In London, Ben Rumsby notes EPL club Chelsea will "consult local stakeholders about the possibility of redeveloping" Stamford Bridge, which has been its "only home" since the club formed 109 years ago. Chelsea "had insisted previously that the exorbitant cost of expanding their 41,837-capacity ground made doing so economically unviable and the club actively explored moving to nearby Battersea Power Station and Earls Court." However, those options "evaporated" (London TELEGRAPH, 6/18).
THE DAWG POUND: In Cleveland, Glenn Moore reported FirstEnergy Stadium renovations "are on time and on budget," and construction "will be done in time" for the Browns' first home preseason game on Aug. 23. Phase 1 of the renovations include two new videoboards, "nearly triple the size of the old units," and LED ribbon boards "around the stadium." The Daktronics videoboards "will be the NFL's fourth-largest in 2014 and will triple in size from last year's boards" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 6/17).
THE CATS' CRADLE: Broward County (Fla.) officials on Monday said that a vote on the NHL Panthers' request for "millions more in public funds is likely months away." In Ft. Lauderdale, Brittany Wallman noted while county officials in March said that a consultant "would spend 60 to 90 days analyzing the controversial request from the Panthers organization, that consultant still has not been hired." The Panthers organization is "asking to be relieved of paying its portion of debt payments on the arena" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 6/17).
NEARING A BOIL: In Indiana, Mike Carmin notes Purdue Univ. is "inching closer to finalizing a plan" for the south end zone seating at Ross-Ade Stadium. Purdue AD Morgan Burke "envisions a patio area with upscale tents -- similar to what’s used at PGA Tour events -- featuring food and beverage (including alcohol), and tables with umbrellas that can accommodate an estimated 1,500 fans" (Lafayette JOURNAL & COURIER, 6/18).
