Facility Notes

Vikings To Study Feasibility Of Including Some Of Metrodome As Part Of New Facility

In St. Paul, Charley Walters reports there is "no viable plan for publicly financing a new stadium for the Vikings, who next week with the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission will select an architectural and contracting firm -- at a shared cost of $2[M] -- to study the feasibility of including some of the Metrodome structure as part of a new domed facility." The Vikings' lease with the Metrodome runs through 2011, and the team "consider[s] the upcoming legislative session critical to having a new place to play when their lease expires." There have been "informal talks" between the Vikings and the Univ. of Minnesota "about sharing the university's stadium during construction of a Vikings stadium" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 9/9).

LIGHTS OUT: In Vancouver, Kent Spencer reports GM Place has put a ban on smoking, effective September 15, "by closing down five outdoor pens used for smoking." The ban comes as a result of a "new Vancouver bylaw that prohibits smoking within six metres of doors." GM Place GM & VP/Arena Operations Harvey Jones "estimates 800 to 1,000 puffers used to duck outside several times a game" (Vancouver PROVINCE, 9/9).

Shea Stadium Seats Proving To Be Hot Sellers On eBay, Sports Memorabilia Sites

BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE: In N.Y., Clemente Lisi reports "orange and blue Shea Stadium seats that the city sold for just $869 a pair just three weeks ago are now selling for three times that amount." The seats are going for $1,000-2,500 on eBay and other sports memorabilia Web sites. The Mets put 16,000 pairs of seats up for sale on the team's Web site on August 25 after a pre-sale for season-ticket holders a week earlier (N.Y. POST, 9/9)....In Ft. Worth, Andrea Ahles reported the Cowboys are selling the seats from Texas Stadium, and season-ticket holders "can buy a pair of seats for $650." The Cowboys Web site shows that "end-of-row seats cost $750." Seats are also available to non-season-ticket holders (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 9/8).

SHELTER FROM THE STORM: SI.com's Jon Wertheim wrote it is "time to build that roof" over Arthur Ashe Stadium. Wertheim: "Find a corporate sponsor and go to it. After twelve blissfully smooth days, this event cratered a bit over the weekend. Put a roof over Armstrong [stadium]. Hell, put it over the Grandstand. Anything to avoid the fire drill of last weekend" (SI.com, 9/8).