In Edmonton, Robert Tychkowski notes the CFL Eskimos have signed a five-year naming rights deal with Edmonton-based furniture retailer The Brick, which will "see their home become known as 'The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium.'" Since the City of Edmonton "owns the stadium, the arrangement doesn't apply during non-Eskimos events, like concerts or soccer games (it will still be Commonwealth Stadium during those)." Eskimos President & CEO Len Rhodes "wanted to keep terms of the deal private" (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 6/16).
LIGHT IT UP: In Lansing, Chris Solari notes Michigan State's BOT yesterday "unanimously approved permanent lights" for Spartan Stadium. MSU Deputy AD/Facilities & Sports Management Greg Ianni said that the project will cost between $2.2-2.5M. The goal "is to get final approval" from the BOT at its September meeting, "break ground in December and have the LED lighting system ready" for MSU's '17 season. MSU President Lou Anna Simon said that additional revenue from Big Ten TV contracts "is expected to cover the the lighting project's costs." MSU is "one of three schools in the Big Ten without permanent lights" (LANSING STATE JOURNAL, 6/16).
PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE: In Indianapolis, Zach Osterman notes Indiana's BOT will be asked tomorrow to approve a $53M plan to "enclose the south end of Memorial Stadium, IU's football facility." The proposed expansion, which is "not expected to significantly impact stadium capacity, has been public knowledge" since October '14 when IU football coach Kevin Wilson "mentioned it during his weekly radio show." IU AD Fred Glass "formally announced it at a ceremony in March." IU "expects to pay for the project via donations and athletics department revenues" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 6/16).
