A Cleveland PLAIN DEALER editorial stated the city “seems to have avoided what could have been a nasty battle” with the Browns over “how much the city is required under its lease with the team to pay for repairs and upgrades” as part of a $120M modernization of FirstEnergy Stadium. It is a deal that “satisfies Mayor Frank Jackson and the team, is likely to avoid future disputes, puts the onus for most of the cost on the Browns and avoids the need for an expensive bond issue by the city.” Browns CEO Joe Banner “insists -- and the city agrees --- that the team could have demanded more from the city under the lease, but chose not to.” That was a “smart move in a cash-tight town still warming up” to Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 11/22).
THE RUN AROUND: In Minneapolis, Eric Roper noted city officials are “trying to use the state-authorized authority" to issue approximately $65M in general obligation debt "for a parking lot and park adjacent to the new Vikings stadium.” City Council President Barb Johnson said that “one major reason to do it is to bypass" the semi-independent Board of Estimate & Taxation, "which usually approves borrowing tied to the full faith and credit of the city.” City CFO Kevin Carpenter said that in addition to retaining control from the BOET, the port authority “gives them flexibility to add parcels to the deal" later on and “reduces the number of council votes needed to issue general obligation bonds" (STARTRIBUNE.com, 11/21).
WELCOMING THE COLD: Bears President Ted Phillips said of the Soldier Field turf, which was coming up in chunks when play resumed Sunday after a weather delay, “Not much we could do about that on Sunday. I think over the last couple of years the maintenance on the field has been top-notch and I think the field has been in as good a condition -- especially as the colder months come upon us each year." He added, “We'll have a good field when we come back for the (Dec. 9) Cowboys game" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 11/21).
ANGRY BIRDS: In Atlanta, Katie Leslie notes after months of talks with city officials over a benefits package, residents near the future Falcons downtown stadium “say they feel betrayed after learning a plan they hadn’t yet approved was submitted to the City Council for consideration.” The community benefits package, which suggests ways to spend $30M "meant to bolster the poverty-stricken areas near the stadium, must be affirmed by the council and Mayor Kasim Reed” before the city can issue $200M in bonds for stadium construction. Tensions have “run high from the beginning over how much say residents … will have on spending community benefits funds” (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 11/22).
