Facility Notes

Louisiana state Sen. David Cain commissioned a statewide telephone poll of 350 voters from April 22-25 that found “nearly three out of every four Louisiana voters oppose giving tax dollars to keep” the Saints in New Orleans. When asked, “Do you favor or oppose the use of tax dollars to keep the [Saints] in Louisiana,” 62% of respondents were strongly opposed, 7% were somewhat opposed, 8% were undecided, 9% were somewhat in favor and 14% were strongly in favor. The poll was conducted by Market Research Insight and has a margin of error of +/- five percentage points (AP, 5/18).

Tell-Tall Signs: Cowboys, Rangers Seeking Approval For 100-Foot Marquee

EVERYWHERE IS SIGNS: In Ft. Worth, Sally Claunch reports the Cowboys and Rangers have asked the Arlington Planning & Zoning Commission to “approve an ordinance to allow each team to have some signs that could be as tall as 100 feet around” Ameriquest Field and the new Cowboys stadium. Those signs — no more than six at each facility — “could identify the name of the respective ballparks and would serve as a marquee for sponsors.” The ordinance would place “few limits on the maximum number and spacing for many of the other colossal signs that could be at the stadium entrances, on the stadium rooftops, or on poles used to market the stadium and the teams.” The Cowboys’ stadium is slated to open in ’09 (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 5/19).

FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN: MLS Fire President John Guppy said that half of the 42 luxury suites in the team’s new soccer stadium in Bridgeview (IL) have been sold. The team expects “both the suite sales and corporate sponsorship discussions to pick up as soon as the naming partner is announced.” The stadium is scheduled to open June 1, 2006 (Nathaniel Whalen, DAILY SOUTHTOWN, 5/18).