In Sacramento, Ryan Lillis reports a "tentative deal has been reached to build an 8,000-seat stadium at Cal Expo" for expansion USL Pro club Sacramento Republic FC. The Cal Expo BOD is "expected to formally approve the deal at its Feb. 28 meeting." Comcast-Spectacor's Ovations food service company has "agreed to construct and finance" the $3M facility, with "a financial contribution to the project from Republic FC" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 2/20).
AROUND TOWN: Tustin, Calif., Mayor Al Murray on Tuesday said that he heard Angels Owner Arte Moreno had "talked with the city of Irvine" about a new ballpark. But Angels and city of Irvine reps said that "there have been no discussions" between the two. In L.A., Bill Shaikin notes both the Tustin and Irvine sites "are governed by land plans that would need to be changed in order to accommodate a ballpark" (L.A. TIMES, 2/20).
OVER THE RAINBOW: In Honolulu, Ferd Lewis reported the Univ. of Hawaii expects to "shelve plans to close the upper deck at Aloha Stadium this football season and will instead look at ways to give current season ticket holders more value." UH AD Ben Jay on Tuesday said that a closure "would displace approximately 1,100 season-ticket holders who account for 3,225 seats." UH last season sold 18,354 season tickets, its "fewest in seven years, and faces an uphill task on renewals after a 1-11 season" (HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER, 2/19).
