Facility Notes

UM Negotiating With U2 Promoters About Possible June 27 Concert At TCF Bank Stadium

In Minneapolis, Sid Hartman reports the Univ. of Minnesota (UM) is "in the process of negotiating with promoters for U2, who are planning a concert at TCF Bank Stadium on June 27." Several promoters have contacted the UM athletic department "about renting the stadium for concerts." But the "decision was made to let the U2 show be the first experiment, and if that goes well, other acts will be signed." The stadium "would seat 58,000 for the concert and there is a good chance that the athletic department could earn $200,000-plus in rent" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 11/12).

FOOD SAFETY CONCERN: Indianapolis' WXIN-Fox reported a Lucas Oil Stadium worker took "pictures of mice feces" in a food pantry at the facility. The employee said, "The pictures are actually showing mice droppings in the food pantry, on the floor, on the shelves, on the counters, there's been some on the carts." Centerplate handles all food services at the stadium, and the concessionaire and Lucas Oil Stadium "have been cited for food safety violations dating back to 2008" (FOX59.com, 11/10). The Colts have since sent out an e-mail to season-ticket holders that read in part, "Nothing is more important to the Indianapolis Colts than the health and safety of our fans. We also believe that anything that can be controlled, such as sanitation, should never be compromised. The entities directly in control of food operations at Lucas Oil Stadium, Centerplate and the CIB, have assured us that they are thoroughly investigating the report and that any issues they identify will be corrected immediately" (THE DAILY).

DESERT DESIGN: HKS Dir of Sports Design Byron Chambers said that the D'Backs' and Rockies' new $100M Spring-Training complex, expected to be completed in February '11, is "focused on getting fans as close to the players and action as possible, along with making it comfortable for them by providing shade." In Arizona, Peter Corbett notes an "elevated, sloping roof at the back of the 7,000-seat grandstand will shade 16 of the 28 rows of seats at 1 p.m. for the first pitch." As the game "progresses, more than 85[%] of the grandstand seats will be shaded" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 11/12).

TURN DOWN THE VOLUME: In Houston, Jerome Solomon wrote "can we turn the volume down" at Toyota Center? Solomon: "I'm deaf in one ear and find it hard to think while at a Rockets' game because of the non-stop, pounding beats being played at airplane engine levels over the PA. And this isn't just during timeouts, it's during play. I actually like to hear the bouncing of the ball and the squeaking of shoes on the court. ... It's not about being or acting old. It's about the best atmosphere for watching basketball" (CHRON.com, 11/11).