The NFL Panthers today announced that the $2.275B sale of the franchise to David Tepper "was made official" (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.com, 7/9). Tepper had "already been approved by the league's other owners," and today marked the "close of the paperwork portion." This will "help turn the page" on the Jerry Richardson era (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 7/9). O’Melveny Sports Group  represented Tepper in the deal (O’Melveny).

Richardson published a farewell letter to the team's fans, thanking them for "creating such a powerful, passionate fan experience for the past 23 seasons." Read the full letter on the team's web site. Meanwhile, the team announced that COO Tina Becker has resigned, with no immediate replacement for the position. Becker became COO in December when Richardson stepped aside and had been with the team for 19 years (THE DAILY).

Notre Dame today announced that Garth Brooks "will perform at Notre Dame Stadium," becoming the "first act to perform a full concert" at the football venue. The date "has not yet been announced." But Brooks and his wife, fellow country singer Trisha Yearwood, "will be in the area for the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, a work blitz Aug. 26-31 to help build 20 Habitat for Humanity houses" (SOUTHBENDTRIBUNE.com, 7/9). Brooks is "kicking off what many believe to be the first date on a college stadium tour of North America." Brooks made the announcement at WME Nashville's HQ, joined by former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz (BILLBOARD.com, 7/9).

Canadian Pacific has extended its title sponsorship of the CP Women's Open for five years from '19-23. Terms of the deal -- announced jointly by CP, Golf Canada and the LPGA -- were not disclosed. The railway company first began sponsoring the tournament in '13 (Canadian Pacific). The CP Women's Open is "one of the most successful events on the LPGA Tour calendar, attracting on an annual basis one of the deepest and most talented fields outside of the five majors." The '19 event at Magna Golf Club will mark the first time since '01 that the tourney "will be contested in the Greater Toronto Area as part of a new east-west venue rotation" (CP, 7/9).

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Silicon Valley-based growth equity firm TCV together have acquired a stake in data outfit Sportradar from EQT Partners that values Sportradar at $2.4B. Sportradar Founder & CEO Carsten Koerl will retain his entire ownership position and will continue to drive its future development and growth. EQT will also reinvest a portion of its sale proceeds into Sportradar. Additional existing shareholders include Revolution Growth, Ted Leonsis, Michael Jordan and Mark Cuban (THE DAILY).

Churchill Downs Inc. today said that it has "canceled plans to purchase a casino operation in Mississippi but is moving ahead on the purchase of a Pennsylvania casino and racetrack." CDI in March announced that it "would acquire" Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Erie, Pa., and Lady Luck Casino in Vicksburg, Miss., in a deal valued at $229.5M. Both facilities are owned by Nevada-based Eldorado Resorts. CDI is "expected to pay" a $5M termination fee to Eldorado "pending the terms of an amended deal" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/9).

NBC’s “Today” show featured an appearance by NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico, who previewed the net’s coverage of the Open Championship and brought the Claret Jug to the set. Tirico said the trophy is similar to the Stanley Cup: “When teams win in the National Hockey League, their names go on it and they get to keep it.” NBC’s Carson Daly noted there were "guys with white gloves" handling the trophy on set, “but it’s not always treated with white gloves, certainly.” Tirico: “There’s maybe been a beverage or two or a hundred in there” (“Today,” NBC, 7/9).

Great to bring the ClaretJug to the plaza this morning ⁦@TODAYshow⁩ .. 10 days until ⁦@TheOpen⁩ ⁦@GolfChannel⁩ ⁦@NBCGolf⁩ pic.twitter.com/FPpD628FZV

— MikeTirico (@miketirico) July 9, 2018

The Falcons today announced that their Sunday, July 29 practice "would be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and that tickets for the camp practice would be $5." Proceeds will go to the Atlanta Super Bowl host committee’s capital improvement project (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 7/9).

MiLB today formally announced a long-term agreement with Pennsylvania-based venue technology company ISM Connect to form a new digital network to connect teams, partners and fans across the U.S. (MiLB).

The syndicated cartoon strip Family Circus today featured a joke about the Eagles. The strip depicted Philadelphia's famous Liberty Bell with the caption, "Know what cracked it? They rang it too hard when the Eagles won the Super Bowl" (Mult., 7/9).

"I have been amused by the chatter suggesting that smoothing -- or more accurately the failure to smooth -- has now become some folks’ boogeyman de jure. While we haven’t yet blamed it for the assassination of MLK, some are now suggesting that it is responsible for all that is presumably wrong with today’s NBA" -- NBPA Exec Dir Michele Roberts, on the perception that the league's salary cap has contributed to the building of "super teams" (NYTIMES.com, 7/9).

"The parity in our league is as good as it’s ever been. There’s only one team that’s in total rebuild in Indiana, and everybody else can make the playoffs" -- Mystics coach Mike Thibault, on the current competitiveness of the WNBA (WASHINGTON TIMES, 7/9).

Just in....every player in the John Deere Classic gets a new tractor!

— Ron Mintz (@MintzGolf) July 9, 2018

Not to trivialize anyone’s plight, but if football had a past few days like basketball just had — a former player dead at 45 due to a heart attack; another having committed suicide after a shootout with cops; and a massive youth league brawl—some would want the sport gone.

— Seth Wickersham (@SethWickersham) July 9, 2018

IMO, The Homerun Derby field should be determined by the top 3 homerun hitters in each league as of 7/8 with a spot reserved for one wild card selection. Guarantees top field and for player who qualifies in consecutive years, if they do so 3 consecutive years they can pass.

— Karl Ravech (@karlravechespn) July 9, 2018

Important to remeber that World Cup victories are really about bragging rights. Jersey sales go up during the WC but the next year brands and retailers give it all back. Soccer boot sales remain challenged in the US and Europe. WC won't help there

— Matt Powell (@NPDMattPowell) July 9, 2018

I still don't understand how "live" streams are still so far behind TV. It's 2018.

We can frickin re-write DNA but we can't stream a tennis match without a full minute delay?! Something is wrong here.

— Daniel Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) July 9, 2018

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

The Univ. of Oklahoma football program posted this video touting its transition to Nike's Jordan Brand and showing off some new uniform designs.

Same tradition, the next evolution.#OUxJordanhttps://t.co/PYSIgwRzAQ pic.twitter.com/W6JNjjq668

— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) July 9, 2018

$2.85M -- Amount that No. 1 overall NHL Draft pick Rasmus Dahlin could make off his expected three-year, entry-level contract with the Sabres. That figure includes bonuses "based on performance." The team today announced they had signed Dahlin but did not disclose terms (BUFFALO NEWS, 7/9).