In Boston, Vaillancourt & Ebbert report that despite a
"public pledge to block the project," the Boston City
Council "put off a symbolic vote opponents hoped would
undermine" the Red Sox' "ability to finance" a new ballpark.
Instead, the "matter remains in committee, giving the team,
and its supporters more time to try to sway council members,
a majority of whom have said they oppose the new ballpark"
(BOSTON GLOBE, 11/30)....In Detroit, Neal Haldane reports
that Palace Sports & Entertainment has invested $7M in
"improvements" at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The
"centerpiece" of the upgrade is a new scoreboard and video
display system. The new scoreboard, called the "Palace
Chandelier," features screens four feet wider than the ones
they replaced (DETROIT NEWS, 11/30)....In Cincinnati, Mike
Rutledge wrote that construction companies are not "bidding
for work" on the Reds' Great American Ball Park, which could
delay the planned opening of the facility. Less competition
among the companies meant bids for three contracts were
about $23M higher last week than the expected $82.5M total.
Hamilton County "may rebid some or all of the contracts,
causing at least minor delays" (CINCINNATI POST, 11/29).
