A committee of NFL owners has cleared the way for teams to sell sponsorships to casinos that operate sportsbooks, though the casinos will not be allowed to promote the sportsbooks directly in their advertising. A team source said the league’s business ventures committee agreed to relax league rules prohibiting sportsbook-connected sponsorship during a conference call on Monday. An NFL spokesperson declined comment.

Casinos will not be able to promote the sportsbooks directly, but teams will be able to accept advertising from casinos and daily fantasy sites that operate sportsbooks in shoulder programming and during preseason game telecasts. Teams and casinos also will be able to use each others’ logos in their advertising and promotions. But teams will be prohibited from accepting revenue shares for driving business to casinos and gambling web sites. Teams also will be cleared to sell stadium naming rights to casinos, a consideration most in play for the Las Vegas-bound Raiders.

See today's issue of THE DAILY for more.

getty images

A "scorcher of a day" at the U.S. Open yesterday "raised the subject of how players will be protected from heat illness," with temperatures around 95 degrees. While the WTA has an "excessive heat policy in its rule books," the ATP "doesn’t officially address oppressive heat." So the USTA "took matters into its own hands" and set a policy that allows the men to "take a 10-minute break between the third and fourth sets." Novak Djokovic was one player to "take advantage of the respite offering." Throughout the day, players used "changeover breaks to place huge towels wrapped with ice around their necks" (USA TODAY, 8/29). ESPN’s Chris Evert: “The French and Wimbledon were a picnic compared to these conditions” (“U.S. Open,” ESPN, 8/28).

Six players "retired mid-match" yesterday. USTA Managing Dir of Corporate Communications Chris Widmaier said that officials were "considering leaving the roof of Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums closed" last night to "reduce the ambient temperature, but that might not help much because Louis Armstrong Stadium isn’t air-conditioned." Widmaier added that options such as starting play earlier, taking a mid-day break and shifting more matches to the night session had "not been discussed" (L.A. TIMES, 8/29).

The Devils named Martin Brodeur Exec VP/Business Development. Brodeur most recently served as Assistant GM for the Blues, where he has served in the front office since his on-ice retirement from the NHL in '15. In his new role, he will work across all of the team’s departments to identify, capitalize and develop business opportunities for the Devils, Prudential Center and parent company Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment. He will report to Devils President Hugh Weber. Brodeur played 21 of his 22 years in the NHL with the Devils, winning three Stanley Cups with the club.

Lexus has signed a multiyear extension of its partnership with Monumental Sports & Entertainment, retaining the full naming rights to the suite level at Capital One Arena as well as the parking garage. In addition, Lexus will remain an official vehicle of the arena, where two car displays will be featured. Special reserved spots will also be made available for Lexus owners in the parking garage. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The King County Council today "could allocate" the $180M the Mariners want to upgrade Safeco Field, or it "could choose to contribute less." The hotel-motel tax allocation "would be part of a broader" $800M-plus plan to renovate the ballpark. The team says that the allocation "could help pay for more than" $32M in roof projects, "including new wheels and axles, painting and a new plastic membrane." The Mariners "use the roof for games less than they originally predicted, playing under cover fewer than 20 times per season." But the club "moves the roof constantly for other purposes" (SEATTLE TIMES, 8/29). Meanwhile, a SEATTLE TIMES editorial over the weekend stated Safeco Field is a "tremendously successful investment by the people of King County." 

HBO last night debuted LeBron James and Maverick Carter's "The Shop," and the show featured an "expletive-laden, free-flowing conversation with some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment." This represents the "first of James’s significant off-the-court, media projects since signing" with the Lakers. “The Shop” ran through a "gamut of topics over laughter and wine, mainly focusing on race, fatherhood and the culture wars." It offered an "unfiltered glimpse" of James' "belief that there is a double-standard among white and black athletes and how they are perceived in the media" (WASHINGTON POST, 8/29).

The first episode featured sports figures Candace Parker, Draymond Green, Odell Beckham Jr., Alvin Kamara and Michael Bennett, plus entertainers Snoop Dogg, Vince Staples and Jon Stewart. Staples: "If it’s really ‘shut up and dribble,’ then the shoes don’t sell, then the jerseys don’t sell and the games don’t keep going.” James talked about his social activism, saying he has the “opportunity to be the inspiration to what all these kids are looking up to, and for me to just sit back and not say shit when a lot of my peers didn’t say shit, it didn’t feel right.” Bennett, who is embroiled in the NFL player protest controversy, said, “You have to be able to stand up on your morals simply because you are representing people who look like you, and they're looking up to you.” James said when he "decided I was going to start speaking up," his "whole mindset was, ‘It’s not about me’" (“The Shop,” HBO, 8/28).

JR Motorsports is expected to sign Noah Gragson to replace Elliott Sadler in the No. 1 Chevy in the NASCAR Xfinity Series next season, according to sources. The 20-year-old Gragson has competed for Toyota-backed Kyle Busch Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing the last two seasons. Sponsorship plans were unclear, but Dale Earnhardt Jr., who owns JRM alongside Rick Hendrick, has said that a driver usually needs to have $5M worth of sponsorship lined up to land a ride at JRM. Gragson, a Las Vegas native who is repped by Joey Logano’s Clutch Studios, has been sponsored in the past by Vegas-based tech company Switch. An official announcement is not imminent. 

Heavy rain "inundated Iowa City and surrounding areas" last night, "leaving some portions of the state flooded," including the Univ. of Iowa's Kinnick Stadium. Iowa football on Saturday is set to host Northern Illinois in its '18 season opener. The Iowa athletic department said that it will "continue to monitor the playing conditions ahead of the opener" (NBCSPORTS.com, 8/28).

Kinnick under some water pic.twitter.com/wr0HWmXtIQ

— Matt (@letsgohawks12) August 28, 2018

Seattle Hockey Partners CEO Tod Leiweke said his team will "go in front of the entire membership of the NHL to make" its case for an expansion team on Oct. 2 in N.Y. (TWITTER.com, 8/28).

Staples Center is getting rid of plastic straws, joining Fiserv Forum and CenturyLink Field as the latest sports venues to do so. AEG and Levy, which handles concessions at the venue, will also look at options for recyclable, drinkable lids (Mike Sunnucks, Staff Writer).

The Jaguars "have a limited number of available tickets for their Sept. 16 home opener" against the Patriots at TIAA Bank Field. Fewer than 800 seats in the upper bowl are now available (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 8/29).

Tennis player Bethanie Mattek-Sands signed a multiyear deal to become a spokesperson and brand ambassador for liquor brand Kimo Sabe Mezcal (THE DAILY).

The Univ. of South Carolina "will break out a Script Carolina helmet for the season opener against Coastal Carolina in Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday." The "full look is the helmets with white pants, and a garnet jersey" (Columbia STATE, 8/29).

Battle Armor 🔥💧 pic.twitter.com/1dSw5p3HaJ

— Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) August 28, 2018

"They didn’t ask me anything about that and I respect them for not asking me. And I feel like that says a lot" -- New Lions LB Eli Harold, who previously kneeled alongside Colin Kaepernick, on his reception from the team since being traded by the 49ers last week (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 8/29).

"It's probably physically better for players than it is to have the longer preseason, the longer practicing" -- Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones, on safety concerns with a potential 18-game regular season (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/29).

"Maybe he’s got an endorsement deal with the water he poured in the other one. It comes down to dollars and sense” -- ESPN’s John McEnroe, on Novak Djokovic yesterday at the U.S. Open pouring water out of the Evian sponsored bottles and replacing it with his own to have on the court (“U.S. Open,” ESPN, 8/28).

"That’s the one really nice thing about living in Green Bay as an NFL city, if I need to pop out of here to catch a game, it’s going to take five or 10 minutes to get there. Anywhere else (in the league) that would be a challenge" -- First-year Packers GM Brian Gutekunst, on finding time to watch his children's youth sports games (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 8/29).

USA TODAY goes with, "Forget About The Coach Or Star Quarterback. Does Your NFL Team's Owner Make The Grade?" These are the men, and with "very few exceptions women, who set the tone and course for your favorite franchise." They are the ones who "ultimately decide who’s getting hired and fired ... even how much you’re going to have to pay for nachos and a beer this year." They "should be evaluated, too."

THE ATHLETIC writes under the header, "How To Build The Perfect Regional Sports Network." If "you’re a sports franchise in 2018, you’re staring down an uncompromising reality: that you’re only as good as your TV deal." As live TV audiences are "dwindling, live sports might be the last great battleground."

Also: 

• Inside the clinic where NCAA, NBA coaches trade secrets. 
• WALL STREET JOURNAL rules WWE is "no longer on the ropes."

Dicks blames Under Armour for sales shortfall:
"In addition, we experienced continued significant declines in Under Armour sales as a result of their decision to expand distribution." $UAA $DKS

— Sara Eisen (@SaraEisen) August 29, 2018

HBO's The Shop: extremely powerful and well done. One of the best things HBO has done this year.

— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) August 29, 2018

Only 21,083 at the ballpark tonight to watch Aaron Nola vs. Max Scherzer.

— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) August 29, 2018

The Jeff Ross/Blake Griffin @RoastBattle was hilarious. Great stuff.

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) August 29, 2018

Welcome to the family, @FLvsGA!

🐊 vs. 🐶

We can’t wait to #TailgateBetter with @FloridaGators and @UGAAthletics fans on October 27th! pic.twitter.com/LRPocqsRiB

— Tailgate Guys (@TailgateGuysUSA) August 28, 2018

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

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Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “London Landmarks.”

“Built in the 1990s, it’s the only permanent structure permitted in London with a thatched roof since the Great Fire of 1666.”

The COLUMBUS DISPATCH's Nate Beeler takes aim at Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer's series of apologies for the controversy involving ousted assistant Zach Smith, questioning Meyer's sincerity:

columbus dispatch

“What is the Globe Theater?”