In Buffalo, James Fink reports Bills Owners Terry and Kim Pegula have "confirmed that all five of New Era Field’s sideline club suites will be renovated this offseason." The $18M project is "set to begin just after the Bills’ regular season ends on Jan. 1 and should be ready" by the start of the '18 season. Buffalo-based Arc Building Partners has been "selected as the project’s construction manager" and the Pegulas will be "privately financing the project." Fink notes one of the "primary goals of the project" is to improve fans' access and comfort "within the suites including upgrades to seating areas and concession stand operations" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 12/18).
PADDOCK PARTY: ESPN.com's Nate Saunders noted concept images of the new paddock complex at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which hosts the F1 Canadian Grand Prix, "have been released for the first time." The Canadian GP "renewed its deal" in '15 until '29 "along with an announcement that the province of Quebec would invest heavily to improve the facilities." The project will have a budget of $37M, and a new building will be "made up of three floors" including F1 team garages, a control tower, offices, loges, a terrace and podium and media areas. It is "hoped the new facility will be in place" in time for the '19 race (ESPN.com, 12/15).
HITTING THE RHODE? In Boston, Nick Cafardo wrote Triple-A Int'l League Pawtucket Red Sox Chair Larry Lucchino "won’t wait forever" for a ballpark deal to "come to fruition in Pawtucket." As the demands "grow on the Lucchino group, the more likely it is that Worcester could sneak in and steal the team" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/17).
