• Patriots Unveil Latest Championship Banner; Fans Boo Goodell
• Irma Update: Florida State Cancels Home Football Opener
• NFL Suspends Josh Brown Another Six Games For Domestic Violence
• TCF Adds $8M Investment In Univ. Of Minnesota's Athletes Village

The Patriots last night hosted a pregame banner ceremony that served as the "punctuation mark" to their Super Bowl LI comeback win. After rapper Flo Rida performed, "blue and red fireworks illuminated the sky," and "enlarged Super Bowl banners were spread out across the field." Former Patriots players Kevin Faulk, Matt Light and Deion Branch "stood on stage" next to injured WR Julian Edelman and Owner Robert Kraft, "each holding one of New England's five Lombardi trophies." Actor Mark Wahlberg "welcomed the team," and "smoke filled the air as Tom Brady and company sprinted out to a massive ovation." The Patriots lost last night's NFL Kickoff game against the Chiefs, 42-27 (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/8).

Fans booed NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "when he came out of the visitors' tunnel before the game." He "spent several minutes near the end zone and went back in as Brady came out for warmups." To commemorate the Super Bowl comeback, the team "flashed the score and time of the game in the third quarter when the Pats trailed, 28-3, before their improbable rally" (BOSTON HERALD, 9/8). See more images from the night on Patriots.com.

Florida State football's home opener Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe has "been canceled due to Hurricane Irma" after Florida Gov. Rick Scott last night "mandated that all public schools, colleges, and universities be closed from Friday to Monday." Florida, Miami, and USF also have canceled their games this week, and UCF "moved its game up from Saturday" to tonight (TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT, 9/8). Meanwhile, the AAC announced that the Memphis-UCF game scheduled for tonight is canceled. The decision was made "less than 24 hours before the Knights and Tigers were set to kick off at Spectrum Stadium in Orlando" (COMMERCIALAPPEAL.com, 9/8).

The Yankees-Rays series scheduled to start Monday at Tropicana Field could be "shifted to a neutral site." Baltimore and Chicago are "among the options, though MLB has not informed the clubs of what will happen" (N.Y. POST, 9/8).

The Braves during their weekend home series against the Marlins are "offering free tickets to all residents of Florida and those residents of Georgia and South Carolina counties under mandatory evacuation orders" who travel to Atlanta due to the storm (AJC.com, 9/7).

Charlotte Motor Speedway today is opening its Rock City campground for "all evacuees heading north or inland from Hurricane Irma" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 9/8).

Former Giants K Josh Brown is being "suspended another six games for domestic violence accusations," according to sources. Brown, who is not currently on a roster, "served a one-game suspension" at the start of the '16 season, but the league "launched another investigation and decided" early this morning to suspend him six more games. The decision comes on the same day that Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott is "waiting to hear from a Texas judge whether he will be granted a temporary restraining order that would allow him to continue to play this season" (ESPN.com, 9/8). 

TCF has made an additional $8M investment in the Univ. of Minnesota's Athletes Village project. The stadium naming-rights deal between the school and the bank "made over a decade ago was amended and includes both additional money and an option for a 10-year extension" through '40, pending approval today by UM's Board of Regents. TCF has until '20 to "exercise the option for 10 more years of naming rights, which would include an additional" $4M investment to the university (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/8).

DraftKings and FanDuel will pay the state of Massachusetts a total of $2.6M to "settle allegations they used unfair and deceptive practices, concluding an investigation that began before the state issued regulations for the nascent daily fantasy sports industry." Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey's office said that both companies "cooperated with the investigation and say they are now in compliance with state rules that prohibit players under age 21, ban contests based on college sports, and limit advertising." The settlement funds "will go toward consumer protection and youth education grant programs" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/8).

Mitch Albom and Mike Lupica today will relaunch "The Sports Reporters" as a "bi-weekly podcast." Each episode "will feature Albom and Lupica together with a rotating cast of the top sports writers in the business, including former cast members" of the long-running ESPN program, which last aired in May. In partnership with audio content producer Cadence 13, the show "will be available on-demand through Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn and more" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 9/8).

MillerCoors starting today is "giving away free tickets" to next week's Pirates-Brewers series at Miller Park as the beer company "seeks to ramp up excitement for the team's postseason aspirations." The beermaker has purchased a total of 15,000 tickets to the Sept. 11-13 series, and starting this morning, 5,000 tickets for each game "will be available free to fans." Seats will be in the "loge outfield, loge bleachers and terrace box." There is a "limit of four tickets per order and each order will include a $3 processing fee" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/7).

A committee of the Nevada Board of Regents yesterday "approved a financing plan" for UNLV's Fertitta Football Complex that "university officials say will help boost recruiting." UNLV President Len Jessup said that the 4-2 vote to approve the nearly $16M bank loan "should allow construction to begin by the end of this semester in December." But the split vote showed "deep concerns held by two regents on the university’s fundraising initiatives, which at times turned the conversation into tense exchanges." Jessup said that the project is "expected to cost" $28.5M and that "donor pledges for the two-story, 73,000-square-foot facility are up" to $19.4M (LAS VEGAS-REVIEW JOURNAL, 9/8).

A win by the Indians last night over the White Sox "resulted in a local company rebating customers" who spent $1.7M on "window installation, siding, doors and other services." Cleveland-based Universal Windows Direct offered a promotion throughout July that "any customer who did business with the company would receive a full rebate if the Indians went on a 15-game winning streak any time between Aug. 1 and the end of the season." The company was celebrating its 15th anniversary. Universal Windows co-Owner William Barr said that he "spent $75,000 for the insurance to cover" the $1.7M in sales (ESPN.com, 9/7).

Georgia Bulldog Sports Marketing and Cox Media Group yesterday agreed to a 10-year extension to keep Atlanta-based WSB-AM as the flagship station for the school's athletics (IMG College).

MLB has donated $10M to the Baseball HOF's endowment, with "all 30 teams" contributing to the Hall's "effort to raise money toward its goal" of $30M. It has now raised $22M (AP, 9/8). 

Pro Football HOFer John Madden "is returning" to L.A.-based KCBS' morning show "after a two-year absence." He rejoins the broadcast this morning and will be a regular contributor on Mondays and Fridays (MERCURYNEWS.com, 9/7).

Hawaiian Airlines has signed a one-year deal with the Univ. of Hawaii to become the school's official airline partner (Hawaiian Airlines).

"The one-and-done, the G-League ... there are a lot of things out there that are going on we don’t know how it’ll affect us moving forward" -- Kansas men's basketball coach Bill Self, on the state of college basketball (K.C. STAR, 9/8). 

"It doesn't work that way. There's no communication. We're very competitive against each other, the 32 owners. I don't reveal anything. They don't reveal anything. There's no discussion that ever takes place about any player" -- Eagles Owner Jeffrey Lurie, when asked if free agent QB Colin Kaepernick is being blackballed by the NFL (CSNPHILLY.com, 9/7). 

"When you’re blessed to play something that you love and get paid handsomely for it, you know, can’t expect everything to be all peaches and cream. So if that’s what comes with it that’s what comes with it" -- Redskins LT Trent Williams, on the safety risks that come with playing football (WASHINGTON TIMES, 9/8). 

"For all the fun we make of Mike here and laugh at some of the things that go on in the afternoon, he was great (Wednesday). I know he couldn’t talk about it (Wednesday) because the company doesn’t want anyone talking about anything. But I gotta tell you, he and I had maybe a five-, six-, seven-minute conversation, and he was great" -- WFAN-AM's Boomer Esiason, on speaking with Mike Francesa after Craig Carton's arrest Wednesday morning (N.Y. POST, 9/8).

DIGIDAY goes with, "The NFL Takes A Netflix-Style Approach To Fuel Its Growth In Europe." The league's Game Pass service has been "overhauled for the 61 European markets the NFL operates in ahead of the new season." Subscribers "get access to award-winning shows and behind-the-scenes content as well as the option to watch every game."

ADWEEK wrote under the header, "Eurosport's Clever Promos With John McEnroe And Michael Phelps Helped Revive Its Musty Brand." Discovery Communications' new Eurosport team has "created a number of clever promos over the past year." Now "linear ratings are up" 28% this year.

Also:

• Longtime Titans writer "becomes a brand." 
• How NFL players relocate when traded or released. 
• Betsy DeVos calls out USC over expelling former kicker.
• The "weird and wonderful world" of Cristiano Ronaldo's endorsements. 

this miguel spot tells me the nfl is wisely realizing it needs to get serious about establishing the next generation of the league's faces.

— El Flaco (@bomani_jones) September 7, 2017

Interesting from @DeSmithNFLPA: @NFLPA considering RFP to tech companies to develop better equipment, including helmets #sportsbiz #NFL

— Scott Soshnick (@soshnick) September 8, 2017

Once again the NFL disregards its own rule, which says six games is supposed to be the FIRST suspension https://t.co/YQpVFK1LHe

— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) September 8, 2017

So many emotions right now. Just know that Venus Williams is grace, class and excellence personified.

— Adi Joseph (@AdiJoseph) September 8, 2017

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

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The Majors launches its inaugural sports summit at The Glasshouses in N.Y., showcasing how sports affect culture, business and life. The summit is from 8:00am-6:00pm ET. 

The Golden Knights open their inaugural training camp at City National Arena in Summerlin, Nev.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Women Authors.”

“A 1936 N.Y. Times review called the debut novel by this author ‘in all probability, the biggest book of the year: 1,037 pages.'”

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel said, “Just a few hours ago a new NFL season is under way. If you're a chicken wing, this is your last chance to hide. ... The Patriots are a heavy favorite to win the Super Bowl again this year, the heaviest favorite since 2000.The Jets on the other hand, they have the longest odds to win for any team ever. The New York Jets are 1,000 to 1 to win the Super Bowl. If you want to win $1,000, all you have to do is take $1 and buy a scratch-off ticket, don't bet on the Jets. Of course, this is an especially exciting time for fans here in Los Angeles. This year we have not just one but two teams to let us down, the Rams and the Chargers” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 9/7).

“Who was Margaret Mitchell?” Mitchell’s book was “Gone With the Wind.”