In Minneapolis, Rochelle Olson reports St. Paul-based Carl Bolander & Sons Co. "won a $20.6 million contract to clean up the state's largest Superfund site, land in Arden Hills that also is being considered as the potential home of a proposed" $1.1B Vikings stadium. The Ramsey County Board, by a 4-3 vote yesterday, "approved the contract" for the cleanup. The vote was another step "toward assembling and preparing the Arden Hills site for the Vikings, but major questions remain unresolved, including how the public subsidy for the stadium would be financed" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/8).
ADMIRING THE RAYS: MLB.com's Richard Justice wrote it is "impossible not to admire how the Tampa Bay Rays are handling their stadium situation." They have "said almost nothing publicly, taking the high road and letting the politicians do the talking." Instead, they are "working behind the scenes, quietly and tirelessly, lobbying officials, explaining, offering solutions." Their problem "seems beyond dispute," yet they have "made no threats, engaged in no overblown rhetoric" (MLB.com, 2/6).
ROSEY OPERATION: In L.A., Adolfo Flores cited a report issued Thursday by the Urban Land Institute that indicated that the Rose Bowl "should operate more like Yankee Stadium or the Heineken brewery." Institute experts called on Pasadena officials to "preserve the nature of the Arroyo Seco and offset the costs of a current Rose Bowl renovation by offering stadium tours, creating merchandise and charging for parking at the stadium, even when no official event is taking place." The report also "called for the creation of a nonprofit group to oversee all the features of the heavily used recreational area" (LATIMES.com, 2/4).
SELLING HOSPITALITY: The PGA of America announced yesterday that official hospitality sales for the '12 Ryder Cup are tracking at a record level. An initial offering of 53 chalet and clubhouse packages was progressively increased to 76 to accommodate demand. In total, the event currently has hospitality involvement from nearly 250 companies (THE DAILY).
