In Miami, Manny Navarro notes six years after the Orange Bowl was "demolished and replaced" by Marlins Park, college football "is coming back to the same site in Little Havana" in '14 with the inaugural Miami Beach Bowl. Marlins Park Exec VP/Operations & Events Claude Delorme said that there "are only a couple sections in the park where views for football are obstructed." Navarro notes that includes the "home run porch and parts of the first-base line." Delorme added that part of the infield dirt "will be removed and sod will be directly installed over what is left." Delorme said that there is "a strong possibility the stadium could host high school football games after the baseball season and before the bowl game" (MIAMI HERALD, 10/25).
LAND GRAB: In Minneapolis, Moore & Meryhew report the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority has agreed to pay $17.1M for "a key piece of land near" the proposed $975M Vikings stadium. MSFA officials said that proximity "to mass transit and parking is key to the stadium's success, and Thursday's agreement eliminates a final hurdle in the land-acquisition process before construction begins next month." The agreement on the plaza comes just days before contractor Mortenson Construction is "expected to deliver a guaranteed maximum price for building the stadium" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/25).
THIS IS SPARTA: In Michigan, Matthew Miller notes new "concrete walls are going up on the north end of Spartan Stadium, many still braced inside wood and metal forms, the skeleton of a 50,000-square-foot two-story addition." Workers will "begin installing the structural steel after" Michigan-Michigan State on Nov. 2. After that it "will be the limestone exterior, the roof, the metal panels." The $24.5M project "broke ground in July" and the goal is to "wrap it up by July of next year." The project is "a few days ahead of schedule" (LANSING STATE JOURNAL, 10/25).
SPEED TRAP: Rockingham Speedway Owner Andy Hillenburg confirmed that the track, which "began hosting NASCAR races again two years ago after an eight-year absence, will not host a Truck Series race in 2014." Hillenburg said, "We’ve got a number of issues that have to be resolved before we can host races again. These issues have been mounting over the last two to three years" (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.com, 10/24).
