In Minneapolis, Mike Kaszuba reports “legislation was finalized and supporters talked of holding hearings next week” on the push for a new Viking’s stadium. The project's stadium proponents “received a boost when the chief Senate author said that Senate Majority Leader David Senjem and Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk would be co-sponsors of the proposal.” Chair of the House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee Rep. Joe Hoppe said that he was “cautiously optimistic that the $975 million stadium to be built adjacent to the Metrodome would win legislative approval.” He added that his committee “would focus primarily on the state's $398 million contribution to the project -- funded by authorizing electronic pulltabs in bars and restaurants -- and not debate the stadium's overall merits” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 3/9).
UNDER CONSIDERATION: In Pasadena, Brenda Gazzar wrote City Council officials Thursday said that they “will consider Monday whether to conduct a $400,000 Environmental Impact Report that would pave the way for the Rose Bowl to host an NFL team for up to five years.” Rose Bowl CEO & GM Darryl Dunn said that while there are “no guarantees, city and stadium officials believe there are two ‘extremely credible and viable opportunities’ for an NFL team to locate to the Los Angeles area.” Dunn said that it is “apparent that the earliest an NFL team would play in an interim facility would be in the fall of 2013, when the $160 million Rose Bowl renovation would be substantially complete” (PASADENASTARNEWS.com, 3/8).
ON THE CLOCK: In Cincinnati, Sharon Coolidge notes Hamilton County “has only three weeks before the bill comes due for a property tax rebate paid for out of the stadium fund.” The two commissioners who created the plan said that part of the deal, which would sell Drake Hospital to fill in the stadium deficit, “is just days away from being completed.” A county administration memo notes the other two-thirds of the plan -- “cutting costs and increasing revenues at the stadiums -- is impossible.” Hamilton County Sales Tax Fund Specialist Erica Riehl in the memo wrote that “increasing revenues is difficult and inconsistent.” The county “gets 25 cents for every seat sold at any event at the two stadiums, including Reds and Bengals games.” But such events “are limited by weather, and team use” (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 3/9).
EXPANDED SELECTION: In Portland, Michael Russell reported for the ‘12 MLS season, Centerplate “plans to roll out a slew of new food options” at the Jeld Wen Field. Centerplate GM for the venue Ben Forsythe said, "My number one goal has been to make it local. Portland is a great city to dine, with everything from Ethiopian and Thai, and soccer's kind of the world's game.” Forsythe said that he is “aware of Portland’s explosive food cart scene and had hoped to have a few local carts inside the fence” (OREGONLIVE.com, 3/8).
