Minnesota state Rep. Bev Scalze said that she “thinks it's possible that an open-air stadium -- the Vikings' stated preference -- could be constructed and the Metrodome could remain standing.” In St. Paul, Dave Orrick noted a proposed 13-member task force would “figure out how the facility can be self-funded, hiking rents and fees if necessary, perhaps even changing ownership.” If “none of that can work, the task force could recommend other sources of revenue to keep the place afloat.” If “there's no hope, officials could decide to raze the Dome” (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 5/1).
HARD TO RESIST? In London, Jacquelin Magnay reports Qatari officials “plan to unveil retractable seating and a brand new athletics track at their flagship Khalifa Stadium in their bid to host” the ‘17 World Track & Field Championships. The Qataris “plan to revamp Khalifa, a 50,000 seat football stadium, to accommodate a new running track with retractable seating so that it can then be converted to host one of the semifinal FIFA world cup matches” (London TELEGRAPH, 5/2).
SAFETY FIRST: In Charlotte, Jim Utter notes NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon on Saturday wrecked at Richmond Int'l Raceway at an area where "SAFER barriers have not been installed." Utter asks “Why, 10 years after the death of one of NASCAR’s biggest stars, are there still areas of race tracks not covered by the SAFER barriers?” The barriers “certainly … have proved effective," so there is “little excuse that a decade isn’t long enough to rectify this problem” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/2).
