Facility Notes

Lawmakers Seeking Federal Funding For Walkway, Cap At Consol Energy Center

In Pittsburgh, Jon Schmitz reported four lawmakers are "seeking federal funding for a curving landscaped walkway" at the Penguins' Consol Energy Center, set to open for the '10-11 season, and a "giant 'cap' over part of the Crosstown Expressway to better connect the Lower Hill District with Downtown." Penguins VP/Communications Tom McMillan said that the cap "would cover what amounts to a 'hole' in the neighborhood and 'reconnect the (current) arena site and Lower Hill to Downtown and create some additional green space.'" A preliminary design report indicated that the walkway, which is "estimated to cost $1.5[M]," in "keeping with the 'green building' concept for the arena ... will have trees and gardens that are sustained by four vegetated basins that capture and filter rain water" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/19).

ON THE BIG STAGE: In Indianapolis, Kyle Neddenriep reports three regular-season high school football events will be "held at Lucas Oil Stadium this fall," as Indianapolis-based sales and marketing firm Compton Strategies announced that it has "scheduled dates at the stadium in August, September and October." Compton Strategies Founder Ray Compton said the company takes "all the financial risk" in renting the facility, but "declined to give a dollar amount." Compton also said that he is "still in the process of finding title sponsors for the three events" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 5/20).

SCREEN PLAY: In Omaha, Jon Nyatawa reported the Univ. of Nebraska's (UN) Memorial Stadium will have "two new big screens installed and two long video boards added to the balconies this summer at a cost of $3[M]." A 3.8% increase in "football season ticket sales next fall should cover about half" of the $3M, and IMG College, the UN athletic department's marketing partner, will "pay the bill's portion not covered by that price hike." The video boards will be "on the northwest and northeast towers, mirroring the pair on the south end that were upgraded" in '06. Meanwhile, this summer's additions to the stadium's HuskerVision, which "include a picture quality upgrade and an new archival system for highlights, will total about $4[M], funded directly from the athletic department budget" (Omaha WORLD-HERALD, 5/19).

WRITING ON THE WALL: In St. Paul, Charley Walters reports the Twins next week will announce that fans, "for a fee, will be able to have their names etched on a glass wall at Target Center adjacent to the Twins' Target Field" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 5/20).