In Ottawa, Don Campbell writes the city council is "assured of having at least one serious bid to lease and renovate Ottawa Stadium when it convenes in September to consider the long-term future of the dilapidated facility." A source Thursday said that Mandalay Sports Properties has "prepared a bid for the stadium that would include" Blue Jays Owner Rogers Communications with partner Professional Sports Catering "assisting in a total re-configuration of the stadium." That would "allow for a Double-A Eastern League franchise to re-locate to Ottawa in time for Opening Day 2015." Rogers’ involvement would "include naming rights at the stadium and would be the first visible step toward the Blue Jays re-locating their affiliate from New Hampshire to Ottawa" (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 6/28).
BUCK SHOT: In Milwaukee, Don Walker reports BMO Harris Bradley Center is "expanding its footprint." Arena officials and the Milwaukee Development Corp. announced Thursday a partnership that will enable the arena to "purchase property owned by the Milwaukee Area Technical College." The arena per the agreement will "purchase the half-acre property with funds from a low-interest loan from the MDC." The purchase price is "approximately" $1M (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 6/28).
PREACHING TO THE CHOIR: In Atlanta, Leslie & Stafford note with negotiations between the city and Friendship Baptist Church "at a standstill, Mayor Kasim Reed is trying a new tack in efforts to secure land for the new Falcons stadium: leaving the historic church just where it is." Reed on Wednesday said that his administration has found a way to build the new $1B stadium "without forcing the 151-year-old church to move." However, that move would "leave Friendship Baptist in the shadows of the behemoth new stadium, proposed to be 1.8 million square feet, which would make it larger than the Georgia Dome" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 6/27).
