In Sacramento, Matt Barrows reports the 49ers prior to the '15 season "will install units in the east-side corridors that dispense cool air" at Levi's Stadium. There also "will be misters in the nearby plazas." Another option that could be considered is "distributing hand fans that double as misters to patrons on that side of the stadium." One issue that popped up during the stadium's inaugural season last fall was fans "sweltering on the east side.” 49ers COO Al Guido said that the team “consulted with other hot-weather teams ... to see how they keep fans cool" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 3/25).
SUPPORT SYSTEM: Jaguars President Mark Lamping said that the club hopes "to get financing from the state to make the club-seat project a go" at EverBank Field. In Jacksonville, Ryan O'Halloran noted Jaguars Owner Shahid Khan "has offered to pay for the project up front and then get some of the price back from the state." Khan: "What we want to do is the right and responsible thing. This is a public stadium. Politicians and politics work in mysterious ways. We’re optimistic. What this is, is a rebate of a sales tax being used to improve the facilities that’s going to create more sales taxes for the long term" (JACKSONVILLE.com, 3/24).
ROOM FOR EVERYONE: In West Palm Beach, Joe Capozzi in a front-page piece reports once a new Spring Training venue opens in '17 or '18, Palm Beach County "will focus on persuading" the Cardinals and Marlins to "extend their leases at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter," which are set to expire in '27. Both teams have said that they "want to be part of the long-term future." But "before they agree to extensions" through '45, which is the same year leases for the Nationals and Astros "would expire at the new West Palm Beach stadium, they want upgrades at Roger Dean Stadium" (PALM BEACH POST, 3/25).
ART GETS CRAFTED: Edmonton Arts Council Exec Dir Paul Moulton said that the decision to select aboriginal artist Alex Janvier to create a mosaic installation for the new downtown arena "was easy." In Edmonton, Claire Theobald noted a "1,600-square foot circular tile and glass mosaic titled Tsa tsa ke k'e (Iron Foot Place) ... will span nearly 14 metres across" in the new Rogers Place. With "abstract flowing lines and bright colours evoking the natural elements of the greater Edmonton area, Iron Foot Place is in line with his signature style described as a blend of abstract images with bright [and] symbolic colours" (EDMONTON SUN, 3/24).
