In Nashville, Adam Sparks notes Vanderbilt is "asking its fans via a survey if they would attend football games at a 'hypothetical stadium' shared" with an MLS club. Nashville is among 12 cities being considered for four MLS expansion franchises, and Mayor Megan Barry has "proposed a 'private-public partnership' for a new soccer stadium at The Fairgrounds Nashville." The school is "polling undergraduates, season-ticket holders, single-game ticket buyers and other selected participants in a survey to 'determine interest in holding some future athletics events in a new (MLS) stadium,' including football games." The survey was "launched Tuesday and will close May 5." It was emailed "directly to selected participants" (Nashville TENNESSEEAN, 4/27).
OUT OF THE SUN: FC Dallas Owner Clark Hunt, asked if he would ever consider putting a roof or enclosure on Toyota Stadium, said, "I don't think it's feasible at this point for the stadium to be a domed stadium." But he did say the franchise is "adding a very substantial roof structure that will cover most of the south end," and that "will help drop the ambient temperature in the seats by about 10-plus degrees by keeping the sun off the seats during the day." Hunt: "It is hot in North Texas, and it was something we were attuned to as we went through the design process for the renovations" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 4/26).
VOTER TURNOUT: In Cleveland, Robert Higgs notes a "coalition of social advocacy groups and labor organizations announced they will seek to repeal" the deal to "pair public tax dollars with private money to renovate Quicken Loans Arena." The coalition will "try to collect about 6,000 signatures of Cleveland voters within 30 days" to force a voter referendum. Opponents "argue The Q deal is flawed because the public doesn't get enough back for its investment" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 4/27).
