In Minneapolis, Chris Riemenschneider wrote it is “rebuilding time again for the Twins.” After the Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw concert Sunday at Target Field, the Twins ground crew yesterday had to “assess the impact of the event.” Twins Corporate Communications Dir Chris Iles said, “Overall, it's in better shape than we expected, but there are a few places where they're going to have to patch." The primary trouble spot “is in center field, where the concert's massive stage stood.” New grass will also “have to be placed around first and third bases, where forklifts rolled onto the field to erect two giant sound and light towers in the middle of the field late last week” (STARTRIBUNE.com, 7/10).
MONEY ISSUES: On Long Island, Robert Brodskey reports Nassau Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs has “unveiled an alternative proposal to build a new Nassau Coliseum using private and county dollars.” But County Exec Edward Mangano’s office “dismissed Jacobs’ plan and Nassau Democrats … have little leverage to implement it.” Construction of a new arena “is expected to cost" about $400M. Jacobs said that roughly $320M “would come from Islanders owner Charles Wang, along with possible funding from the state, other private investors and a potential increase in sales tax revenue that the new arena would be expected to generate” (NEWSDAY, 7/11).
AMERICAN DREAM: In New Jersey, John Brennan reported Triple Five, the developer that is attempting to revive the American Dream Meadowlands, “filed a motion in Superior Court in Hackensack on Tuesday seeking a dismissal of a recent lawsuit filed by the Giants and Jets.” Triple Five spokesperson Alan Marcus said, “The teams are attempting to use the courts to make our days and hours of operation subject to their self-interest in controlling the entire complex on game days.” Brennan noted Triple Five “requested a July 27 hearing date” (NORTHJERSEY.com, 7/10).
GAME FACE: ESPN.com’s Ted Miller reported Univ. of California-Berkley yesterday sent out a release stating the renovation of Memorial Stadium will have the facility “game ready” by opening day. But there has been “whispers” the renovation “won’t be complete in time for the Bears’ season-opener" against the Univ. of Nevada on Sept. 1. Miller: “That’s probably true. But that doesn’t mean the game will be rescheduled for elsewhere in the Bay Area” (ESPN.com, 7/10).
