TURF WARS: In Baltimore, Jay Apperson reported that the
Orioles and the MD Stadium Authority (MSA) are replacing the
field for the first time in Oriole Park at Camden Yards'
nine-season history due to a "malady" that was drowning
large sections of turf. The team is responsible for the
playing surface, but the MSA is responsible for the drainage
system, so they agreed to "essentially split" the $800,000
cost. OH-based The Motz Group, a company that has worked on
MLB fields in L.A., Atlanta, FL and Cincinnati, was retained
for the job (Baltimore Sun, 11/15)....In Philadelphia,
Edward Moran reports that a contract to install a new $1.8M
synthetic grass field surface called NeXturf in Veterans
Stadium was awarded to Southwest Recreational Industries,
the same company that makes the current AstroTurf carpet.
Installation is scheduled to begin at the end of the Eagles'
season (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 11/16).
UP FOR SALE: In San Antonio, Tom Bower wrote that the
Spurs began selling "premium box seats that come with luxury
suites" at the SBC Center Tuesday. The starting price for a
suite was $100,000 annually. The Spurs also announced that
they have opened a marketing center for the arena to begin
selling some of the 2,400 premium seats for the 18,500-seat
arena (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 11/15).
VIRTUAL ADS: The Broncos have chosen Daktronics to
design and build ProAd(TM) digital advertising displays,
scoreboards and structures to be installed in the new
stadium in Denver. The value of the contract with the team
is $2.6M (Daktronics).
STAMP OF APPROVAL: The USPS announced that a series of
legendary playing ballpark stamps will be made in '01. The
ten facilities featured on the stamps will be: Wrigley
Field, Comiskey Park, Ebbets Field, Tiger Stadium, Crosley
Field, Yankee Stadium, Polo Grounds, Forbes Field, Fenway
Park and Shibe Park (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 11/14).
