Mariners Chair & CEO John Stanton in a Q&A with the SEATTLE TIMES' Ryan Divish commented on the status of Safeco Field naming rights, saying, "Safeco is our naming rights sponsor for the 2018 season. We are in the process of having conversations with a bunch of folks." Stanton: "We are having a lot of conversations." Asked whether the team wants to have a deal in place by next season, Stanton said, "I don't know." He added, "It could be any time from sometime this offseason to right into next offseason." On the possibility of adding additional protective netting, Stanton said, "There will probably be some changes that we make to the building. ... We kind of want to see what other people are doing" (SEATTLE TIMES, 10/12).
ONE STEP CLOSER: In Nashville, Joey Garrison notes the Metro Sports Authority on Thursday "voted unanimously to approve" a $225M bond resolution for a new MLS stadium at the city's fairgrounds, "clearing one more step" before Mayor Megan Barry's proposal heads to the Metro Council next month. The sports authority "would own the facility if it is built." The body's approval is "not binding, but it does mark a necessary hurdle to move the proposal forward" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 10/13).
LOST IN TRANSLATION: In Seattle, Geoff Baker notes records supplied by the city’s transportation department show that at least "three requests for additional information were sent out last March and April to a group pitching a new sports arena in the Sodo district." The Sodo arena group, led by entrepreneur Chris Hansen, has said that it "never received any such request." On Thursday night, Hansen’s lawyer, Jack McCullough, said that he had been "led to believe the city didn’t require any additional information from him." The city "claims the lack of a response from Hansen’s group is why its arena plan has not yet been resubmitted to the city council for consideration" (SEATTLE TIMES, 10/13).
