In Pittsburgh, Mark Belko notes the Penguins will "team with UPMC to build a 'first-of-its-kind' sports performance center and practice rink in Cranberry, with the goal of making it the top spot in the country for hockey-related training and injury treatment and prevention." Team and UPMC officials "are about to begin discussions with the township about building the 150,000-square-foot facility on land UPMC is in the process of buying off Route 228." They "hope to open" the center in summer '14 (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 6/27).
WIDE LOAD: In Nashville, Matt Gray noted construction "continues at LP Field, where the longest video boards at any outdoor stadium in the world are on schedule to be completed in time for the Titans' first preseason game in August." Upon completion, "the two end-zone screens are to be 157 feet long by 54 feet high" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 6/26).
ON TAP: In Buffalo, Gene Warner noted two local state legislators, "in an attempt to provide a safer drinking environment, have introduced legislation that would allow large sports stadiums in New York -- including Ralph Wilson Stadium -- to turn on their beer taps an hour earlier, at 11 a.m. on Sundays." The legislators presume that serving alcohol in the stadium "would be more supervised than a tailgating party at a stadium parking lot." Supporters said that the measure also "could cut down on underage, irresponsible and binge drinking" (BUFFALO NEWS, 6/26).
