BUILDING BLOCKS: In Milwaukee, Kenneth Lamke reported that Miller Park officials state that the ballpark will open on time before the start of this season. Brewers President Wendy Selig-Prieb said, "There's no doubt we'll be ready to go [in April]" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 1/1)....Despite poor weather in TX, construction of the American Airlines Center in Dallas is 70% complete, and building officials say it is on schedule (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 1/3).
NOTES: In AZ, Shaun McKinnon wrote that the NFL Cardinals are "prepared to help develop" hotels and other amenities near their new stadium, "no matter where it's built." Site proposals must be submitted to the nine-member Tourism and Sports Authority this Friday (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 12/31).....The opening of Pac Bell Park was named the top Bay Area Sports Story of 2000 by the S.F. CHRONICLE (12/27). See (#28)....In FL, Piccoli & Talalay wrote that after being open for one year, Miami's AmericaAirlines Arena is "like a lot of South Florida's cultural markers," as it is "praised for its looks, but knocked for its personality." Piccoli & Talalay wrote that the "sleek, twin-finned structure and glass-and-steel skin" of the arena makes design critics "rave," but "patrons inside complain of an expensive, unwelcoming building" (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 12/31).