In San Diego, Jonathan Horn reports the Univ. of California-San Diego was to receive $17,573 from the Patriots "to practice on its campus during the week leading up to the Dec. 7 game against the Chargers," but California public records documents "indicate the university still hadn’t received payment several weeks later." Two days into their practices, the Patriots "canceled their deal" with UCSD and moved to the Univ. of San Diego. The shift came "after word got out about their location" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/23).
DUCK HUNT: In Eugene, Austin Meek reported the Univ. of Oregon eventually "wants to revamp the north side of Autzen Stadium to add premium seating and nudge capacity closer to 60,000." Although it "hasn’t been a project on the front burner," the Heisman win by QB Marcus Mariota means there is "no better time to think aggressively" (Eugene REGISTER-GUARD, 12/22). In Portland, Ken Goe wrote any stadium expansion "carries some risk." UO "regularly sells out, and frequently reports crowds in excess of Autzen's 54,000-seat capacity," but adding too many seats "could put Oregon in the awkward position of being unable to sell them all" (OREGONLIVE.com, 12/21).
WHITE WASH: In Charlotte, David Perlmutt reports water quality inspectors "discovered earlier this month that varying colors of field paint had been unknowingly discharged from Bank of America Stadium into Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s storm water system -- likely since the stadium’s first game" in '96. Water Quality Supervisor John McCulloch in a Dec. 12 letter to Panthers Facility Manager Matthew Getz wrote that the NFL club "could be fined $5,000 a day beginning 'with the first day of violation' until the problem was fixed." McCullock said that stadium officials "were cooperative and moved instantly to stop discharging paint through the drain" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 12/23).
COMMON GROUND: In Lexington, Taylor Harrison notes the Univ. of Kentucky's renovated Commonwealth Stadium "is on track to be finished in time for the first football home game" of the '15 season. UK Assistant AD/Media Relations Tony Neely said that since the last home game on Nov. 8, construction "has been underway on parts of the stadium that were used during the season, such as concourses, which include restrooms and concessions" (LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, 12/23).
