Closing Bell

The Harris County-Houston Sports Authority approved a $180M renovation of Toyota Center during a special meeting Wednesday. The project will commence once the Rockets’ 2025-26 NBA season ends, and it will continue through the subsequent NBA season before completion by the start of the 2027-28 season.

Toyota Center has had “plenty of what I would call ‘projects,’ particularly maintenance and keeping the building up to date,” over the years, said Rockets’ President of Business Operations Gretchen Sheirr, but the building has never had the big, multiyear renovation it’s now undertaking.

“There is no hiding that it’s 23 years old,” Sheirr added.

The Houston Chronicle reported the city’s mayor, John Whitmire, saying Wednesday that $95M of the project costs would be covered by the state with Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta providing the remainder.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Augusta National Golf Club Chairman Fred Ridley said Wednesday that he and PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp spent half a day together in February talking about how the organizations could collaborate on pro golf moving forward.

Rolapp was asked in March at the Players Championship about the tour not having a stake in any of the sport’s biggest tournaments: The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, Open Championship or Ryder Cup. At the time, Rolapp said golf’s governing bodies should “work closer together commercially,” adding: “I think if you look at all of those golf organizations, at the end of the day, they are entirely financed by professional golf and professional golfers.”

Global Golf Post reported recently that Rolapp and the PGA Tour had floated the idea of pooling the major media rights. And in recent years, golf sources have buzzed about the possibility of the tour charging the majors a sanctioning fee for players to participate. Asked about those movements on Tuesday, Ridley noted his meeting with Rolapp in February and also said they’ve spoken “several times” since then. But he also mentioned that Augusta National, as well as junior golf tours and organizations like the AJGA, provide pathways to the tour.

“There are a number of golf organizations, including ours, that make the PGA Tour possible,” Ridley said. “I understand Brian’s comment, I suppose, or his perspective, but I think we really need to look at the entire ecosystem to get a full perspective of that issue. I also think it points out that, when we talk about collaboration, that what we should be talking about and what I’m talking about is collaboration to elevate the game of golf. I think that’s where we’re all going to be successful.”

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Wednesday afternoon was the busiest time of the week under Augusta National’s massive clubhouse oak tree. LIV Golf had its first big contingent on the grounds this week, with Scott O’Neil, Chris Heck and Katie O’Reilly among those seen just after lunch. O’Neil at one point was engaged in conversation with CBS analyst and OWGR Board Chair Trevor Immelman, as well as CBS Sports President David Berson as Jim Nantz stood just feet away. Versant Chairman Mark Lazarus also got time with O’Neil.

At one point, Berson, a Michigan grad, was reliving the Final Four with Illinois alum Mark Steinberg.

Golf Channel’s Tom Knapp also was getting time with Rory McIlroy Inc.’s Sean O’Flaherty and Niall O’Connor. Golf Channel/Versant have plenty of ties with McIlroy through products like Golfpass, the Optum Golf Channel Games and more.

Also seen on Wednesday afternoon: CAA’s Ben Gannett and Billy McGriff; The Familie’s Rob Mougey, P3 Sports Reps’ Peter Webb; Pro Sport Management’s Jens Beck; Sportfive’s Steve Loy, Mike Harmon, Jimmy Johnston, Ben Harrison and Tommy Riehle; LIV Golf managers Peter Davis, Jeff Koski and Irek Myskow; Excel Sports Management’s Kevin Hopkins, Alex Burge, Andrew Kipper and Kelly Presley; The Team’s Chris Mullhaupt; GSE’s Mike Creasy and Kevin Canning; WME’s Alistair Johnston; Stephen Malbon; Michelle Wie West; the USGA’s Jon Podany; Outlyr’s Tim Erensen; Hambric Sports’ Blake Smith and Rocky Hambric; Callaway Golf’s Chip Brewer; the PGA Tour’s Norb Gambuzza, Scott Warfield and Chris Wandell.

ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt will continue as host of the late night “SportsCenter” after speculation that he might move to the 5pm slot created when “Around the Horn” when off the air last year. Van Pelt addressed the topic on the latest episode of his podcast, which dropped on Wednesday, and said, “We have had some lengthy, compelling, collaborative conversations that have stretched over quite a bit of time that I really appreciated being a part of.” But he added, “I could never get mentally to the place of exactly what (the show) would be.”

Van Pelt has hosted the late-night version of ESPN’s flagship show since 2015, and he said, “I still like it. It still rates. You guys are still there for it. The players, the coaches, the leagues that are involved in that space where we are -- it seems to make sense to everybody, including our bosses who are like, ‘Hey man, why are we going to mess with this?’ And we all just looked at each other and said, ‘We’re not’” (“SVPod,” ESPN.com, 4/8).

Basketball HOFer Sue Bird will join NBC Sports as a studio analyst when the WNBA returns to NBC and debuts on Peacock in 2026. In addition to her studio appearances, Bird will host a series of feature stories throughout the season, with portions airing on TV and extended versions available digitally, including on Peacock. Bird will often work with Maria Taylor, who was announced earlier last year as lead studio host for select WNBA games on NBC and Peacock (NBC Sports).

Meanwhile, free agent G Sophie Cunningham announced via her social media platforms that she has joined USA Sports as an Athlete Contributor for the inaugural season of WNBA coverage on USA Network. Cunningham will exclusively join WNBA studio programming on USA Network throughout the regular season and postseason as her playing schedule permits. She will also contribute to content across USA Sports’ digital and social platforms (USA Sports).

Procter & Gamble and the WNBA have signed a multiyear, multi-brand partnership that builds off the success of Mielle’s multiyear partnership with the league. P&G is expanding its presence with a broader portfolio commitment, with deodorant brand Secret and skincare brand Olay the first P&G brands to activate under the new partnership. Their entrance into women’s basketball launched with products created in collaboration with Aces C A’ja Wilson and Wings G Paige Bueckers. Tampax, the official period care sponsor of the WNBA, will be the next brand to leverage the league’s platforms, beginning at the 2026 WNBA Draft with the Queens Court activation, presented by Tampax. Additional P&G brands -- including Downy, Gillette Venus and Tide -- will introduce activations throughout the season (P&G).

The Liberty officially launched their 30th season brand campaign Wednesday ahead of the 2026 season. A “30 Seasons” throwback-inspired logo incorporates the orange torch from the Liberty’s original Lady Liberty primary logo with the team’s original blue colorway. A spot to commemorate the season sees comedians Devon Walker and Jenny Hagel debating the franchise’s all-time “Dream Liberty” starting five, as the conversation builds into a full-bar celebration of Liberty legends. Throughout the 2026 season, the campaign will feature commemorative merchandise, in arena giveaways, community events, theme nights and original storytelling. The Liberty are one of the WNBA’s three remaining original franchises (Liberty).

Premier League club Manchester United announced a multiyear agreement with Levy and a series of stadium enhancements at Old Trafford ahead of the 2026-27 season. The enhancements are designed to deliver a faster food and beverage service, more choice and an improved experience. From the start of the 2026-27 season, supporters will see new draught-beer taps across all areas of Old Trafford, more self-service bars that reduce queues and improve flow, and frictionless kiosks that enable fans to tap, grab and go. Upgrades also include new digital signage that enables the menus to be changed depending on kick-off times and types of events and fixtures as well as a wider range of food and drink -- including a selection of street food from independent Manchester vendors. Further updates to concourses and hospitality areas will be shared later this year (Manchester United).

Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour said there are “big fundamental differences” between prediction markets and sportsbooks, as calls grow for prediction markets to be regulated like gambling platforms. Mansour, appearing on “The Axios Show,” said sportsbooks are “designed for customers to lose.” He added, “When a customer wins on a traditional sportsbook, they block that customer because those winnings are coming from the business model.” Meanwhile, for customers who are not winning, Mansour said the sportsbooks will “give them promos and figure out how to bring them back.” Mansour said both of those responses to customers do “not exist in prediction markets.” Mansour said there is a “fundamental difference in structure,” as prediction markets “do reward them for being right.” He added a “lot of people that win, the people that are doing research, that are getting informed, that are traders, do come to prediction markets,” and this is “where the value type is strongest” (X, 4/7).