbledon by barring Russian and Belarusian players" from this year’s U.S. Open. The move was formally announced today after a recent BOD meeting. USTA CEO Lew Sherr said that officials "had discussions in recent weeks with the leaders of Wimbledon and the other two Grand Slam tournaments." Sherr: "It was very clear each of us was dealing with a unique set of circumstances. Wimbledon, in their case, there was a government directive involved." Sherr added that the USTA had received "no pressure or directive from the U.S. government." Wimbledon remains the "only Grand Slam tournament to bar Russians and Belarusians in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/14).

More of the top golfers in the world today spoke out on LIV Golf ahead of the U.S. Open. Among the comments today at Brookline:

• World No. 2 Jon Rahm: "Part of the format is not really appealing to me. Shotgun (start) three days to me is not a golf tournament, no cut. It's that simple." He added, "I could retire right now with what I've made and live a very happy life. When [his wife] Kelley and I started talking about it we were like, will our lifestyle change if I got $400 million? No, it will not change one bit" (BBC.com, 6/14).

• No. 3 Rory McIlroy: “Those crowds on Sunday in Canada, LIV is never going to have that. It’s never going to have that sense of, I don’t know what the word is…but last week meant something. What they are doing over there doesn’t really mean anything apart from just collecting a ton of money" (London GUARDIAN, 6/14).

• No. 19 Brooks Koepka, on his reasoning for still being on the PGA Tour: "There's been no other option to this point, so where else are you going to go?" (SBJ).

Eli Manning will "executive produce a new children’s animation series in the works from Headline Studio at Advance," the production company owned by the Newhouse family’s Advance holding firm. No network or streaming service is "attached as of now." The as-yet-untitled series will center on a "shy quarterback with a secret power -- a magic arm -- who leads a team of unlikely players from all backgrounds through heroic adventures." Manning "will also voice a supporting character on the program." The new show is from Brand Velocity Group and Excel Sports Management, "both of which work with Manning on his projects" in media (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 6/14). Advance Publications is SBJ's parent company (SBJ).

SportTechie offers daily updates and analysis on all the latest happenings that crossover between the sports and technology industries. Here are some of today's top headlines:

• USFL Using ActionStreamer’s Helmet Cameras to Put Fans in the Middle of the Action

• NFL Debuts Guardian Cap During Minicamps, Soft-Shelled Helmets Aimed at Decreasing Head Impact

• Consumer Data Startup Knit Raises $3.55 Million, Partners Include WNBA, NASCAR

• Apple and Nike to Team Up for Multi-Year Partnership to Develop Sports Documentaries

NBC Sports confirmed that former NFL coach Jason Garrett will be joining the network as an analyst for "Football Night in America" this season (NBC Sports).

Mark Krikorian has agreed to become the NWSL Washington Spirit’s President of Soccer Operations & GM, according to sources. As a coach, Krikorian in known for having "built Florida State into an NCAA women’s soccer power" (WASHINGTON POST, 6/14).

The MLB Rangers named TicketManager the club's official corporate ticket management partner. The company will provide its tech and tools to corporate ticket holders to help them manage and re-sell seats (Rangers).

RealResponse, a monitoring and reporting platform for sports entities, reached a partnership with US Equestrian, further expanding its reach in the Olympic/Paralympic space with this latest NGB partner (RealResponse).

“If they were to pull this off and win three in a row, to me that’s almost like winning five in a row in this era” -- Ducks GM Pat Verbeek, on the Lightning playing for their third straight Stanley Cup in a salary cap era (L.A. TIMES, 6/14).

11 -- Year-over-year percentage point drop in Seton Hall Sports Poll respondents who have cable TV subscriptions, falling from 36% to 25% from the May '21 poll to the May '22 results. For satellite subscriptions, the drop was 6 points (19% to 13%). Among self-described sports fans, the decline was slightly smaller: 9 points for cable (39% to 30%) and 6 points for satellite (22% to 16%) (Seton Hall Sports Poll).