In Sacramento, Lillis & Kasler reported two groups fighting the proposed $258M public subsidy for a new NBA Kings arena yesterday "sued the city" to "overturn the city clerk’s decision to disqualify their proposed June ballot measure." The groups, "insisting voters should get their say," argued that their signed petitions "achieved 'substantial compliance' with election laws." City Clerk Shirley Concolino "disqualified the ballot measure last week on grounds that the petitions signed by 22,938 city voters contained substantial administrative and technical flaws," and city officials have "expressed confidence that Concolino’s decision would be upheld if challenged in court" (SACBEE.com, 1/29).
GRASS IS GREENER: Blue Jays President & CEO Paul Beeston yesterday "reaffirmed the team's desire to install a real grass playing surface at Rogers Centre" before the '18 season. YAHOO SPORTS' Mark Townsend noted if the change occurs, it "will be the fourth different playing surface at the former SkyDome since it opened" in '89. The Blue Jays "started with Astroturf, which was standard for domes and retractable-roof stadiums at the time," and eventually "switched to FieldTurf as that gained popularity in MLB and the NFL before moving to the Grass3D in recent years" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/29).
THUNDERSTRUCK: The ORLANDO SENTINEL noted the scoreboard at the 78-year-old Citrus Bowl "came down" yesterday "followed by fireworks as AC/DC's 'Thunderstruck' boomed over the loud speakers." The demolition ceremony "full of pomp marked the beginning of the demolition of a facility often begrudged for showing its age and holding Orlando back." Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said that the rebuilt stadium "will launch in earnest the city's 'quest to host the college football national championship'" (ORLANDOSENTINEL.com, 1/29).
SPEEDY SALES: YAHOO SPORTS' Nick Bromberg reported the Univ. of Tennessee "has sold out of its 40,000 ticket allotment for the Battle at Bristol." The football game against Virginia Tech at Bristol Motor Speedway is "more than 2 1/2 years away." Deposits "have been put down on 35,000 of the seats and the other 5,000 have been reserved for students." UT said that it "was working with the track to secure more seats" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/29).
