SOCCER AMERICA's Paul Kennedy reports the San Diego clerk's office certified that FS Investors, the group seeking to build a soccer stadium for an MLS team, had "enough signatures to take its development initiative to the city council." FS Investors "wants the measure to go to voters for a special November ballot, the latest possible date for San Diego to fit into MLS' timetable for approving the next two expansion teams" (SOCCERAMERICA.com, 5/24).
ON THE BACKBURNER: In Providence, Bramson, Gregg & Anderson in a front-page piece note as a "political tussle" over the Triple-A Int'l League Pawtucket Red Sox ballpark proposal continues, Rhode Island Senate President Dominick Ruggerio yesterday intervened to "block any deal this spring." Ruggerio said that the Senate had "received no legislation from the governor's office or the Pawtucket mayor's office." He added it was simply too late for a "thorough, public review of a proposal of this magnitude" (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 5/24).
THE CIRCLE: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Jared Diamond noted expert opinion is that the round shape of the Cubs' new Wrigley Field clubhouse "reflects the latest research into mainstream workplace design." S.F.-based design firm Studio O+A co-Founder Primo Orpilla likened the clubhouse to the "increasingly popular open-plan design." Orpilla said it is "definitely more democratic." Cubs GM Jed Hoyer said, "The common thought is to have as big a locker room as you possibly can. Our thought was to go a little smaller on that and more on player intimacy" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/23).
