In Edmonton, Skyreach Equipment Ltd. Owner Barry
Weaver, whose company acquired the naming rights to the
Edmonton Coliseum, now Skyreach Centre, "predicts" his
company's sales will "at least double over the next five
years because of name recognition." Weaver: "We feel we've
got a very fair deal but also when you look at the impact of
everything that could take place here, it's great for
everybody" (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 9/25)....The Houston Livestock
Show and Rodeo "became the first of four negotiating parties
locked into a plan to build a football stadium next to the
Astrodome." In a unanimous vote, the rodeo's exec committee
approved paying a $1.5M annual lease to use the new stadium
and allowing the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority to
implement new taxes on rodeo events (HOUSTON CHRONICLE,
9/25)....In Pittsburgh, the Stadium Authority will borrow
$14M from PNC Bank to "jump-start" the process of acquiring
property for PNC Park. The loan will be in the form of a
bond "anticipation note" and will be repaid from the
proceeds of a $400M bond issue to be completed in '99
(PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 9/25)....In Portland, Dwight
Jaynes wrote that Seattle's Safeco Field, currently under
construction, "is taking shape as a terrific place to watch
a game," as it will offer "beautiful views of Puget Sound
and the downtown skyline" (Portland OREGONIAN, 9/24).
