In Minneapolis, Sid Hartman reports the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission Thursday awarded a contract to CG&B Enterprises “to start the installation of new turf” at the Metrodome on Aug. 1 “at a cost of $476,984 and with a completion date of Aug. 18.” The Vikings “put their stamp of approval on the product that is used in the Georgia Dome and the Superdome.” The Metrodome “will have an open house -- free to the public -- on Aug. 20, when Viking players will test the turf.” The “old turf, only a year old, suffered water damage -- despite being covered by panels -- after the roof collapsed” in December (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 7/22).
STATING THEIR CASE: A SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS editorial states the city of Santa Clara "should be celebrating the news" that the tentative NFL CBA "probably will include money for a Santa Clara football stadium." Bringing the 49ers -- and "possibly the Raiders, as well -- to Santa Clara will boost the valley's civic pride and provide economic benefits and intangibles for all residents.” Santa Clara makes “far more sense as a potential NFL site than either San Francisco or Oakland, since voters have already approved a stadium.” The editorial continues, “Let's continue working to bring professional football to Silicon Valley” (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 7/22).
VIEW OF THE WILDCATS: In Phoenix, Bob Young reports the Univ. of Arizona “will unveil a new video board at Arizona Stadium this season” that reportedly will “at least be one of the bigger ones at a college-football facility in the West and probably ranks among the more humongous in the country.” The new board for the south end zone, which “will measure 5,356 square feet, dwarfs the largest video board at Sun Devil Stadium." UA AD Greg Byrne announced that “some lucky fan who follows him on Twitter will get a chance to play the video game ‘NCAA Football 12’ on the new” video board (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 7/22).
CALLING ON LONDON: In L.A., Garrison & Pham note as AEG seeks approval to build Farmers Field in downtown L.A., its work with London's O2 arena is "just one example of the global firm's aptitude for spotting, shaping and selling risky projects.” AEG is “leaning on that record to pull off” what AEG President & CEO Tim Leiweke indicated is the company’s “riskiest project yet: a $1.35-billion football stadium in downtown Los Angeles” (L.A. TIMES, 7/22).
