A capacity crowd of 66,813 last night attended the Vikings' first regular-season game at their new stadium, and T Tom Johnson said that the crowd noise "played a role in the victory" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 9/19). Cheers were "nearly deafening" when QB Sam Bradford completed his first touchdown pass with the Vikings en route to a 17-14 win against the Packers. LB Chad Greenway said, "I hope we can get this every Sunday" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/19). On offense, the Vikings committed four false starts, and noise may have been a factor. Vikings G Alex Boone: "I'm not saying it's the fans' fault, but I'm just saying, it would be nice if they would shut the f--- up a little bit" (ESPN.com, 9/18).

The STAR TRIBUNE and ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS both went with front-page banner headlines: "Purple Pride Prevails At Home Opener," "A Good Start."

The Rams sold 91,046 tickets for yesterday's "emotional" home game, their first at L.A. Memorial Coliseum since '79. The Red Hot Chili Peppers "performed a pregame concert, CeeLo Green sang the national anthem, LeBron James and Magic Johnson were in attendance and the Rams provided a performance worthy of all the pomp and circumstance." After the 9-3 win over the Seahawks, Rams coach Jeff Fisher said, "The fans were incredible. It made this a tough place to play starting day one" (ESPN.com, 9/18).

Red Sox DH David Ortiz will “sport custom size 12 cleats” designed by New Balance “in the final weeks of his last regular season campaign in the majors.” Ortiz will wear the cleats during the team’s last four series – against AL East rivals Yankees, Blue Jays, Orioles and Rays – and fans starting today "will be able to buy limited-edition lifestyle sneakers inspired by the on-field footwear” (BOSTON HERALD, 9/19).

Team Penske yesterday delivered when Simon Pagenaud won at Sonoma Raceway to "wrap his first career IndyCar championship." It was the 14th series title for Penske, which also "managed the first 1-2-3 sweep of the standings since another group of Penske drivers did it" in '94. Scott Dixon's sixth place finish in the standings, his lowest since '05, "didn't give sponsor Target the send-off it had hoped after 27 years in IndyCar" (AP, 9/19). The "bright yellow paint scheme" of Menards will "return to IndyCar with 10 races of sponsorship" for Pagenaud in '17 (AP, 9/17).

Meanwhile, IndyCar driver Ryan Hunter-Reay has "signed a four-year extension with Andretti Autosport, his professional home" since '10. He will retain DHL's sponsorship of the No. 28 car (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 9/19).

MLB today is launching its "first scripted series," the online teen romantic comedy "Out Of My League." The six-part show, starring Lauren Elizabeth Luthringshausen, goes live today on AwesomenessTV's YouTube page, "with new episodes debuting every Monday through the finale on Oct. 24, the day before" World Series Game 1. It was shot in and around Dodger Stadium and features a "special appearance" by Dodgers CF Joc Pederson. MLB is "looking to pull younger audiences  into its 2016 postseason orbit" (VARIETY.com, 9/14).

USWNT MF Megan Rapinoe yesterday knelt during the national anthem prior to the team's match against the Netherlands, a "gesture of continued social protest" that leaves her "at odds with the stated expectations of her coach and U.S. Soccer for the second time in four days." A U.S. Soccer spokesperson confirmed before yesterday's game that "no punishment was levied on Rapinoe as a result of kneeling against Thailand" on Thursday (ESPNW.com, 9/18). Rapinoe "was booed when she came in during the 64th minute," and "was booed every time she touched the ball, though there were a few cheers" (AJC.com, 9/18).

The PGA Champions Tour has a new tournament title sponsor in Pure Insurance, which will back the former Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach beginning in '17. The new name of the event is the Pure Insurance Championship. Financial terms of the four-year agreement were not disclosed, but it is the first major sports sponsorship for the New York-based company. Nature Valley sponsored the event from '11-16. The format brings together Champions Tour players with top junior golfers from the First Tee program.

Nets G Jeremy Lin has "signed an agreement with China Digital Group (CDC) and Vici Gaming, a Chinese esports club, to create a new Dota 2 team, Team VGJ" (ESPN.com, 9/18).

GloboTV runs a full-page ad in the N.Y Times featuring an image of Michael Phelps and touting its coverage of the Rio Games, as well as the wide-ranging reach of its sister station SportTV (THE DAILY).

"I don’t understand it, I really don’t … I don’t have anything left in the tank, yet they do this drug testing. It’s crazy. I don’t understand it" – Redskins CB Josh Norman, on being drug tested directly after yesterday's game against the Cowboys (WASHINGTON POST, 9/19).

“There’s obviously (pay-per-view) upside and if he’s not happy with what I’m offering, good luck to him fighting someone where he can make that money. He never will" – Golden Boy Promotions co-Founder & President Oscar De La Hoya, on his offer to Gennady Golovkin to fight his client Canelo Alvarez (L.A.TIMES, 9/19).

"That whole development that’s happening around the stadium could be a great place for it, but a lot of communities are trying to do this" – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, on the Packers' new Titletown District increasing the chances of hosting the Draft in Green Bay (SHEBOYGAN PRESS, 9/19).

The N.Y. TIMES notes HBCU football programs are "usually the most physically overmatched and get paid the least amount of money" for games against FBS opponents.

The WALL STREET JOURNAL goes with the header and sub-head, "Rio's Paralympic Games Hit Their Stride At The Finish Line: After financial woes, initial low interest for tickets, showcase tournament for disabled athletes draws two million fans."

Also: 

• Flyers prep for first season without late Owner Ed Snider.
• For good stories about Vin Scully, ask his longtime colleagues.
• Sports photographers accept dangers of working the sidelines.

State of the TV industry: they just put the football game on INSIDE the Emmys. #Emmys pic.twitter.com/Tduoq2lIGV

— Matthew Belloni (@THRMattBelloni) September 19, 2016

.@usweekly ignored my on record response: we've had conversations w several fantastic artists about SB Halftime Show but no final decision

— Natalie Ravitz (@NFLNatalie) September 18, 2016

Rams take field to Beastie Boys' "Sabotage." First home game since 1994 uses song from same year. #IKnowYouPlannedIt pic.twitter.com/n5YRvY8r5I

— Zack Smith (@SportsFlackZack) September 18, 2016

I've said this before but I think if the NHL spent more money on the overall TV production of games it would grow the game big time.

— Paul Bissonnette (@BizNasty2point0) September 19, 2016

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

Press Box view at U.S. Bank Stadium. They're sound-checking drum beat over speakers, kind of makes press box rattle pic.twitter.com/RCdkoA6UhX

— Pete Dougherty (@PeteDougherty) September 18, 2016

Recent Mets signee Tim Tebow will report to Port Lucie, Fla., for the start of instructional work.

Friday’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Film Adaptations.”

“In a 2011 SLATE.com survey of movie credits, of the top 25 most adapted writers, this novelist is the only one living.”

Singer Miley Cyrus was a guest on Friday’s edition of NBC’s “The Tonight Show,” and she participated in the segment called “Phone Booth” with host Jimmy Fallon. Each player was asked a question and if their answer was wrong, a guest celebrity stepped into the phone booth with them. After one incorrect answer, Nets C Brook Lopez stepped into Fallon’s booth and said, “I wanted to go into Miley’s booth” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 9/16).

“Who is Stephen King?”