In S.F., Chip Johnson writes Oakland Mayor Jean Quan has "bet her political future on this ambitious plan to transform 850 acres of land in and around the existing Coliseum complex." It is "no coincidence or harmonic convergence that the city's deadline for presenting a fully developed plan" for Coliseum City is set for next summer, as the mayoral election comes next November. The latest voter survey "shows Quan in deep trouble," as a poll commissioned by the Oakland Chamber of Commerce showed her "favorability rating" at 24% (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/22).
VIKING CLASH: In Minneapolis, Janet Moore reports the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority and Minneapolis Venture LLC, which owns the Downtown East plaza adjacent to the Metrodome, are "feuding over a 2003 agreement that permits Vikings gameday events on the public plaza -- until Oct. 31." If an extension agreement "is not reached by then, the plaza won’t be available for the team’s four home games in November and December or any playoff games, although that appears unlikely at this point." A Hennepin County District Court judge on Monday "took the matter under advisement but urged all parties to continue discussing the matter" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/22).
SAFETY FIRST: In N.Y., Hagen & Li report Barclays Center officials a year after "removing metal detectors when fans freaked out over the hyper-security ... have quietly re-installed the controversial screeners." Even fans who "just want to visit the Downtown Brooklyn arena’s box office have to go through the large, box-shaped contraptions." The metal detectors "were re-installed just before" the Heat-Nets preseason game last week (N.Y. POST, 10/22).
