Rexall Place operator Northlands President & CEO Richard Andersen said that the new [C]$480M Oilers arena deal in Edmonton does "not toll a death knell for the organization but it could still mean the end of an era." In Edmonton, Angelique Rodrigues notes though he "wouldn’t say much more than that on Rexall Place itself, Andersen made it clear Northlands can survive without the ageing arena." Many have "speculated this renders Rexall Place irrelevant but Andersen has maintained there is room for two arenas in Edmonton" (EDMONTON SUN, 5/17).
MUSIC CITY MATCH: In Nashville, Michael Cass noted the Triple-A PCL Nashville Sounds and city Mayor Karl Deans have "agreed to a three-year lease extension at Greer Stadium" that would "extend the lease at the city-owned stadium through the end" of '16. John Triggs, an adviser to the Sounds’ owners, said that they would "approach the administration 'when the time is right.'” Triggs said the team is not for sale, “and we’ve made that clear to a couple of people very recently" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 5/16).
RENOVATION PLANS: Univ. of Alabama AD Bill Battle said that plans for a "renovated or new baseball stadium are being discussed." He added that the "timetable for an improved baseball facility is two to five years." In Birmingham, Don Kausler notes Battle was asked if he was "satisfied with the 45-year-old Coleman Coliseum as a long-term basketball venue." Battle said, "I think the answer's yes" (BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 5/17).
