Facility Notes

The GLOBE & MAIL's Robert MacLeod reports calls for the Blue Jays to "install real grass at Rogers Centre have intensified." Team officials "say they are sensitive to the pent-up demands of the fans and have every intention of eventually laying down sod." But the team now is "saying it will likely be at least five years before grass will replace artificial turf." There are "several hurdles that first have to be cleared, including the relocation" of the CFL Toronto Argonauts, who have been tenants in the building since it opened in '89. Blue Jays President Paul Beeston said that until the Argos, which have "yet to sign a new lease at Rogers Centre," decide on a new home, the Blue Jays' "plans for a new natural field cannot move forward" (GLOBE & MAIL, 1/28).

FISH OUT OF WATER? A South Florida SUN-SENTINEL editorial stated of the Dolphins' $400M proposal to upgrade Sun Life Stadium, "When you look at what they want, and who would pay it, and ownership's commitment to pay half the costs of stadium upgrades, the Dolphins' plan makes good economic sense for Miami-Dade, South Florida and the state." The private-public plan "deserves enthusiastic support because it will brighten a shining jewel that benefits us all in many ways." The proposal is a "fair and relatively painless request. We hope our region's legislative delegation gets behind this effort and ensures its passage in Tallahassee" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 1/27). 

THIS AND THAT: In Milwaukee, Don Walker noted the Miller Park stadium district is "reporting that it received $25.8 million in sales-tax distributions in 2012, down slightly from the year before." The district in '11 "received a total of $25.9 million in sales-tax distributions" (JSONLINE.com, 1/26)....In Louisville, Gregory Hall reported in a "bit of corporate housekeeping" at Churchill Downs Inc. HQs this month, one of its corporate entities was "renamed Churchill Downs Racetrack LLC." Churchill Downs officials said that the change gives the race track "its own corporate entity, much like already exist for the company’s other tracks" (COURIER-JOURNAL.com, 1/27).