In K.C., Eric Adler notes a poll asking if residents want a new downtown ballpark for the Royals received a "resounding response" of no. The poll showed that 49.7% of "more than 2,200 votes cast" were not in favor of a new downtown ballpark. The poll "followed the news last week that City Hall was looking into four downtown sites that could be home to the Royals." About 38% of responses were "for the idea, with the rest undecided" (K.C. STAR, 10/10).
GARDEN OF SERENITY: In Boston, Fluto Shinzawa noted TD Garden this season will "experience enhancements that have become standard operating procedure for organizations to implement: a 3,000-square-foot LED screen on the building’s north side, more payment options to speed up transactions, a Garden app that allows for mobile ticketing, and more concessions choices." By '19, Delaware North "expects a new scoreboard and sound system inside the rink." The "entire south wall will be glass." Concourses will "expand on Floors 7 and 8." Officials are "considering standing room on the eighth floor" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/8).
WARM WATERS: In San Jose, Curtis Pashelka noted the Sharks spent roughly $5M this summer to "install a new de-humidification system inside SAP Center to help improve the often soft ice conditions inside the nearly 25-year old arena." The ice inside SAP Center has "never been terrific, given the amount of events that take place there and the usually mild temperatures in San Jose" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 10/8).
LONG & WINDING RHODE: In Providence, Kate Bramson noted Pawtucket officials have "mapped out a 60- to 70-acre swath, covering downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, where they would dedicate new property tax revenue to cover the city’s investment" in a new ballpark for the Triple-A Int'l League Pawtucket Red Sox. The tax district would "include City Hall, the historic Slater Mill, and scores of commercial and residential properties." Pawtucket Commerce Dir Jeanne Boyle said that it is "too soon to say precisely which properties would be included because the state must first authorize the city, the state and the PawSox to enter into a financing plan" (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 10/7).
