Jaguars Owner Shahid Khan said that a "ground-breaking of the practice facility/amphitheater element of the EverBank Field project is imminent." Khan: "I think that will happen very soon. We’ve gotten the design done and the latest (designs) -- you’ll see they are very cool, iconic and be around for a long time. It’s out for bids. Once the business aspect is sorted out and the contractor is selected, over the next few days, we’ll be ready to go.” Asked if the indoor facility will be ready at any point during the '16 season, Khan said, “I’m not sure, quite frankly" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 3/23).
COST CONSCIOUS: In Houston, John McClain reported there is a "good chance the Texans will be playing on artificial surface at NRG Stadium for a second consecutive season and beyond." Early last season, problems with the tray system that allowed them to play on natural grass "caused the Texans to switch to their AstroTurf field." Unlike the tray system, there were "no issues with the AstroTurf Field." Team Owner Bob McNair said, "We're seriously looking at that. We're certainly considering it. We're still studying it and getting some pricing" (CHRON.com, 3/21).
THIS OLD HOUSE: Ravens Owner Steve Bisciotti said that the Under Armour Performance Center "will soon undergo" a $35M renovation. The team's training facility is 12 years old and Bisciotti said that "'it's time' for it to be upgraded." The renovation will "increase the size of the locker and training rooms, and also add another area for equipment like hyperbaric chambers and other injury-preventive measures" (Baltimore SUN, 3/23).
MIGHTY QUINN: In Michigan, Kyle Meinke reported Lions GM Bob Quinn is "upgrading the team's practice facility in Allen Park, including installing a new weight room, in an effort to make everything more player-friendly." Quinn: "We want the players to be comfortable. We want them to be there, to enjoy coming to work, to enjoy putting in extra work." Quinn insisted the current facility and state of affairs "have not been impediments to his first foray into free agency" with the club (MLIVE.com, 3/23).
