In Miami, Barry Jackson cited several Univ. of Miami officials as saying that they believe Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross "will be receptive to negotiating terms to allow UM out of its Sun Life lease" if the joint stadium project involving the school and a potential MLS expansion club "materializes as UM and MLS hope." Ross makes more than $4M annually in revenue "from having the Hurricanes as a tenant; UM doesn’t pay rent but the sides split some revenue." UM has "17 years left on the lease." So Ross "would lose in the neighborhood" of $60M over 14 years if UM leaves. But for buyout purposes, that number "could be reduced somewhat factoring in discounted cash flow or if UM occasionally plays big games at Sun Life" (MIAMIHERALD.com, 6/7).
HALFWAY THERE: Vikings Exec VP/Public Affairs & Stadium Development Lester Bagley said that the team's stadium project is "moving along exactly as planned." In Minneapolis, Sid Hartman reported the construction is 53% complete with $430M worth "of the work installed." The final concrete "will top out during the middle of this month, and steel work will be completed in September." The clear roof panels "will be installed this month." The Vikings "made a lot of promises when they sought financial support from the state for their new stadium, and so far they have fulfilled every one" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/7).
MAVERICK OF INNOVATION: In Indianapolis, Zach Osterman reported Mavericks Owner and Indiana Univ. alum Mark Cuban is giving the school $5M to “build a state-of-the-art sports media technology center inside the renovated Assembly Hall.” The gift “will help Indiana establish the Mark Cuban Center for Sports Media and Technology, which will house virtual reality equipment and two all-graphic studios.” It “will also allow the university to install 3-D multi-cameras at Memorial Stadium and Assembly Hall, making IU the first university in the country to have such technology” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 6/6).
CHANGING COURSE: GOLF WORLD MONDAY’s Geoff Shackelford reports beginning at this year’s U.S. Open at Chambers Bay, images of the leader on the 18th green with a manual scoreboard behind them “will be no longer, with the USGA announcing its on-course scoreboards will be all digital.” Fans on the final hole “will now see a video screen … replicating the old board’s look while interspersed with other content.” The other three majors “will still use manually operated scoreboards at least on the final hole” (GOLF WORLD MONDAY, 6/8).
