Online lender Social Finance, known as SoFi, will pay more than $30M annually for the next 20 years to entitle the new NFL stadium under construction outside L.A., sources said, making it the largest deal in U.S. naming rights history. The partnership, formally unveiled yesterday, eclipses the previous NFL high-water mark of $20M annually at MetLife Stadium, and Chase’s $30M annual deal with MSG for extensive promotional rights that stop short of entitlement. Depending on exchange rates and precise terms, it may also eclipse Scotiabank’s C$40M deal to rename Air Canada Centre in Toronto in '17.

SoFi becomes one of Silicon Valley’s biggest sports spenders; it has spent more than $200M annually on marketing in recent years. It currently claims 800,000 members, with products including student loans, mortgages, personal loans and wealth management, and believes the venue will help it become a household financial brand. SoFi’s CEO is Anthony Noto, the NFL’s former CFO. Along with stadium rights, SoFi becomes a sponsor of both tenants, the Chargers and Rams, and will sponsor the adjacent performance venue. Legends Global Partnerships negotiated the deal for the L.A. Stadium & Entertainment District. SoFi handled its negotiations directly.

See more in THE DAILY.

Patriots WR Antonio Brown's accuser, Britney Taylor, is "slated to meet" with NFL investigators today, according to sources. The "hope from the league is to ramp up the investigation as quickly as possible, given the time element with games happening each week." Brown is "compelled to cooperate with the league and be truthful, as per personal conduct policy." A source said that "he will do so." While the NFL "did not place him on the Commissioner's Exempt list" before yesterday, the league "did not rule it out later this week" (NFL.com, 9/15).

Meanwhile, sources said that Brown declined to sign a $2M-plus agreement with Taylor to "settle a sexual assault allegation." Brown had a deadline "last Sunday night to sign the settlement agreement before Taylor's attorneys sought to file their civil lawsuit against him." After Brown "didn't sign off on the settlement, the suit was filed" last Tuesday. Settlement talks had begun as early as April (ESPN.com, 9/15).

Online casino operator Unibet will use a Devils sponsorship and endorsement by Martin Brodeur to promote the rollout of a sportsbook platform it launched in New Jersey this week. Headquartered in Malta and part of global online gaming operator Kindred Group, Unibet will receive brand exposure in Prudential Center and on the Devils' website, as well as hospitality and fan experiences to use as rewards for its customers. Brodeur, now employed as the Devils’ Exec VP/Business Development, will appear in Unibet advertising.

The deal follows what was a busy first season of sportsbook sponsorships for the Devils, who put together a portfolio that included William Hill, Caesars Entertainment and FanDuel. All three return this season. The New Jersey opening marks the first move into the U.S. for Unibet, which plans to launch both online and retail sports betting in Pennsylvania later this year under a sublicense through Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Dunkin’ will remain the official coffee and QSR of the NWHL, the company will announce later this morning. Terms of the extended partnership were not disclosed. Dunkin’ U.S. Senior VP/Integrated Marketing Tom Manchester said, “We saw women’s hockey as a platform that’s relevant to our core and new consumers and also one that didn’t have a lot of sponsors in that space.”

Dunkin’ was the NWHL’s first official corporate partner for the league's inaugural season in '15. For the upcoming season, Dunkin’ branding will be featured on player jerseys, goal posts, behind each team’s bench and online in various formats. The company also will play a key role around marquee NWHL events throughout the regular season and playoffs. Current NWHL sponsors include Chipwich, VEDA, NYU Langone Health and Twitch, which will live stream all league games for the '19-20 season.

Yesterday's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 drew a crowd estimated at 52,000 to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, after last year's race "attracted an all-time Las Vegas low crowd" estimated at 45,000. With a later start time to "offset the September heat and televised pro football," the "frontstretch grandstand was nearly filled at the start of the race" all the way until Martin Truex Jr. earned the checkered flag (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 9/15). It was 100 degrees when the race "began hours later than it did last season," as NASCAR felt it was "too hot for fans in attendance" (L.A. TIMES, 9/15).

Las Vegas Stadium COO Don Webb today is expected to "update the authority board on adjustments resulting from new relationships with third parties that have become sponsors of the project." Founding partners include Allegiant Travel and Twitch. Also, the Raiders are "upping their equity stake" from $930M to $1.02B, "thanks primarily to personal seat license sales that have been more successful than the team had projected." The Raiders "plan to invest the additional revenue in new premium seating and marketing, stadium furniture, fixtures and equipment and additional design, engineering and soft costs." Parking also will be on today’s agenda (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 9/14).

The PGA Tour signed a marketing partnership with Yeti that makes the company the official insulated cup and official insulated cooler of the Tour and the PGA Tour Champions. Both are new categories for the Tour. Financial terms of the multiyear deal were not disclosed, but it includes product licensing and exclusive rights for Yeti to sell drinkware and coolers at Tour-operated tournament retail outlets and TPC facilities. The Tour also will feature Yeti drinkware at its Signature Drink programs at various tournaments. No agencies were used in the agreement. Yeti also has league deals with NASCAR and PBR.

The PLL has signed Hershey's mints brand Ice Breakers as the presenting sponsor of its championship game this Saturday in Philadelphia, a deal largely geared around social and digital media exposure. Terms were not revealed, but the Ice Breakers logo will be woven into various social and digital media posts around the inaugural title game this weekend, including game highlights, player posts and the winning team's celebration. Free samples of the mints also will be given out at Talen Energy Stadium, and the brand will get mentions on the in-stadium PA.

An estimated 10,000 people attended an event in Mississauga, Ont., yesterday to honor hometown hero Bianca Andreescu and "celebrate her U.S. Open singles title." During the "She The North" rally, the tennis champion was "presented a key to the city," and an "Andreescu Way" street sign was unveiled. Dignitaries from "across Canada were present for the hour-long event," including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Toronto Mayor John Tory (CP, 9/15). Tory has proclaimed today "Bianca Andreescu Day" in Toronto (GLOBE & MAIL, 9/16).

A "fire broke out next to the field" at Nissan Stadium prior to yesterday's Colts-Titans game. After a pyrotechnics launch, a piece of equipment "erupted in flames on the sidelines near the 5-yard line next to the tunnel where the Titans enter the field." The fire began "less than 10 minutes before" the noon CT start time. The flames were "quickly extinguished by a stadium employee." The national anthem "was performed as soon as the fire was put out," and the kickoff time was "unaffected by the fire" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 9/16).

FIRE ON THE FIELD: Intense flames and smoke erupted at Nissan Stadium when one of the pyrotechnics machines used during player introductions caught fire ahead of the Tennessee Titans game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Nobody was injured. https://t.co/3t4KNcRJof pic.twitter.com/hKgXQmgkkT

— ABC News (@ABC) September 16, 2019

The Clippers today will formally announce that broadcaster Brian Sieman "will move from radio to TV play by play on Prime Ticket," paired with Chauncey Billups (L.A. TIMES, 9/16). 

A fan ran on the Staples Center court at the end of yesterday's Seattle Storm-L.A. Sparks WNBA playoff game before "being tackled by security guards." The fan "appeared have something in hand as he ran toward the Sparks' Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike" (ESPN.com, 9/15).

Chipper Jones will be a guest analyst on ESPN's Wednesday telecast of Phillies-Braves. He will call the game with Jon Sciambi and Rick Sutcliffe (THE DAILY).

McDonald's has chosen Wieden + Kennedy, N.Y., as its "lead creative agency in the U.S." (ADAGE.com, 9/13).

Late Pro Football HOFer Bart Starr was honored at the Vikings-Packers halftime yesterday, as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, HOFer Brett Favre and "rows of Packers alumni" presented widow Cherry Starr with a "1960s Packers helmet with a No. 15 decal on it that all Packers players will wear this year" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 9/15).

What. A. Moment.@BrettFavre, Cherry Starr & Bart Starr Jr. take the field at halftime. pic.twitter.com/HKxFbrPZk5

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 15, 2019

"It's a good question. I think the next step will probably come when the next Yao Ming comes. That would take it to a new level, more Chinese players to reach the NBA and make an impact" -- Warriors coach Steve Kerr, on the idea of developing an NBA team in China (AP, 9/16).

"Normally you let the play happen. Any Foot Locker -- I mean, referee -- usually tells you, you let the play happen, then you go back and review the play" -- Saints DE Cam Jordan, expressing his frustration over recent controversial officiating decisions (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 9/15).

The AKRON BEACON JOURNAL goes with, "'Monday Night Football' At 50: Browns, Jets And Howard Cosell." Tonight's "MNF" matchup is a "nod to history," as the Browns and Jets played in the very first "MNF" matchup in '70. Neither team "went on to have especially memorable seasons, but they contributed to a TV revolution." Before '70, you could "only watch pro football on Sunday afternoons." The "MNF" broadcasts soon became a "ratings smash," in part because of the "bombastic" Cosell.

Also: 

• Following Wake Forest AD John Currie around for the day "wasn't an easy task."
• College football teams spend millions "lodging players in hotels before games."

These Pass Interference reviews by NFL officiating are not making any sense. Clear DPIs last week not overturned. Clear push off by Antonio Brown does not get overturned but Minnesota TD pass gets called back due to blocking downfield. Not sure what the standard is right now.

— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) September 15, 2019

they just announced that the air conditioning at the Falcons stadium is on even though the roof is open and dads across the country just got furious

— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) September 16, 2019

NFL is doing its fans a huge disservice with these botched calls. Saints fans always punch above their weight class in TV ratings and the NFL's going to kill a good thing with more mistakes. People are going to continue to get turned off of its product

— John Sigler (@john_siglerr) September 15, 2019

Tyson Fury is indeed the LINEAL heavyweight champion. Everyone have a great week. #lineal

— Dan Rafael (@danrafaelespn) September 16, 2019

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

⚾️@AROD and Mickey Mouse selfie.

Sunday Night Baseball in #Queens. pic.twitter.com/6ELuZ3tyAQ

— Ben Cafardo (@Ben_ESPN) September 15, 2019

A brief hit on the stories you need to know ... Subscribe on iTunes ... Check out our podcast home. 

Baseball HOFer Mariano Rivera will receive the nation's highest civilian honor as President Trump presents him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Some of the top news items from yesterday's edition of Weekend Rap:

• Fan enthusiasm swells around new Fire Owner Joe Mansueto.
• NASCAR launches in-race betting at several U.S. sportsbooks.
• D-backs sign GM Mike Hazen to extension amid Red Sox rumors.
• ATP's top 10-ranked players commit to January's ATP Cup in Australia.

This week's issue highlights our Gamechangers -- influential and powerful women in sports business -- ahead of our annual conference in N.Y.

• T'Wolves offer free tickets via data-driven Birthday Club promotion.
• MLS selling sponsorship of video replay stoppage time.
• A look at an NFL game day with NBC Sports President Pete Bevacqua.

Get a jump on the big stories in this week's SBJ in the First Look podcast.

Friday’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Presidential Candidates.”

“This is the most recent presidential election year when both major presidential candidates were residents of the same state.”

“What is 2016?”