Facility Notes

M&T Bank Stadium will undergo “four significant changes” for the ’07 season, including a series of “digital upgrades to the SmartVision video screens,” a $1M upgrade to the club level to include a timeline of Baltimore football, five new suites in the corners of the stadium and a “‘tailgate-friendly’ marketplace for fans to buy products.” The team will pay for all improvements “in lieu of rent” (WASHINGTON EXAMINER, 4/18).

SONICS: A SEATTLE TIMES editorial states the Washington state Legislature’s “lack of action on a new Renton arena ... is extremely disappointing,” and comments by elected officials “demonstrate the poor chances of the bill coming up for a vote.” The editorial asked, “What is [Sonics Owner Clay] Bennett supposed to do if the Legislature is not even willing to vote on the proposal?” (SEATTLE TIMES, 4/20).

PENGUINS: The Pittsburgh-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority is looking to relocate the Beth Hamedrash Hagadol-Beth Jacob synagogue in order to build the Penguins’ new $290M arena. Rabbi Stanley Savage said that he “had heard nothing about a possible relocation.” Savage: “I just think it’s a shame that the last of 23 synagogues can’t stay here” (POST-GAZETTE, 4/20).