ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas noted NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell yesterday conducted a conference call with Falcons season-ticket holders, and a fan asked Goodell “to guarantee a Super Bowl if a new stadium comes to Atlanta.” Goodell “sounded as if another Super Bowl in Georgia is a possibility,” but he “stopped short of making any promise.” Goodell: “You have a great community. I think the stadium [Falcons Owner Arthur Blank] is talking about is going to be a great stadium. Hopefully, it will be a great host for the Super Bowl in the future” (ESPN.com, 5/2).
STORE OPENING: In Chicago, Wailin Wong reports a “new two-level White Sox team store will open at U.S. Cellular Field in the fall, selling White Sox merchandise along with products for other Chicago-area professional and college teams.” Delaware North Companies Sportservice, which operates food and retail outlets at U.S. Cellular Field, will “run the new 13,000-square foot store.” The company said the “signature element of the new store will be a digital staircase, which will showcase images as customers move to and from the second level" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/3).
BREAKFAST ON THE HOUSE: SMI Chair & CEO Bruton Smith said that on July 10, the day after the inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway, he is “throwing a free breakfast for anyone still” at the track. Smith: "Stay all night after the race. Or stop by. Either way, breakfast is free." Smith also said that he is “considering adding 10,000-15,000 temporary seats” for this year's Cup race if “ticket sales remain brisk.” Smith added that there have also been “12 new elevators installed to make it easier for fans to navigate the two new grandstand towers” (LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, 5/3).
SOLID SHOWING: In Detroit, Vince Ellis noted the Palace of Auburn Hills and DTE Energy Music Theater were the “top-two venues in the Midwest in terms of ticket sales and attendance in 2010 -- a solid year” for the two Palace Sports & Entertainment assets (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 5/2).
