FACILITY NOTES

          Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said that he would appoint a
     full-time staffer to handle Fenway-area development in a
     move to "ensure that the city has a meaningful say in Red
     Sox plans to replace Fenway Park."  In Boston, Meg
     Vaillancourt writes that by announcing the city's position
     before the team unveils its plans for a new ballpark, Menino
     "made it clear the city was intent on making sure the Red
     Sox address community concerns" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/14).
     ...Spurs Chair Peter Holt said that the team "is preparing
     to reopen discussions" with S.A. city and county officials
     for a new arena, but "gave no indication" when the talks
     would resume (S.A. EXPRESS-NEWS, 1/14)....Artificial sports
     surface manufacturer FieldTurf is entering merger talks with
     VA-based sports surfaces developer SportGrass (FieldTurf).