In Minneapolis, Kaszuba & Rao report Minn. Gov. Mark Dayton met privately with City Council members Kevin Reich and Sandra Colvin Roy "in an attempt to sway them and build a pro-stadium majority on the 13-person council, which has been split" over the Vikings stadium project. Though the stadium plan "faces other significant political hurdles," State Sen. Julie Rosen said that the City Council "now holds a key to the project's overall chances" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 3/20).
ROLLING DOWN THE HILL? Military Bowl officials said that they "might be interested in moving the 4-year-old bowl game from its current home in Washington, D.C., to M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore." In Baltimore, Jack Lambert notes the Military Bowl is "currently played at RFK Stadium." Military Bowl Committee President Steve Beck said that relocating the game to Baltimore "would depend on whether the Baltimore Ravens would want it played in their 72,000-seat stadium." Beck said that the Ravens "have not expressed interest to the bowl committee" (BALTIMORE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/16 issue).
SEATS FOR SALE: IMG College's seating division has struck a deal with the Univ. of Arizona to begin leasing seats to Wildcats fans at Arizona Stadium this fall. The service rents seat-back chairs for the season or individual games. IMG College's seating business now has 129 school partners, including Alabama, Florida State, Notre Dame and Ohio State (IMG College).
ORDER ON THE COURT: In N.Y., Mike Tanier wrote under the header, "Delicate Balance In Game Of Names: Rebranded Courts Yield Donations, And Resentment." Tanier noted the last few years have seen an increase in basketball court dedications "at the major college level, many of which have been controversial." Naming the floor after one coach sometimes undercuts the legacy of another, and as is often the case in college athletics, honor usually comes with a price tag." Many smaller programs are "upfront about connecting naming rights to fund-raising" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/18).
