In Sacramento, Matt Barrows reports the 49ers have "nearly finished laying down a new playing surface at Levi’s Stadium" after experiencing turf issues earlier in camp. The grass "will be used" for Sunday’s preseason game against the Cowboys, then likely will be "pulled up and replaced after country singer Luke Bryan plays there Aug. 29" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 8/20).
HITTING THE MARK: In Philadelphia, John George reported the Eagles and Aramark, the team’s food and beverage provider, have "reached a deal to extend their partnership at Lincoln Financial Field for another seven years." Aramark, which has been an Eagles partner since '05, will "continue to oversee and manage the concessions, club levels, suits and restaurant dining areas at the South Philadelphia football stadium" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/19).
STAR POWER: In Dallas, Valerie Wigglesworth reports the "final price has been set for the indoor stadium and fields that will serve" as the Cowboys’ new training grounds. The Frisco City Council on Tuesday night voted to "approve a guaranteed maximum price" of $252.5M for the publicly owned facility. That covers the "construction of the multiuse event center, two outdoor practice fields and a parking garage at The Star in Frisco." The mixed-use development is a "joint venture of the city, Frisco ISD and the Cowboys." The city and the school district contributed $90M, while the Cowboys "have provided" the remaining $162.48M (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/20).
WE BUILT THIS CITI: In N.Y., Charles Bagli reports plans to transform Willets Point, a "crumbling collection of auto repair shops on 62 acres next to Citi Field in Queens, into a bustling neighborhood with a hotel, office space, housing and a large mall," have "suffered another setback." Negotiations "broke down between the city and the developers that had been selected" by the administration of former N.Y. Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The developers "recently proposed" allowing NYC FC to "build a soccer stadium next to Citi Field in return for a housing fund" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/20).
