The Saints yesterday said that the team's HOF Museum at Mercedes-Benz Superdome is "closing through late July to undergo renovations." In New Orleans, Evan Woodbery notes the changes, "leading up to the team's 50th anniversary season, include additional exhibit space, new exhibits and new glass doors at the entrance near Gate B on the Plaza Level." The museum opened in '88 in Kenner, La., "before moving to its current location" in '07 (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 5/4).
GREEN ACRES: In Salt Lake City, Christopher Kamrani notes Real Salt Lake is "clearing way for the second field installation in Rio Tinto Stadium's eight-year history." RSL Dir of Fields & Grounds Dan Farnes said that "replacing a bluegrass field every 8 to 10 years is standard." The process "was accelerated in recent years after the quality of the field hit a rough patch" in early '14. Farnes pitched RSL and MLS on the idea of loading up the team's early-season schedule "with more home games than usual to set up a five-game road trip that is bookended by the Copa America break giving them seven weeks to rip out, smooth out and install a brand new field." He said that the new sod "arrives from Colorado next Wednesday." The installation "shouldn't take longer than 48 hours" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 5/4).
KEEPING IT REAL? NYRA President & CEO Chris Kay said that the organization "is once again considering the installation of a synthetic surface" at Aqueduct in Queens. He added that NYRA "had discussed the possibility of installing an artificial racetrack at Aqueduct" for '17, but he "did not go into any other specifics about when it might happen or whether both dirt tracks at the facility would be replaced." DAILY RACING FORM's Matt Hegarty noted Aqueduct "typically starts its winter racing season in November and runs through mid-April, with most of the December-March dates being run on the inner track" (DRF.com, 5/3).
SAY MY NAME: In Chicago, Eric Peterson reported the home of NBA D-League Windy City Bulls will "continue to be named" Sears Centre Arena "through at least Aug. 31, 2019." Hoffman Estates village board members on Monday "unanimously approved" a $1.8M agreement "re-awarding the naming rights of the decade-old facility to Sears." Under the new agreement, the village "will resume discussions with Sears Holdings in 18 months about extending the naming rights further" (DAILYHERALD.com, 5/3).
