In L.A., Sam Farmer wrote of the NFL’s talks with Dodgers Owner Guggenheim Partners about building an NFL stadium at Chavez Ravine, “At first blush, the idea is enticing and makes sense.” But the concept of scrapping AEG’s downtown plan for Farmers Field “in favor of a stadium on the hill is not as clean and simple as it sounds.” Former Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt has “half-ownership of the parking lots” at Dodger Stadium, and “nothing can be developed on the parking lots unless Guggenheim and McCourt agree.” It is “doubtful that [McCourt] can generate the public support necessary" (LATIMES.com, 2/25). Also in L.A., Steve Dilbeck wrote, “At some point, you have to wonder whether the NFL ever wants to come back to Los Angeles.” The idea is “tired now" and it is "hard to imagine the city getting all excited about starting this stadium process over again” (LATIMES.com, 2/25).
TIMING IS EVERYTHING: NFL Panthers President Danny Morrison yesterday said that he is “confident a deal can be reached” on a proposal to renovate Bank of America Stadium. He said that “timing is an issue, since the team would have to order new escalators and other upgrades by this fall in order to undertake construction after the 2013 season” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/26).
ADDING TO THE PLAN: In Hartford, Kenneth Gosselin noted plans for “more shops, restaurants and entertainment venues at Rentschler Field in East Hartford may finally be getting a boost.” United Technologies Corp. spokesperson Ian Race, whose company owns the property near the venue, said UTC “has signed a letter of intent with OTB Destination, which is putting together plans for a destination retail and entertainment complex” (COURANT.com, 2/22).
WANT TO BUY SOME PRODUCT? In N.Y., Richard Sandomir noted the Mets “have a new tenant at Citi Field: Amway.” CapitalNewYork.com reported the Amway Business Center “opened Saturday on the 126th Street side of Citi Field, near the ballpark’s bullpen gate” (NYTIMES.com, 2/25).
