Briefs: Tar Heels, Spartans Will Play To Select Audience

The dream is just about realized for the Bassett brothers. After a successful college career with the University of Denver that ended with Sam Bassett leading the Pioneers to their second College Cup as a MAC Hermann Trophy finalist, the midfielder signed a one-year Homegrown deal with the Colorado Rapids on Tuesday for the 2025 season. The contract includes three consecutive one-year club options for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Signing the Littleton native seemed a foregone conclusion after his Homegrown status left him ineligible for the 2025 MLS SuperDraft.

Michael Malone doesn’t know where he’ll hang the jersey. As long as it can be replaced by an updated version someday. After the Nuggets wrapped up practice on Monday afternoon, general manager Calvin Booth surprised Malone with a framed custom jersey, commemorating his 433rd win as Denver’s coach this season, which set a new franchise record. The number on the jersey was 433. “Calvin Booth had that made, so obviously really appreciate the gesture.

The Colorado Avalanche began the season with a dud against a recent Stanley Cup champion — the Vegas Golden Knights. But the Avs looked like a completely different club Monday night, completing the first half of the regular season with a statement effort against the defending champion Florida Panthers. Devon Toews scored twice, Mackenzie Blackwood made 26 saves and the Avalanche scratched out its 25th win in 41 games, a 3-1 victory at Ball Arena. “(We’ve come) a long ways,” Toews said.

You’ll thank Russell Wilson one day. Not because he showed up. Oh, no. Because he left. Getting him was a risk. Extending him was screwy. But cutting Big Russ forced the Broncos to go cold turkey in record time, to eat a ton of cap money and go young all over the place.

The Broncos finally put their long playoff drought in the past. Almost nine years after Super Bowl 50, they’re back in the AFC postseason field. Now comes the hard part. Trying to go to Buffalo to knock off an MVP candidate in quarterback Josh Allen and the 13-4 Bills. “Everybody’s ready to go and everybody understands that getting to the playoffs is nice, but we don’t play football for consolation prizes and moral victories,” right tackle Mike McGlinchey said.

The cost to construct Billions of dollars in both public and private money have been spent to build professional sports stadiums across North America. Below is the cost of each stadium or arena currently being used by teams in the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB, including older venues that have undergone extensive renovation in recent years.