The DC Council yesterday voted unanimously to approve a new stadium for DC United, "probably ending the team's decade-long search for a new home." The plan is expected to cost the District at least $150M in direct investment and another $43M in forgone tax revenue. The deal "benefited from the project’s relatively modest scale, the desire to kick-start development in a gritty industrial zone, and the team’s willingness to bear" the roughly $150M cost of building the most expensive MLS facility proposed to date.

The 20,000-seat facility in the Buzzard Point area of Southwest DC "remains on track to open in time" for the '17 season. The Council is set to take a final vote Dec. 16, and the team "might fight for additional concessions." But there is "little expectation that the agreement will collapse" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/3).

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson's appeal hearing over his suspension continues today, and a source said that appeals officer Harold Henderson has ordered NFL Exec VP/Football Operations Troy Vincent to testify. The NFLPA "has previously requested Vincent testify because his conversations with Peterson are central to the case." Yesterday's hearing lasted for five hours (USATODAY.com, 12/2).

Fantasy site DailyMVP today breaks its first ad with Patriots QB Tom Brady, in which the two-time NFL MVP portrays a telemarketer hooked on daily fantasy. Lakers G Steve Nash played a librarian in the first ad of the “Have an MVP Day” brand campaign from ad agency barrettSF. The Brady ad will live online for now, but David Geller, founder of DailyMVP parent company TopLine Game Labs, said a full-blown media schedule will start early next year.

MassMutual has signed a sponsorship deal with the Celtics with activation around the company’s FutureSmart Challenge initiative, a financial education program aimed at teaching money management and financial planning skills to middle school-aged children. Financial terms of the one-year deal were not disclosed. The sponsorship also gives the company in-arena branding throughout TD Garden, courtside signage and digital advertising on Celtics.com. The Celtics and MassMutual will host the FutureSmart Challenge on Dec. 12 at MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass., and on Feb. 27 at TD Garden. This is MassMutual’s first team deal with the Celtics.

The Univ. of Michigan yesterday formally dismissed Brady Hoke as its football coach. Hoke will get a $3M buyout. Interim AD Jim Hackett's announcement was a "respectful parting" (DETROIT NEWS, 12/3). MLIVE.com's Nick Baumgardner writes Hackett "was strong Tuesday" and "a pro." He was "respectful to Hoke throughout the entire process." And "in terms of his plan on paper, he seemed impressive there, too. He's hiring a search firm to help, admitting that he doesn't know everything" (MLIVE.com, 12/3).

CBS said that if it does not reach a carriage deal with Dish Network by tomorrow evening, "Dish subscribers will lose the broadcaster's signal." Dish and CBS "have reached two extensions over the past few weeks as they negotiate terms of a long-term renewal" after their contract expired Nov. 20. The "most recent one came just in time for viewers to watch football on Thanksgiving Day" (ADAGE.com, 12/2).

The negotiations "have encompassed CBS' 29 O&O stations as well as Showtime and CBS Sports Network." It is "unlikely that Showtime and CBSSN would also go dark on Thursday, but it is a possibility" (VARIETY.com, 12/2).

NYRA Chair David Skorton today plans to step down after helping guide the organization through a "multiyear cleanup." Skorton was tapped by N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration to lead NYRA two years ago "after the state took control of the troubled association." He is credited with "opening up what had previously been closed-door meetings." He also "convened hearings to gather suggestions for improving operations at NYRA's tracks, including Saratoga Race Course" (Albany TIMES UNION, 12/3).

With fewer than 80 days left before the start of the inaugural Xfinity Series season, Comcast Senior Dir of Sports Brand Marketing Matt Lederer said his team is already baselining its goals for the sponsorship, and that Year 1 will be focused on building the brand. Lederer, speaking at the Aria Resort in Las Vegas during a '14 NASCAR Motorsports Marketing Forum panel on the topic of series entitlements, said, "We were very methodical about our strategy. For Year 1, it's all about brand metrics: Are (NASCAR fans) increasing their consideration of us? What is their impression of us? Has it improved through sponsorships?"

Morning sessions on the second and final day include presentations from MGM Resorts Int'l Senior VP/Sponsorship & Event Marketing Scott Voeller and NASCAR Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell. Toyota Motor Sales USA Corporate Manager of Motorsports & Engagement Marketing Keith Dahl will discuss Toyota's 10 years in NASCAR, while NBC Sports Group Chair Mark Lazarus and Fox Sports President & COO Eric Shanks will give a presentation titled, "New Broadcast Partners Offer New Enhancements and New Fan Experiences."

See THE DAILY for more updates from the conference.

The Bills and Rogers Communications today formally announced an agreement to terminate the Bills Toronto Series (Bills).

The Indiana State Fairgrounds today will formally announce a $6M, 10-year naming rights deal with Indiana Farmers Mutual Insurance. The “newly renovated arena,” which houses the ECHL Indy Fuel, will be called Indiana Farmers Coliseum (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 12/3).

The Triple-A PCL Oklahoma City RedHawks today will formally announce that their name is changing to the Dodgers. The nickname will be unveiled during a “Dodger Day” celebration in front of Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The team was recently acquired by Dodgers investor Peter Guber and became a Dodgers affiliate (OKLAHOMAN, 12/3).

A crowd of more than 2,000 “screaming fans” yesterday attended a public rally at Calgary’s city hall to celebrate the Stampeders’ Grey Cup victory (CP, 12/2).

“We want the place to shine. We’re not doing anything special for the All-Star Game. We’re just pushing it forward” – Hamilton County Stadium Dir Joe Feldkamp, who oversees Great American Ball Park, on the county adding $1M more in repair work to the stadium ahead of next year’s MLB All-Star Game (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 12/3).

“It never crossed our mind. … Our greatest PR and our greatest strength is our student-athletes, our coaches, letting their performance on that field speak for itself” – TCU AD Chris Del Conte, on hiring a PR firm to make the school’s case to be included in the College Football Playoff (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 12/3).

“We have an amazing platform to do some great things for our communities, both here and where we’re from. And I think it’s a responsibility” – Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, on professional athletes’ charitable endeavors (POSTCRESCENT.com, 12/2).

“I think it’s a curious choice. It’s not in the United States, which I find very disappointing as a past president of US Sailing. The whole thing makes me scratch my head” – Broadcaster Gary Jobson, on Larry Ellison yesterday officially announcing Bermuda as host of the '17 America's Cup (N.Y. TIMES, 12/3).

“It was a little sparse. But the people who were there were into it, energetic” – Hurricanes C Eric Staal, on a crowd of 9,161 attending last night’s game at PNC Arena against the Predators (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 12/3).

Last night’s 1:00am ET edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” led with three NBA game reports, while the 1:00am edition of FS1’s “Fox Sports Live” led with four NBA game highlights. ESPN followed with Baylor hiring a PR firm and the College Football Playoff rankings, with their first NHL report – Devils-Penguins – airing 21 minutes into their broadcast. FS1 followed with Michigan firing coach Brady Hoke, with their first NHL report – Devils-Penguins – 43 minutes into their telecast.

ESPN’s Keith Olbermann called out his “world’s worst” persons in sports: The Time Out Bar & Grill in St. Louis for “quitting the Rams” and now supporting the Chiefs after the Rams players' “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” gesture. Olbermann also put on notice Bundesliga II FC Ingolstadt for having a shot hit the crossbar at least three times and not going in, and Russian President Vladimir Putin for trying “really hard to get” UEFA President Michel Platini “to swing votes toward” Russia to host the '18 World Cup.

RIP Jean Beliveau. Was he the DiMaggio of hockey, or was DiMaggio the Beliveau of baseball?

— Bob Ryan (@GlobeBobRyan) December 3, 2014

Tonight! NFL players criticized for the least bad thing NFL players have done all year.

— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) December 3, 2014

Getting ready for #MLSCup. Bought a couple Landon Donovan storylines off the internet. They were guaranteed "never been used".

— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) December 3, 2014

Getting a very “Monty from Major League” vibe from Shane Battier thus far.

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 3, 2014

The city of Columbia, S.C., and the ownership group of a prospective MiLB team will announce a naming-rights sponsor for the city's new ballpark, slated to open in April '16.

The Mets and local charity New York Cares will hold a coat drive at the team's Citi Field merchandise shop. Those who donate a coat will receive a voucher for a Mets home game and a 15% coupon for the team store.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Kings and Queens.”

“Technically this monarch is the head of state of 16 countries including Jamaica and New Zealand.”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy!” featured the category “Sports Stars.”

For $200: “LeBron James led this team to back to back NBA titles in 2012 and 2013.”

For $400: “Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a successful third-generation star of this sport.”

For $600: “Combined, these two sisters have won more than 100 tennis championships.”

For $800: “This brother of the Broncos’ Peyton plays quarterback for the Giants.”

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel said, “Last night on ‘Monday Night Football’ was another sad night for the New York Jets. Tickets to the game in New Jersey were reportedly selling for $10, which is less than it costs to see a movie in 2-D, but there was a highlight. That highlight came while Mike Tirico was talking up an NFL campaign. They have one of these NFL campaigns to encourage kids to exercise. Well, watch very closely here.” The broadcast then aired video from ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” of a young pre-teen Jets fan cheering loudly while apparently holding popcorn and a Bud Light beer. Kimmel added, “The Jets are even driving children to drink this season” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 12/2).

Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart said, “I want to first talk to you about professional football, the American brand. It’s certainly seen its share of controversy this year, from a gay player who apparently couldn’t hit hard enough to a straight player that could but probably should not have hit at all, really, to a team that on paper (in the Giants) before the season should have been in the hunt. For God sakes, (Giants QB Eli Manning is) a two-time Super Bowl-winning MVP! Do we have an offensive line? Do we not have an offensive line? Am I the only who thinks that the protection schemes are not only ill-designed but also humorously under-executed?” Stewart then addressed the controversy with the Rams players using the “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” gesture (“The Daily Show With Jon Stewart,” Comedy Central, 12/2).

“Who is Queen Elizabeth II?”

Correct responses to the “Sports Stars” category:

For $200: “Who are the Heat?”

For $400: “What is auto racing?”

For $600: “Who are Venus and Serena Williams?”

For $800: “Who is Eli Manning?”

The $1000 answer was not revealed.