Closing Bell

The Royals are “no longer considering” building a ballpark at the Aspiria campus in Overland Park. The Royals have “continued to examine downtown baseball, the origin of their exploration,” since Jackson County voters turned aside an April 2024 proposal that would have committed a 3/8th-cent sales tax to the project. Since that vote, the team has studied the possibility” of placing a ballpark at Washington Square Park near Crown Center and east of Union Station and has also “engaged in discussions” with Clay County leadership about a North K.C. location. The Royals had a deadline to commit to the Northland, which elapsed earlier this month. The club did not say that it is “done exploring all options in Kansas, but the viability of that option became more difficult after Kansas gave the Chiefs and Royals a Dec. 31, 2025 deadline to use the STAR bonds tool to finance a move” (K.C. STAR, 1/27).

The Portland Fire have reached a deal with fintech company Chime to be a jersey patch sponsor, as well as its official banking and credit partner, as the WNBA expansion franchise plans for its debut 2026 season.

Chime branding will be placed on the left shoulder of all three Fire jerseys as part of collaboration that will grant Chime members access to Chime Lane (a VIP entrance into Moda Center) and to Chime Club (a premium arena locale that will offer exclusive merchandise, curated food, beverage and special guests).

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Also in partnership with Chime, the Fire will launch a content series focusing on Portland’s nature, culinary and lifestyle culture. The consumer fin tech company will also become presenting partner of pregame tunnel walks that will allow select fans the chance to witness Fire players’ fashion entrances.

The Fire -- whose in-house partnerships team did the deal alongside Legends -- will likely announce an additional patch partner later.

CBS’ Tony Romo on Tuesday appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” and talked about dealing with the negative reviews of his recent performances in the booth, saying that it “goes with the territory.” He said, “You’re doing you, and you’ve got to be yourself. You’re trying your best. It’s not like you’re never not trying your hardest to go be great at something. … The noise is the noise, it’s part of being in this job.” He added, “All the fans come up to me and say how much they love us and everything. That’s what I feel. As far as looking at stuff online, it’s just part of the process” (“The Pat McAfee Show,” ESPN, 1/27).

The Bills have named offensive coordinator Joe Brady their new coach, landing on a candidate “from within their own building.” It is a “good bet that maintaining continuity” and QB Josh Allen having a “comfort level with Brady factored heavily into the team’s decision.” Bills owner Terry Pegula and President of Football Operations Brandon Beane led the process to find Sean McDermott’s replacement. Laura Pegula, Terry’s daughter, Assistant GMs Brian Gaine and Terrance Gray and Allen “were also a part of the search committee” (BUFFALO NEWS, 1/27).

The Bills “must have felt they had an in-house gem” with Brady, as they “did not even extend a second interview to any other candidates throughout the process.” However, team execs will “need to answer some questions about why they felt that the answer to their problems throughout the 2025 season was on their staff all along” (THE ATHLETIC, 1/27).

The Bills’ coaching vacancy is the seventh of 10 openings to be filled so far this offseason, and Robert Saleh (Titans) is the “only minority candidate hired as a head coach to this point.” The Raiders, Browns and Cardinals are still yet to hire their new coaches (USA TODAY, 1/27).

Dan Kolko will “succeed Bob Carpenter doing play-by-play on Nationals broadcasts this year," according to sources cited by the WASHINGTON POST’s Chelsea Janes. Kolko “filled in regularly for Carpenter” last year and has been a part of Nats coverage in “various roles since 2012” (X, 1/27).

Rick Rizzs, after 40 years as the primary announcer for the Mariners’ radio broadcasts, “will step away from the microphone after the 2026 season.” Rizzs was hired by the Mariners in 1983, but left in 1992 to replace HOF broadcaster Ernie Harwell after he had been fired from the Tigers radio broadcast. Rizzs’ stint in Detroit lasted three seasons before the “entire broadcast was replaced.” Rizzs returned to the Mariners broadcast for the “magical 1995 season” and he “never considered leaving the organization again.” Rizzs is the longest-tenured radio broadcaster in club history (SEATTLE TIMES, 1/27).

Yankees RF Aaron Judge was named the cover athlete for “MLB The Show 2026,” becoming “just the second player to appear on the game’s cover twice” -- the other being Baseball HOFer Joe Mauer in 2010 and 2011. This year’s artwork on the cover “reflects multiple chapters of Judge’s baseball career.” He is shown in the Yankees’ pinstripes, but “this time a Team USA jersey is also featured behind him” ahead of his first World Baseball Classic appearance in March. The location of Judge’s high school is “highlighted on a map of California with his baseball jersey at Fresno State included too.” “MLB The Show 2026” launches March 17 with early access beginning March 13 (ESPN.com, 1/27).

Fever G Caitlin Clark is joining NBC’s “pregame coverage for its debut of ‘Sunday Night Basketball’ this weekend” for Lakers-Knicks at Madison Square Garden. It is “set to be a two-night gig for Clark,” who plans to “return to NBC in another pregame role on March 29” when the Knicks visit the Thunder. Clark brings with her an “enormous following within the game.” Clark in March 2024 “entered a marketing relationship” with Xfinity, owned by NBC parent Comcast (AP, 1/27).

Lakers G Luka Doncic is “partnering with Shopify” to “launch a direct-to-fan platform, using his intellectual property to sell directly to fans.” 77X, named after Doncic’s jersey number, will “sell experiences, merchandise and collectibles.” The financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed. Doncic’s Chief Business & Brand Officer Lara Beth Seager “will act as CEO of 77X.” 77X will be “free for fans to join, offering them options such as video interviews, games, and interacting with Doncic on decisions such as new colors for his Jordan signature shoe.” Doncic will also “engage fans through physical events and pop-ups, with the first scheduled for All-Star Weekend” in L.A. 77X’s revenue streams will be “generated through a combination of merchandise sales, creative collaborations, and brand partnerships” (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 1/27).