In Phoenix, Craig Harris in a front-page piece reports a plan that would provide $225M in public financing for a new $395M Coyotes arena "likely does not have the votes to pass the state Senate." Arizona state Sens. Debbie Lesko and John Kavanagh said that they "definitely were going to vote against the plan," while Minority Leader Katie Hobbs said that there is "little support among the chamber's 13 Democrats." The plan would allow the Coyotes to "build an arena in downtown Phoenix or the East Valley." Coyotes President & CEO Anthony LeBlanc said that the team will "continue seeking support at the Legislature" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/24).
RATE YOUR EXPERIENCE: ESPN.com's Joe McDonald noted the NHL and NHLPA playing environment subcommittee recently "initiated a joint project to better identify and resolve ice-condition issues throughout the league" to address a "growing concern among players about the ice conditions around the NHL." The process began on Feb. 1. Players and on-ice officials are "asked to fill out a one-page form after every game in order to quickly rate the ice." Players "rate the ice either excellent, good or fair." Numerous players "agree the ice is better in arenas with less traffic" (ESPN.com, 2/22).
FINAL TOUCHES: Braves President of Business Derek Schiller said that protective netting will "extend from behind home plate to the far end of both dugouts at SunTrust Park." In Atlanta, Tim Tucker writes at Turner Field, the barrier "extended only to the start of the dugouts." SunTrust Park's protective netting "won't be quite as high as Turner Field's." The screen will be 31 1/2 feet high at the new ballpark, compared to 35 feet high at the former venue. Schiller "attributed that difference to the geometry of SunTrust Park, which has almost 10,000 fewer seats, and where the cables that hold up the screen will be secured to stadium structures" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 2/24).
