In Minneapolis, Eric Roper reports Hennepin County officials are "looking at leasing out part of the downtown Minneapolis morgue property in a deal that would provide new space" for Vikings gameday celebrations and give residents "more access to the proposed Downtown East park." The County Board tomorrow will meet in a closed-door session to "mull whether to lease the downtown morgue parking lot to the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority." The arrangement would "provide prime space to erect tents and other temporary structures for games and events." Precisely how frequently the park is booked for the authority and Vikings "has been controversial since it became clear last year it could be up to 80 days a year." One factor "driving up that figure was the amount of time needed for just assembling and removing tents on the park -- up to two extra days for each Vikings game" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 4/6).
POWER TO THE PEOPLE: In San Diego, Roger Showley reported a temporary committee, organized by one of the Chargers stadium task force members, is developing “'guiding principles' for redeveloping the 166-acre Qualcomm Stadium site." Citizens Stadium Advisory Group member Mary Lydon on Friday said that informal meetings "were held in the past two weeks with a probable final session" this week. About 20 people "attended the first meeting," including task force members Jesse Knight and Jim Steeg. Lydon said, "We're not going to recommend what it will look like, what should go where or the design" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 4/5).
ZIG ZAG: The Spokane SPOKESMAN-REVIEW reported the success of Gonzaga Univ.'s basketball teams has "prompted a family to give the school" $5M. Gonzaga said that the gift, intended to "support basketball performance and training, was made Friday by a family that asked to remain anonymous." The school added that it "plans to expand facilities for all student-athletes" (SPOKESMAN.com, 4/4).
