In DC, Mike Jones reports the Redskins are in talks to move their training camp from team HQs in Ashburn, Va., "for the first time” since ‘02. Sources said that the team has “made arrangements to take over The Mason Inn Conference Center and Hotel in Fairfax for the month of August, and have held preliminary discussions about using George Mason University's campus for training camp.” George Mason AD Tom O’Connor said that Redskins GM Bruce Allen and VP/Sales & Marketing Rod Nenner “have toured the university's campus and the Mason Inn more than once, but described the discussions as preliminary.” O’Connor: "We took them around and they liked what they saw. ... There are certainly logistical issues we would have to work through. Nothing has gone to the next level" (WASHINGTON POST, 2/11).
ON NEW TURF: The GLOBE & MAIL’s Matthew Sekeres reports the Vancouver Whitecaps will host “three games at the renovated BC Place Stadium” in their inaugural MLS season. MLS released its '11 schedule Thursday and the Whitecaps “had most of their requests met, including the opportunity to play several games at the retractable-roof stadium.” The 54,000-seat BC Place, undergoing a C$563M renovation, is "expected to be ready by Sept. 30.” The Whitecaps will play home matches at 27,000-seat Empire Field before BC Place is ready (GLOBE & MAIL, 2/11).
SHORT SALE: In North Carolina, Graff & Dell report Winston-Salem city officials “are talking again about selling Joel Coliseum and Bowman Gray Stadium to Wake Forest and Winston-Salem State universities, respectively, in an effort to save money.” Winston-Salem City Manager Lee Garrity said that the talks “have been ongoing for a number of years.” Negotiations are “included on a list of his priorities for the city” for ‘11. Garrity noted that the city has lost a total of about $850,000 a year "for the last five years on the two facilities.” Winston-Salem “spends an additional $1.5 million paying down the debt the city incurred to build or improve them” (WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL, 2/11).
PACKING LABELS: In Rochester, Kevin Oklobzija reports Buffalo-based Sahlen Packing Co. has bought the naming rights to Rochester's downtown stadium, and the “10-year contract will help finance operation” of the USL Pro Rochester Rhinos and MLL Rochester Rattlers. Sahlen's Stadium also “will be the home” of the expansion WPS Western New York Flash (Rochester DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 2/11).
