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SEC examining forming its own network again (CBSSports)

The WPS calls it quits, drawing down the curtain on premier level women's professional soccer in the US (footiebusiness)

Manchester United may have lost the Premier League but it's still tops the Brand Finance 50 most valuable soccer clubs worldwide (Brand Directory)

BMO Harris Bank acquires naming rights to Milwaukee's Bradley Center for more than  $1 million per year for six years (Journal Sentinel via Sports Business News)

In the wake of last season's epic brawl, Cincinnati and Xavier agree to move the Crosstown Shootout to a neutral site for the next two years (ESPN)

Dicier Drogba wins Champions League but says he will leave Chelsea when his contract ends this summer (FoxSoccer).

Fresh off an arrest for going 93 m.p.h. on a suspended license, Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman sued For $18 million alleging false imprisonment in Cuba caused by Chapman (SI)

Buffalo Bills receive NFL approval for five year extension of deal to play games in Toronto. (Buffalo News)

Belmont Stakes reserved seats sold out in five minutes (Sports Business Digest)

Djokovic drops Sergio Tacchini and set to sign with Japanese company UNiqlo, which is attempting a major expansion into the US.(Darren Rovell)

CVC sells a 21% interest in Formula One to Blackstone and others in a deal valuing F-1 at $7.2 million exclusive of debt ahead of planned IPO (Reuters)

There must be at least a dozen different ways to gauge the popularity of a major league sports franchise. If we're talking about a European soccer team, the easiest way may be to look at the value of its jersey deal - how much is it getting paid to wear its sponsor's name on the front of its jersey.  With the exception of Major League Soccer, that idea has yet to catch on in the US so we must look at other metrics.  In the case of baseball due to its long season and deep involvement in regional sports networks, one of way is to look at the viewership of games on those networks.