In Las Vegas, Alan Snel notes the UNLV stadium BOD on Thursday “began talking about dome vs. no-dome, with the panel talking about a cost and revenue analysis of putting a fixed roof atop a potential on-campus venue.” Another issue that “surfaced was traffic and access to any campus stadium.” The BOD “plans to start building a vision for what it wants in a stadium during the next two months.” It will not be “until late January when a project manager will start guiding the panel on the feasibility process.” The BOD will “likely enlist” stadium consultant and Univ. of Michigan sports management professor Mark Rosentraub to “show the variety of new college stadiums” (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 11/22).
WHAT'S IN A NAME? In Ottawa, Tim Baines noted Frank Clair Stadium, future home of the CFL Ottawa Redblacks, will have a new name with a “brand name attached, likely at a pricetag" of more than C$1M per season. Ottawa Sports & Entertainment Group Sports President Jeff Hunt said, "It was well known when we were doing our business plan with the city that we were looking for a naming rights partner. We're out in the market now" (OTTAWA SUN, 11/20).
KEEP AN OPEN MIND: UConn AD Warde Manuel said that the school “has never intended to look beyond the largesse of its many private donors to finance projects like the basketball practice facility.” In Hartford, John Altavilla noted things “don’t get built on campuses, especially massive athletic infrastructure projects, without people” such as Manuel “shaking important hands.” However, it would not be a “bad idea to at least listen if big money -- really, really big money -- knocks on IMG’s door about having its name placed in neon on the building.” IMG negotiates broadcast, advertising and marketing contracts on behalf of the university (COURANT.com, 11/21).
