AEG Facilities and Arenabolaget in Solna AB, a company co-owned by listed real estate company Fabege and the Swedish FA, announced the two companies have entered into a long-term agreement whereby the L.A.-based sports, entertainment and venue organization will manage Friends Arena in Solna, Sweden. The region's largest multi-purpose arena with a capacity of 75,000, Friends Arena is home to the Swedish national fooball team and Swedish side AIK (AEG Facilities).
Wimbledon's No. 1 Court will "sport a different look at this year's championships as work continues to install a second retractable roof at the All England Club." After one year of a three-year project, which is on schedule to be completed in time for the '19 tournament, the second show court will "only" have a partially fixed roof this summer, meaning "many of the 11,500 spectators will be exposed to the elements" (LONDON TIMES, 5/4).
Welsh Premier Division rugby side Newport RFC shareholders have been informed of "additional provisions" ahead of a vote to decide the club's future on May 9. The Welsh Rugby Union wants to take over the club, Rodney Parade ground and Pro12 side Newport Gwent Dragons. The WRU and Dragons boards "approved the deal which must be passed by 75% of Newport RFC shareholders" (BBC, 5/3).
The Irish Greyhound Board said that "it did not make commercial sense to keep Harold's Cross Stadium open in Dublin, despite it making a profit" of €280,000 in '15. IGB Chair Phil Meaney said, "The decision to sell Harold's Cross is not solely predicated on its potential value to the IGB or its contribution to the resolution of the debt issue, but is also based on the fact that it is two miles from Shelbourne Park Stadium which is twice its size and operates for a limited period every week, as indeed does Harold's Cross. It doesn't make commercial sense" (IRISH TIMES, 5/4).
Tottenham Hotspur has "given fans a way of taking a walk through" its new stadium "from their phones or tablets." Spurs' new ground is under construction, but the new app "allows you to take a glimpse around what the finished ground will look like," using augmented reality to stand in the center circle and "get a feel for how big the new stadium will be" (FOOTBALL LONDON, 5/3).
