Facility Notes

In Calgary, Bill Kaufmann reports Flames President & CEO Ken King yesterday "played down a report" that Pengrowth Management Ltd. Founder Jim Kinnear "hasn't yet decided to renew a 10-year naming agreement that expires next June" for the Saddledome. King noted that "he'd just spoken with Kinnear." King: "There is a solid agreement there. ... He is very happy with it." King also said that the "major sponsorship deal generates at least one or two corporate inquiries a year" (CALGARY SUN, 9/22).

Vikings Expect To Announce At Least Two Metrodome Gate Sponsorships By Sunday

OPENING THE FLOODGATES: The MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL BUSINESS JOURNAL's John Vomhof Jr. reports the Vikings "expect to announce at least two Metrodome gate sponsorships before" their home opener against the 49ers on Sunday. The gate sponsorships "will be located at gates F and H, the Metrodome's busiest game-day entrances," and Vikings officials "also hope to sell a sponsorship for Gate D." Vomhof notes the gate deals "were in the works before" QB Brett Favre joined the team in August, and the Vikings "haven't finalized any new corporate sponsorships since adding Favre." However, team officials said that they have "started to receive more interest from prospective partners" (MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL BUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/18 issue).

WAVE OF THE FUTURE: In Atlanta, Ariel Hart reported a 15-year-old proposal to build a "magnetically levitated train" to Turner Field "resurfaced in political talk last week." But "don't look for the [train] at ballgames any time soon." American Maglev Technology CEO Tony Morris, whose company proposed the project, said that he "had a good visit" with Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority CEO Beverly Scott. But he added, "They're broke, they're bankrupt. Unless Mr. Obama gave them a check, it wouldn't matter because they can't do anything" (AJC.com, 9/21).

NOTES: The National Soccer HOF in Oneonta, New York, "has closed and will reopen only for special events ... because of declining attendance in its relatively remote location" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/22)....The Twins have sold 47 of 54 luxury suites at Target Field at annual prices of between $95,000-125,000 (TWINCITIES.com, 9/21).