In San Diego, Tom Krasovic notes the "hits keep coming" for the Chargers' stadium initiative, as newly elected San Diego County Supervisor Kristen Gaspar is "less willing to play ball on a stadium subsidy" than fellow board member Ron Roberts, a longtime supporter of the Chargers and Padres. In '15, Roberts pledged $150M from the county "toward a new Chargers stadium in Mission Valley." But Gaspar earlier this year "stated a zero-sum view of local public financing." She implied that public dollars spent on a Chargers stadium "would be dollars that otherwise would be spent elsewhere in the county sphere" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 11/29).
QUICK CLEAN UP: Toronto FC Groundskeeper Robert Heggie said that Sunday's Grey Cup "should not leave any kind of hangover for Toronto FC when it comes to the BMO Field playing surface" for tomorrow's Eastern Conference final game. Heggie yesterday said, "If they were to walk in here and look at the field, they wouldn't suspect a football game was in here (Sunday) night." The CP's Neil Davidson noted football lines have "already been removed from BMO Field," and the goalposts are "also gone" (CP, 11/28).
GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER: In Boston, Nora Princiotti noted some NFL teams that had played on turf have "actually switched back to grass fields." Patriots coach Bill Belichick said that he has been "impressed with many of the grass fields in northern areas of the country over the last two to three years." Belichick: "The technology’s changed in the last 10 years relative to grass growing. ... We’ve played on some great grass fields. Cleveland’s field was great, outstanding. Green Bay a couple of years ago was good. Pittsburgh was good this year." Patriots QB Tom Brady, who is also pro-grass, said "most players prefer grass." Brady: "If you could play on a good grass surface, that’s always, I think a little more fun for the players" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/27).
