In Boston, Peter Abraham reports the Red Sox will have a hockey rink at Fenway Park this winter for "college and high school games along with public skating." There also will be a 20-foot high "sledding run that starts in left field, runs 75 feet and ends at the Red Sox bullpen." The "Monster Sled" will be available for "hourly rentals for groups of up to 100 people," while sleds and tubes "will be provided free of charge" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/12).
REDBIRDS ON A WIRE: Memphis Mayor A.C. Wharton yesterday said that he has "asked to move" a vote on the proposed purchase of the Triple-A PCL Redbirds' AutoZone Park to the council’s Jan. 7 meeting. In Memphis, Kyle Veazey notes the vote had "originally appeared on the Council's Dec. 3 agenda, then delayed to this past Monday, then to next Tuesday -- that is, until Wharton's Wednesday announcement." Wharton in a statement said the move allows for more time to analyze "every part of the proposed agreement, including all financial figures, and to continue negotiations to determine if it is possible to reach agreement" with current stadium bondholder Fundamental Advisors (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 12/12).
KICKING AROUND IDEAS: In Sacramento, Ryan Lillis reports an effort to "construct a temporary soccer stadium at Cal Expo" to house the newly formed USL Pro Club Sacramento Republic FC "has been delayed." But team officials yesterday said that they are "optimistic the 8,000-seat stadium will be completed in time for Republic FC's first home match in late April." The Cal Expo BOD had been "scheduled to vote on the plan" tomorrow, but the vote will "likely happen" on Jan. 31 (SACRAMENTO BEE, 12/12).
THOUGHTFUL TED: The AP's Jonathan Landrum Jr. reported when Turner Field is demolished in four years, former Braves Owner Ted Turner "hopes the city of Atlanta will convert the vacant area into green space." Turner said, "I thought maybe they'd find, yet, a woman's soccer team or something like that. ... But the idea of turning it into a green-space park would be wonderful" (AP, 12/10).
