In Atlanta, Meris Lutz in a front-page piece notes Sandy Springs, Ga., officials are "closing ranks with their Cobb counterparts just days after condemning a controversial plan" to route traffic to the new Braves ballpark through their district. Cobb Interim Transportation Dir Jim Wilgus on Tuesday said "it wasn't taken well." But by Thursday, he said that the mood "appeared to have shifted." Wilgus said that "directing traffic through Sandy Springs onto Interstate North Parkway would help manage the inevitable flow of vehicles through the area." Braves Exec VP/Business Operations Mike Plant said that the team "understands that there are traffic concerns associated with the stadium and is working with local governmental partners to address them" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 6/24).
MAKING IT COMPLEX: In Georgia, Michael Niziolek wrote under the header, "Dedicated Football Facility Still Has Place In Auburn's Strategic Plan." The idea of a "football-only complex isn't a new one." The Auburn Univ. BOT was "presented with a preliminary budget" of $30M for such a facility back in May '15. The tentative timeline "for the proposal was" for '18. Auburn AD Jay Jacobs said, "In this business you have to be able to see around the curve as competitive it can possibly be. ... You can’t ever get complacent with your facilities or you will wake up one day and be behind in this league" (Columbus LEDGER-ENQUIRER, 6/22).
MAKING A DEAL: In New Jersey, Josh Newman noted in the aftermath" of Monmouth Univ. selling the naming rights to the Multipurpose Activity Center to New Jersey-based OceanFirst Bank, 20 years "might sound like a lot" and $4M "might sound like a little." The school's naming-rights deal "is either on par with or of slightly lesser value than deals at schools with arenas of comparable size in this part of the country, but the university may have flexibility to improve its deal down the line." Monmouth VP/External Affairs Jason Kroll said the school would be able to "take advantage of added-value opportunities should a seismic shift in the college sponsorship landscape occur" (ASBURY PARK PRESS, 6/23).
