In St. Paul, Charley Walters cites a source as saying that a "decent bet" is that a Vikings stadium bill "finally will get passed in the Legislature this session, but probably not until near the last day of the session in May, and not without some major political deal making" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 3/6). State Rep. Morrie Lanning said yesterday that a bill to build a Vikings stadium in downtown Minneapolis "probably won't be introduced at the State Capitol until early next week." He added that it will "need to be reviewed by the Vikings, the state and Minneapolis officials before it can be released." Lanning said that another issue yet to be sorted out is "whether a related plan to renovate and pay debt on Minneapolis' city-owned Target Center will go into a separate bill or be folded into the stadium legislation" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 3/6).
ON THE UP: In Nashville, Andy Humbles notes work "has started on the approximate" $26.8M worth of upgrades to LP Field so it "stays on a par with newer and renovated stadiums." A building permit was issued last Wednesday for two "new elevator banks on the east and west sides with six elevators each, a new control room and sound system upgrades." HD video boards at both end zones, HD LED ribbon boards and a fan hospitality area are also part of the upgrades (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 3/6).
SOLAR POWER: In Phoenix, Emily Gersema notes Phoenix and Arizona Public Service officials, Suns execs and G Steve Nash yesterday "switched on" 966 solar panels on the roof of the US Airways Center parking garage. They have named it the APS Suns Powered Solar Structure. The arena is the "latest city-owned building to house a tiny solar-power-generating station." The "solar-topped garage roof can provide" 25% of the power the arena "needs to power its Casino Arizona Pavilion" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/6).
RUSH HOUR: In Miami, Adam Beasley notes the Marlins front office has already "gotten a feel for one of the stadium's top concerns: traffic and parking." Getting to weeknight games during rush hour "could prove cumbersome." For yesterday's high school baseball game, the first contest at the venue, it was a "breeze into the parking garage, although with just a fraction of the vehicle volume that will come next month" (MIAMI HERALD, 3/6).
