Facility Notes

In DC, Eric Fisher reports the DC Sports & Entertainment Commission (DCSEC) “now hopes to complete” a sponsorship deal with the National Guard next week, after their three-year, $6.62M naming-rights deal fell apart. The two sides are “now under serious discussion” on a three-year, $6M deal, under which the DCSEC “retains the right to sell the name to another entity” (WASHINGTON TIMES, 4/15). U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), on the possible expenditure: “It’s not a good idea, but I do believe that we should do as much recruiting here as we can. ... I wouldn’t rename this stadium in memory of Bobby Kennedy” (“Hardball,” MSNBC, 4/14).

NO MORE HORSING AROUND: Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson said Thursday that he “would accept more state oversight of a new Colts stadium and Indiana Convention Center expansion project.” Peterson “endorsed adding four members to the city’s Capital Improvement Board, which would oversee the project.” Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, who is seeking a new state building authority to oversee the projects, would pick three of the members, while the fourth would represent suburban counties (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 4/15).

RIGHTING THE SHIP: In St. Paul, Aron Kahn reports Minnesota state House Speaker Steve Sviggum and Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson indicated that the Vikings “broached the idea of a stadium authority as a fallback to actual stadium financing this year, and that the concept would be considered.” Meanwhile, Sviggum, Johnson, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Anoka County (MN) officials met Thursday to discuss stadium issues with Denny Hecker and Zyggi Wilf, two members of Reggie Fowler’s prospective Vikings ownership group. Fowler’s attorney, Kevin Warren, also attended the meeting (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 4/15).