WLTX-CBS' Scott Cooke reported the Univ. of South Carolina and Colonial Life yesterday announced a 10-year, $6.5M naming-rights extension for Colonial Life Arena "through September 30, 2025." The venue became the "first facility at the university to be named after a sponsor" in October '03 (WLTX.com, 7/8). Meanwhile, South Carolina AD Ray Tanner yesterday at a press conference updated the school's "quest for a naming sponsor for Carolina Stadium." He said, “There’s some ongoing conversations, that hopefully -- I’d like to say in weeks to come, it could be months -- but we’re getting close to having a naming opportunity for Carolina Stadium." In Columbia, David Cloninger notes the ballpark, which opened in '09, "has never had a sponsor" (Columbia STATE, 7/9).
LAND-ING SPOT: Atlanta United FC Owner Arthur Blank, speaking at the unveiling of the team’s logo on Tuesday, said that the club "will soon be in position to purchase the land to build a training center for the team." Blank said they "have narrowed the search to no more than three sites." In Atlanta, Doug Roberson reports the club "hopes to have the training center’s main building complete by mid-December." Team President Darren Eales said that they "will be moving fast to make that happen." Eales "hopes to purchase enough land to house the team’s training site, as well as build the team’s youth academy" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 7/9).
SHAKE IT UP: In San Antonio, Brent Zwerneman notes the new south end zone stands of Kyle Field during Texas A&M's final home game last season on Thanksgiving night against LSU had "slight up-and-down movement." The "minor shifting occurred when the new stands were packed," and in response, the school this week "reinforced the south end zone stands with additional steel." School officials said that the seating area, which holds nearly 27,000, "has been safe from the start." Texas A&M is "near the end of a massive transformation of Kyle Field, with a final seating capacity of 102,512, up from 83,000" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 7/7).
SWERVING OFF THE TRACK: In Louisville, Jonathan Lintner reports Nitro Fidelity yesterday announced "it has axed an Aug. 28-30 music festival at Kentucky Speedway, citing a lack of ticket sales." Kings of Leon, Miranda Lambert and Green Day "were to headline the county and rock event." Kentucky Speedway GM Mark Simendinger said that track "would entertain offers to host another musical festival in the future." He said, "We have track rentals all the time" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 7/9).
