Facility Notes

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said that he “supports a study” of the North Shore Casino’s impact on game day traffic at Heinz Field but “not on the same expedited timetable the Steelers are demanding.” Ravenstahl said that he “does not believe there is enough time to complete such a study before the city planning commission votes on the casino master plan May 29.” Steelers President Art Rooney II said that the team would “consider a lawsuit if planning commission members approve the casino master plan without first studying the impact on events at Heinz Field” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/12).

CONCRETE PLAN: FC Harlem Academy Exec Dir Irv Smalls Jr., a former MLS exec, is “seeking permission from the city [of N.Y.] and support from donors for a plan he calls Concrete2Green.” He would like to “lay rubberized mats, painted with futsal lines” around Harlem. MLS Commissioner Don Garber has said that he will provide marketing and “perhaps financial support” (N.Y. TIMES, 5/13).

BAKE SHOT: The Rhode Island Convention Center Authority said that it needs an additional $15M to complete the renovation of the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, a 24% cost overrun. The authority is “preparing to request authorization from the legislature to borrow the money, and taxpayers would have to repay any new debt.” Renovations are expected to be finished by December ’08 (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 5/13).