The Cubs have added "about" 48 seats this year near the
visitor's bullpen in Wrigley Field, taking away some of the
right-field line foul territory. The seats are not for
sale, but will go to VIPs, Cubs players and front-office
employees (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/14)....Univ. of MI (UM)
President Lee Bollinger, on possibly adding luxury boxes to
the school's football stadium: "I've said that before, and I
still oppose luxury boxes. The character of football at
[UM] must remain collegiate. I think of luxury boxes as
professional" (ANN ARBOR NEWS, 4/13)....In Seattle, Art
Thiel wrote that "public expressions of dismay" concerning
the $517M cost to build Safeco Field "seem mild." Public
Facilities District Exec Dir Ken Johnsen, on the project's
overruns: "We didn't fully comprehend the complexity of
concrete work in the stadium" (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER,
4/13)....WV-based Brant Motorsports "appears to be close to
announcing plans" for a "major" auto racing track near
Pittsburgh Int'l Airport (Pittsburgh POST-GAZETTE, 4/14).
...Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp. President
Meryl Levitz, on the site of Catholic boys "throwing punches
at each other and other fans" during Monday's Phillies home
opener: "Let's face it, it doesn't help to show Philadelphia
as the place that loves you back. Our major national
exposure is through our sports teams, our stadiums and our
behavior, and this certainly doesn't help our image"
(PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 4/14).
