In Buffalo, Mark Gaughan reported the Bills' practice facility “has a new name, thanks to a sponsorship deal between the team and BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York.” The facility will now be called "The Bills Healthy Zone." In addition to “new signage on the side of the building, the Bills' administrative offices will also have main entry signage with the new name.” The Bills and Blue Cross Blue Shield have been partners since ’98 (BUFFALONEWS.com, 6/7).
SUMMER CAMP: In N.Y., Ralph Vacchiano reports the NFL Giants are “still planning to hold their training camp at the University at Albany this summer, although that could be in jeopardy if the NFL lockout lasts into July.” Sources said that there are currently “no plans to cancel the team's annual trip to Albany,” nor is there a "drop dead date" where a decision has to be made. The team and the school “will likely begin discussions if the lockout continues past July 1.” Camp is “scheduled to open on July 30” and would “likely last until Aug. 21.” Students “will begin arriving at U-Albany some time around Aug. 23-24, and the Giants will have to be at least on their way out by then” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/10).
GETTING THE GO-AHEAD: In New Orleans, Nakia Hogan noted with the completion of an $85M renovation project at the Superdome “nearing an end and an onslaught of major events on tap at the building,” Louisiana Stadium & Exposition District officials “appear pleased with the job” of SMG, the stadium's and New Orleans Arena's management company. LSED Chair Ron Forman said that the commission “will recommend to the governor's office that SMG … continue in its current role.” SMG is “in the fourth year of a five-year contract with the state that expires” in June '12. The deal is “slated to be extended through 2017 unless the state notifies SMG by June 30 that it plans to terminate the contract.” Forman said that “there are no such plans” (NOLA.com, 6/9).
IN COUNTY CROSSHAIRS: In St. Petersburg, Richard Danielson notes Hillsborough County (Fla.) Commissioner Ken Hagan put tax-increment financing “center-stage this week as an idea to help the Tampa Bay Rays make a new home somewhere in the county.” That is if they “ever leave St. Petersburg, which the mayor there says they won't.” St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster on Thursday said, "The Rays aren't going to Tampa or Hillsborough County." Hagan has said that he “wasn't trying to stir things up when he publicly broached the subject Wednesday, but merely wanted to put on the record that there could be a way to help pay for infrastructure a new stadium would need” (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 6/10).
