A DALLAS MORNING NEWS editorial states the MLB Rangers have “behaved beyond reproach” in the wake of a fan falling to his death at Rangers Ballpark on Thursday. There has been “no finger-pointing and no defensiveness about improving safety, though railing heights in the stadium exceed code.” The editorial: “It’s good to see the Rangers organization taking a deeper look today.” The club is “pulling together a working group involving city officials, contractors and architects to do a thorough analysis of steps that can be taken.” The club’s evaluation “should lay out pros and cons of what seem like obvious safety steps, such as raising railing heights in more areas or, perhaps, installing cable above existing railings” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/12). In Dallas, Tod Robberson wrote the rail at Rangers Ballpark “isn't high enough,” but a “half-inch cable running six inches above the rail would adequately address the safety problems that last week's accident illustrated” (DALLASNEWS.com, 7/11).
UP, UP AND AWAY: In Minneapolis, Kevin Duchschere notes the Metrodome roof is “set to re-emerge this week with a new look.” Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission officials yesterday said that they are “planning a ‘test inflation’ of the brand-new fiberglass roof being installed since late March.” The first public look at the new roof “will reveal a flatter profile than the puffy one that collapsed,” and it will “appear somewhat tan in color before the new fabric is bleached by the elements.” The project's target completion date is Aug. 1 (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 7/12).
SIGN HERE: In San Jose, Eli Segall reports officials at HP Pavilion arena “plan to replace 16 signs that hang in the concourse area with 16 hanging clusters of liquid crystal display screens.” The installation work is “slated to begin this summer and be completed by this fall, before” the start of the '11-12 NHL season. The new signs “could bring the Sharks more revenue and put more advertisers in front of thousands of hockey fans, concertgoers and other people who attend events at the arena.” It currently costs $40,000 per year to advertise on a pair of the existing signs. Sharks Exec VP/Business Operations Malcolm Bordelon said that with the new signs, advertisers “will be charged $50,000 per year for four minutes of digital display time at each hockey game” (SILICON VALLEY/SAN JOSE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/8 issue).
HERITAGE TRIUMPS: In London, Mark Ogden notes Manchester United Dir Bobby Charlton has “ruled out the prospect” of the EPL club “selling the naming rights to Old Trafford by insisting that the club’s heritage is ‘too important,’ despite Manchester City’s success in securing” a US$634M deal with Etihad Airways to rename their stadium. A naming-rights deal for Old Trafford “could hand” club Owners the Glazer family “a huge financial boost.” But Charlton said, “I can only say that it’s not our policy to change the name of Old Trafford. It’s too important” (London TELEGRAPH, 7/12).
