Facility Notes

Vikings To Embark On Major PR Campaign For New Stadium

In St. Paul, Charley Walters reports the Vikings will “embark on a major [PR] campaign in their quest for public approval for a new stadium next legislative session.” And “don’t be surprised if the Vikings, who are seeking state money for a stadium,” agree to a stadium referendum. Meanwhile, Twins Owner Carl Pohlad has “virtually no interest in the club’s new ballpark being named Pohlad Field.” There has been “speculation it could be called Wheaties Field, with General Mills as a corporate sponsor, and that makes sense, but the Twins don’t anticipate any serious consideration for a ballpark name until late this year” (ST. PAUL PIONEER-PRESS, 6/6).

NOTES: The N.Y. Metropolitan Transit Authority announced plans to build a new rail link between the Meadowlands and Penn Station in Manhattan. The proposed “football train” would “get riders to roughly 10 Giants and Jets games during the 2009 season via a link in Secaucus” (NEWSDAY, 6/6)....DC-based Gelberg Signs was awarded a $1M contract to create and install all of the signage at the Nationals' new ballpark, which is set to open in ’08 (WASHINGTONTIMES.com, 6/5)....The Red Sox' Single-A affiliate, the New York-Penn League Lowell Spinners, has “purchased -- and plans to use -- the first base used at Yankee Stadium” during Game Six of the ’04 ALCS between the Red Sox and Yankees. In the game, Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez was called for interference on a play at first base (BOSTON HERALD, 6/6).