In Phoenix, Kent Somers notes construction is under way at the NFL Cardinals’ Tempe HQs on a 78,000-square feet indoor practice facility, and "completion is targeted for late this summer.” The Cardinals are paying the entire $4.2M "cost of building the facility.” The team is “not returning to Flagstaff, where it’s held summer training camp every year but one since coming to Arizona" in '88. They have yet to settle on a site for this summer, but Glendale is "believed to be the leading option” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 5/8).
PARKS & REC: The USTA yesterday said that it has "reached an agreement with New York City over a contentious plan to acquire a strip of parkland in Queens as part of an overhaul of facilities" for the U.S. Open. In N.Y., Michael Schwirtz notes the USTA as part of the deal “agreed to give the city 1.56 acres of parkland that it already controlled in exchange for the 0.68-acre plot, which consists mostly of a paved pathway.” The plot will be “incorporated into renovation plans for the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center” (N.Y. TIMES, 5/8).
HOOP GAME: In Hartford, Paul Doyle notes the XL Center is “under consideration” to host both the men's and women's American Athletic Conference basketball tournaments. Reps for incoming building manager Global Spectrum “have been in discussions with conference officials, and the company is responding to a request for proposal.” The conference is “considering several sites, including the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville.” Mohegan Sun officials are “bidding for both tournaments, and the building is considered a strong candidate for the women's tournament" (HARTFORD COURANT, 5/8).
IN THE LOOP: Cicso announced that it is installing its Connected Stadium Wi-Fi at EPL club Manchester City’s 47,000-seat Etihad Stadium in the coming weeks. The network will be delivered by mobile company O2. The EPL club also will soon add Cisco's StadiumVision Mobile (Cisco).
