Facility Notes

ZD Studio Gives Packers Design Help During Reconstruction Of Lambeau Field

In Milwaukee, Don Walker profiles branding firm ZD Studios, whose "handiwork is perhaps best known at Lambeau Field." When the Packers began the $295M reconstruction of the stadium, team officials "brought in ZD Studios to give the building a look and feel that helped define the franchise's long and lustrous history." ZD also played a "large role at and inside" the Univ. of Wisconsin's (UW) athletic facilities. ZD "developed a visual identity plan that they believed created a bond between students, alumni and the city." UW AD Barry Alvarez: "I really felt they had a plan on marketing and labeling and bringing things to life here. They seemed to tie everything together" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 6/30).

PSLs: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick wrote, "The media in this town -- print, TV and radio -- have for years allowed the local teams and their Manhattan-based leagues to get away with systemic, broad-daylight rip-offs and holdups of their most devoted customers without even offering brief, token protest." And now, with the Giants and Jets "on the verge of the greatest shake-down in this region's sports history," with the idea of PSLs, "the media's virtual silence again can be relied upon" (N.Y. POST, 6/29). SPORTINGNEWS.com's Mike Florio wrote the "best evidence of the [NFL's] stature is the continuing viability" of the PSL. A "more accurate title might be 'personal sucker license.'" Florio: "Why not just increase the price of tickets?" From a "supply-and-demand standpoint, it makes perfect sense to charge more for tickets." However, "extra charges like PSLs at some point will strip the sport of what made it great: Accessibility to the average fan" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 6/27).

EAGLES: In Philadelphia, A.J. Thomson writes since opening Lincoln Financial Field in '03, the Eagles have "grossed a shade under $1[B]." The Eagles' "annual revenue is more than $200[M], with estimated operating income over $50[M]." With "all this money, the Eagles are a big player in a number of worthy charitable endeavors." They "know their place in our community." However, "despite this revenue, a clear commitment to the community and a taxpayer-subsidized stadium, the Eagles still have an outstanding debt to the city of about $8[M]." To date, the Eagles have "disputed this bill for a variety of reasons." But eight million dollars-plus "isn't chump change" and the money "could fund a host of worthwhile programs in various city departments" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 6/30).