In St. Louis, Jacob Kirn noted the Rams leaving for L.A. "didn’t stop the lawyers, architects and consultants" for the proposed Mississippi riverfront stadium "from continuing to bill taxpayers" more than $1.1M. Records obtained through Missouri’s Sunshine Law show that as late as this month, the professionals who worked on the stadium effort "continued to collect money from the St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority." St. Louis-based architecture firm HOK "led with the most billed since January, at over $668,000" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/30).
FIRST OF ITS KIND: In Iowa, Zach Berg noted former NFLer Dallas Clark on Saturday was in town for The Back Porch Revival, a concert at Iowa's Kinnick Stadium that he "had to help put on." Organizers "estimated 50,000 fans were at the stadium in the early afternoon" for the "first time ever a concert had been held at the 87-year-old stadium." The exact number of tickets sold and money raised by the event were "not available" (IOWA CITY PRESS-CITIZEN, 8/30).
LEMME GET AN UPGRADE: In Virginia, Norm Wood noted Virginia Tech's Board of Visitors on Monday approved a $36M athletic facilities upgrade, and VT this fall will "reconstruct its baseball facility, English Field at Union Park, build a new hitting facility for the softball team and add on to Rector Field House." Costs for the construction "will be paid for by fundraising and debt service" (Hampton Roads DAILY PRESS, 8/30).
TERMS OF NEGOTIATION: In Las Vegas, Betsy Helfand noted talks about a new ballpark for the Triple-A PCL Las Vegas 51s have "stagnated." Both Clark County and The Howard Hughes Corp., which "owns half of the 51s, would like to see" a new ballpark. But County Commission Chair Steve Sisolak said that the sides "haven’t talked in months." Under a $65M proposal for the ballpark, Hughes Corp. would "donate land in Downtown Summerlin." But Sisolak said that Hughes Corp. had "raised the price tag" $20M (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 8/30).
