In Pittsburgh, Mark Belko reported the Steelers Thursday “took the first step toward adding 3,000 seats at Heinz Field.” At the team's request, the city-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority board “passed a resolution to further explore and plan the possible additions.” SEA Exec Dir Mary Conturo said that the authorization “was needed so the Steelers could take their proposal to add seats to the NFL for approval next month.” Conturo said that she had “no timetable for construction and did not know how much the extra seats would cost.” Belko noted the seats “would be added in the south end zone beneath the scoreboard” and possible funding sources “include a surcharge on tickets and personal seat licenses” (POST-GAZETTE.com, 4/12).
ROAD WORK: Bristol Motor Speedway officials issued a statement confirming that SMI Chair & CEO Bruton Smith and BMS Exec VP & GM Jerry Caldwell will hold a news conference April 25 to announce “details on the track facelift.” In Tennessee, Allen Gregory noted on Wednesday, workers “began removing the Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) barrier around the half-mile concrete track in preparation for the changes.” But Caldwell “did not offer any specifics as to exactly what alterations” Smith had in mind. He did offer “his assurances that the track work will be complete in time" for the Aug. 25 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Irwin Tools Night Race (TRICITIES.com, 4/12).
PARTY PLANNING: In Tampa, Van Sickler & Danielson note a kickoff party for the Republican National Convention at Tropicana Field is “not a done deal.” Tampa Bay Host Committee exec Bill Edwards on Thursday said that an “unresolved question in planning the party concerns how much of the Trop's field could be used for the Aug. 26 event.” Edwards added that he is “not involved in negotiations and has only heard from others with the host committee about the question concerning the field at the Trop" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 4/13).
THE FINAL SAY: In New Jersey, John Brennan reported a N.Y. court Thursday “offered the final legal say on a dispute regarding the Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn.” A N.Y. State Appellate Court panel -- in “upholding New York Supreme Court Judge Marcy Friedman’s ruling from last July -- dismantled the case made by the project’s backers," including the Empire State Development Corp. Brennan noted the ruling does “not derail” the Nets’ scheduled September opening of the Barclays Center (NORTHJERSEY.com, 4/12).
