Facility Notes

The Stars will open the AT&T Plaza at American Airlines Center for "free game-watching parties" for the duration of the team’s Western Conference Finals series against the Red Wings. The games will be shown on the plaza’s 1,500-square-foot high HD screen, and there will be live music, concessions and chances for fans to win prizes. Stars officials said that "seating will be limited.'' The parties will begin an hour before home games and a half-hour before road contests (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5/8). The Flyers tomorrow will host a viewing party for Game One of the team’s Eastern Conference Final against the Penguins. Fans can watch the 7:30pm ET game on one of the 28 HD screens located in the arena’s AT&T Pavilion. Concessions will be available, and fans are eligible to win two tickets to Game Two. Assuming the event is a success, another “will probably be planned Sunday evening” for Game Two (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 5/8).

NOT SO FAST: NYRA officials yesterday said that the organization is “studying the possibility of replacing its dirt surface with synthetic materials at its three thoroughbred tracks” -- Belmont, Aqueduct and Saratoga Race Course -- but that it has “no imminent plans to do so.” NYRA Dir of Communications & Media Relations John Lee said that the topic has been “under discussion at NYRA for several years and was not prompted by last Saturday’s fatal injury to filly Eight Belles just after the Kentucky Derby” (NEWSDAY, 5/8). A conversion to synthetic surfaces for the three tracks is estimated to cost $50M or more, and Lee said NYRA is “not in a position financially to do anything about it” (N.Y. POST, 5/8).

IN THE CARDS: The Univ. of Louisville has issued a notice of intent to award the Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium expansion project to Hunt Construction and Abel Construction (BIZJOURNALS.com, 5/6).