Facility Notes

In Pittsburgh, Mark Belko reports city planning commission members "unanimously rejected a historic designation for the 49-year-old" Civic Arena yesterday, "moving it a step closer to demolition." The vote "deals yet another blow to the efforts by local preservationists, led by architect Rob Pfaffmann, to save the arena from destruction by designating it a city historic structure." The Pittsburgh-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority, the arena's owner, "wants to tear down the building as part of a plan by the Penguins to redevelop the site and adjacent land, 28 acres in all, for housing, offices and commercial activities" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 3/23). 

POISON IVY: Orioles groundskeeper Nicole Sherry said that the ivy that grows up the wall beyond centerfield at Camden Yards was "attacked by a soil-borne pathogen and had to be pulled out earlier this month." Sherry "hopes to replant this spring or fall, but for now, the 'batter's eye' -- the wall behind the pitcher in the hitter's line of sight -- will instead bear a fresh coat of the park's signature 'Camden Green' paint" (Baltimore SUN, 3/23).

PANE IS TEMPORARY: In Calgary, Randy Sportak noted the Flames are "one of six teams still using the seamless-glass system, and will change to a more forgiving plexiglass system in time for the 2011-12 campaign." Flames President & CEO Ken King said that the organization is "looking at all the possible systems out there." New glass "will be used on the end boards, and may be put in place along the sides of the rink" (CALGARY SUN, 3/21).