In Sacramento, Ryan Lillis reports a group asking the NBA Kings to “pay for affordable housing and assist small businesses downtown filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging the city’s approval of the environmental impact report for the planned downtown arena.” While the group said that it is “not aiming to halt” the $477M arena project, a “successful challenge of the environmental impact report could delay construction if the city is ordered by a judge to make significant investments to downtown transportation infrastructure or change the project’s environmental standards.” A separate lawsuit filed by a citizens group “charged that the arena would lead to traffic disruptions and riots in downtown Sacramento” (SACRAMENTO BEE, 6/27).
CITIZENS ON PATROL: In England, Paul Handler reports EPL club Manchester City announced a further expansion of Etihad Stadium, "which will take the total capacity to a little over 55,000.” The plans revealed on Thursday will add a "further three rows of seats at the pitchside level, and come in addition to the work already under way to add 6,000 seats to the South Stand." Both projects are "due for completion" in time for the '15-16 season (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 6/27).
TURF WARS: Sounders minority Owner & GM Adrian Hanauer said that there are “no firm replacement plans” to replace the artificial turf at Starfire Stadium, the team's practice venue. Hanauer: "Obviously if we end up with a USL team playing in that stadium, if it continues to be an Open Cup venue, it needs to be addressed.” Asked if the Sounders have the ability to just pay for it, he responded, “Starfire is a 501c3. It’s a nonprofit organization and they’re not allowed to be dictated to by a professional for-profit entity. ... I think they understand that it’s not optimal either. I think we’d be able to work something out” (SEATTLETIMES.com, 6/25).
VILLAGE PEOPLE: Tennis Canada on Thursday announced multiple on-site enhancements for the Rogers Cup in Toronto, which this year plays host to the ATP event in August. Improvements include a retail shopping area, a new viewing deck and an indoor restaurant. The retail village will bring all merchandise under one roof on the west side of the grounds. The new deck will be built between the practice courts and Court 1. Additional courtside seating will be added to some outside courts (Tennis Canada).
