MLB: In Miami, Mike Phillips, noting the death of the
Marlins' plan for a cruise-ship tax to help fund a new $400M
ballpark: "We are watching the death of big-league baseball
in South Florida. There's no other way to put it. It is
hard to watch, and even harder to admit (at least for
baseball fans) that baseball has come to this." Phillips
added, "There is no support anywhere for the Marlins. No
one has stepped up to the plate for them to try to build
this team a baseball park" (MIAMI HERALD, 4/9). In Denver,
Tracy Ringolsby wrote that Marlins Owner John Henry "is no
longer trying to be a spin doctor. Among other things, he
has ordered the tarps that covered empty seats in the upper
deck ... removed." Henry: "Why should we hide the fact that
we're playing in a football stadium and no one is coming out
to sit in the rain?" (ROCKY MTN NEWS, 4/9)....In Seattle,
Ron Judd writes that Safeco Field concessionaire Volume
Services America "felt the wrath" of Mariners fans and
management "after an opening week of three-inning concession
stand waits and other unimaginable food faux pas, including
hot-dog shortages and a coffee drought" (S. TIMES, 4/10).
NFL: The Oakland Alameda Coliseum Authority on Thursday
"approved a massive increase" in advertising at the stadium
"that could provide" $3M per year in revenue. The authority
"agreed to the placement" of two monument billboards along
the freeway, entry gate signs at The Arena, and kiosks
"scattered throughout" parking lots. The authority will
receive 36% of the ad revenue (CONTRA COSTA TIMES, 4/9).
...In Cincinnati, Dan Klepal reported that a lawsuit filed
Friday by attorney Ken Lawson "on behalf of a group" called
the Concerned Citizens For Economic Justice, "challenges
Hamilton County's right to guarantee a minimum number of
ticket sales" to the Bengals and "several other provisions"
in the team's lease at Paul Brown Stadium. The lawsuit
states the county has "been given no power or authority by
the state legislature to pay the Bengals for the unsold
tickets" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 4/8)....In Denver, Cindy
Brovsky writes that the Broncos' new stadium "will be the
first" in the NFL to have a seat logo "recognizing that
taxpayers built the facility." A four-inch, cast-metal
logo, which will be placed at the end of each row, will
feature the CO flag and mountains (DENVER POST, 4/10).
