The St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission has submitted to the Rams new renovation plans for the Edward Jones Dome featuring "a glass exterior, a series of outdoor terraces and the closing of Broadway on game days." This comes after the team rejected the CVC's "more modest" $124M proposal and offered its own. The new plan "does not include a cost estimate," and the Rams "have not yet commented" on the proposal (STLTODAY.com, 8/20). The CVC "proposes adding 4,000 seats to the facility" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 8/20).

The commission worked with local design firm Arcturis to develop the new option for renovating the stadium (THE DAILY). View exterior and interior renderings.

The United Way has formed a group of NFL players, dubbed "Team NFL," that will appear in a new PSA campaign to "help it recruit volunteer readers, tutors and mentors." The group is "made up of one player representative from each of the 32 NFL teams," and each is a "college-educated, civic-minded and an actively involved United Way volunteer." The campaign's new TV spot stars five of the players: Eagles CB Nnamdi Asomugha, Cowboys CB Brandon Carr, Browns WR Josh Cribbs, Giants DT Chris Canty and Panthers QB Cam Newton (NYTIMES.com, 8/20).

With today's announcement that Augusta National Golf Club will admit former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina-based financier Darla Moore as its first two female members, THE DAILY offers a sampling of the myriad reaction on Twitter.

Tennis HOFer Billie Jean King tweeted, "Condoleezza Rice-Augusta membership-Slowly but surely lots of crumbs ad up to a cake. Condoleezza has always had great interest in sports." ESPN's Jemele Hill wrote, "I hope Condi Rice gets paired w/ Tiger Woods at Augusta. He supported the stance against women. TW forgot he once wasn't allowed either." NBC’s Michelle Beadle posted, “Augusta let two women in! Garsh, we really made it! Now wouldn't it be great if they said 'thanks, but no thanks.'” ESPN's Darren Rovell: "Just because Augusta has now let women in doesn’t mean their job is over. They need to make women feel comfortable there."

The USTA today announced a series of building enhancements to Billie Jean King National Tennis Center due to be completed in time for this year's U.S. Open. Projects include new buildings, completion of Court 17, increased seating at all field courts and new sponsored programs. More specific details include the following:

• The '12 Opening Night ceremony at Arthur Ashe Stadium will include a video and light show.
• A new two-story building includes the redesigned Red Star Cafe on the top floor and a U.S. Open retail store on the bottom.
• Moet & Chandon is sponsoring the tournament's first champagne bar: the Moet & Chandon Terrace.
• All outer field courts will now seat at least 340 spectators due to increased bleachers seating (USTA).

Spike TV and kickboxing promotion K-1 have partnered for a series of fights to be streamed live on Spike.com, beginning with the U.S. World Grand Prix Championships in L.A. on Saturday, Sept. 8. A total of four events will be streamed live in '12. Next year, the K-1 events will move from Spike.com to Spike TV, coinciding with the cable TV outlet's coverage of Bellator Fighting Championships. The move is part of Spike's push to add new combat sports programming after UFC's original programming moved to other outlets (THE DAILY).

Golf Channel today announced the creation of its Editorial Research Unit, which is modeled after the Olympic Research model created by Roone Arledge at ABC Sports in '67 and used by NBC for the past two decades for its Olympic coverage. Golf Channel Exec Editor Geoff Russell will oversee the group (Golf Channel).

U.S. soccer F Alex Morgan has signed with Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for a three-book series for middle-schoolers called "The Kicks." The first novel in the series is due out next summer (AP, 8/20).

EPL club Manchester United has partnered with Fuji TV to launch MUTV in Japan as part of a three-year deal (Manchester United).

Charles Schwab today announced its sponsorship of the 24th America's Cup, becoming the official investment firm for America's Cup World Series events in S.F. and the Louis Vuitton Cup, as well as the America's Cup Challenger Series and '13 America's Cup Finals (Charles Schwab).

Private equity firm Raptor Consumer Partners today announced an investment in obstacle racing series Spartan Race, Inc., which will move its HQs to Boston this fall and will host an obstacle time trial at Fenway Park on Nov. 17. RCP Managing Dir John Burns will join Spartan Race's BOD (Spartan Race).

"The Volt is our signature color for Nike. It's our Tiffany Blue. Of course, it's no accident that we picked that color. The whole point of this was to create impact" – Nike Global Creative Dir for the Olympics Martin Lotti, on the neon-green-meets-highlighter-yellow color of the company's Flyknit shoe worn by Olympians during the London Games (ADAGE.com, 8/19).

"You know, there are not many tall white guys with mustaches walking around still these days. I’m hoping my reputation’s not big enough that these people know who I am" – Former MLBer Jeff Kent, who will compete on the upcoming season of CBS' "Survivor," on trying to keep his celebrity from other competitors on the reality show (EW.com, 8/20).

USA Today Sports Media Group VP/Sports Promotions Bouker Pool: "Not on a bike & @lancearmstrong steals spotlight on 1st day of another US race. Enough already! Move on & focus on future of the sport!"

Horizon Media Research Dir Brad Adgate: "Sports represents 20% of programming hours watched in US households, but for 50% of cost on an average cable bill."

CBS Sports’ Bryan Fischer: "If the Orioles and Pirates both make the playoffs in the same year, wouldn't that mean the Mayans were right?"

Newsday's Jim Baumbach: "Who says it's just preseason? At Saturday's Jets-Giants game, there were 10 arrests, including one assault, according to N.J. State Police."

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com. 

ESPN's Darren Rovell posts an image of the shapely barcode on bags of Maria Sharapova's "Sugarpova" candy.

Patriots Owner Robert Kraft has invited five members of the U.S. Olympic team – gymnast Aly Raisman, judoka Kayla Harrison, swimmer Elizabeth Beisel and basketball players Tina Charles and Asjha Jones – to their home preseason game against the Eagles. Also at tonight's game, five-year-old Jack Curran, who is battling Leukemia, will be the official Ball Kid. He will get the chance to run on the field and present an official game ball to mascot Pat the Patriot.

The Predators will hold a "Skate of the Union" Town Hall meeting at Bridgestone Arena at 4:00pm CT. GM David Poile, CEO Jeff Cogen, President & COO Sean Henry and Chair Tom Cigarran are scheduled to meet with fans.

Some aspects of this report on Kobe Bryant scoring 68 points in a charity game in Shanghai may have been lost in translation. But the lack of emphasis on defense and Bryant's skill level compared to most of his competitors will be apparent to any viewer.

U.S. women’s soccer G Hope Solo will appear on E! Network’s “Chelsea Lately” at 11:00pm ET.

Tennis player Maria Sharapova will appear on NBC’s “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” at 12:35am ET.

25% – Percent by which adidas increased its Twitter followers during the London Games (MARKETINGMAGAZINE.co.uk, 8/20).