In Minneapolis, Mike Kaszuba notes one day after a new Vikings stadium “received a boost from its presumed host city, the state Senate still lacked the votes to move the $975 million project out of its first committee.” The panel's Chair Ray Vandeveer yesterday said that "if this is the final form of the bill, I will not be supporting it." The views of the 14-member panel “are emblematic of the problems facing the stadium proposal at the Legislature, with different legislators opposing the project for different reasons and with Republican leaders remaining lukewarm to making the stadium a priority” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 3/28).
TYING THE KNOT: The MLB Rangers and longtime sponsor Budweiser yesterday announced that they have entered into a new multiyear agreement that includes naming rights to the new centerfield entertainment area at Rangers Ballpark. The Budweiser Bowtie at Vandergriff Plaza will incorporate nearly 12,000 square feet of new food and beverage areas. The area will have four full-service concession stands, seating clusters, picnic tables and an additional 11-by-20-foot HD video board (Rangers).
COMING ATTRACTIONS: AEG VP/Communications Michael Roth said yesterday that the draft environmental impact report for the proposed downtown L.A. football stadium “will be released April 5.” In L.A., Dakota Smith notes the report “is expected to reveal for the first time detailed plans and visuals for the 78,000-seat Farmers Field.” It will “outline parking options for stadium goers, traffic projections and expected noise levels for the $1.2 billion project.” The stadium will be designed by architecture firm Gensler (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 3/28).
CONFLICT OF INTEREST: In S.F., Matier & Ross report consulting payments to Oakland City Council member Ignacio De La Fuente by a group tied to former state-senator-turned-lobbyist Don Perata “are raising questions about a possible conflict of interest in the awarding of a $7 million contract to run the Oakland Coliseum complex.” The possible conflict is Perata “is also working as a lobbyist for SMG, one of three companies vying for the contract to manage the Coliseum for the next 10 years.” De La Fuente, in addition “to being one of the eight authority members who will vote on a contract, sits on the committee reviewing the bids” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/28).
