Oriole Park at Camden Yards became the first existing MLB ballpark to be "awarded a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification." Camden Yards joins Marlins Park as MLB’s "only LEED Gold-certified ballparks." It was "honored for demonstrating year-round sustainable activities and practices, including waste management, recycling, paperless tickets, and reduced energy usage and electrical consumption." As the Orioles "join other MLB teams in honoring Earth Day on Sunday," Camden Yards will be presented with its LEED certification in a "pregame ceremony with Maryland Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford" (BALTIMORE SUN, 4/17).
OFFSEASON UPGRADES: RIVALS.com's Steve Rosen noted the Univ. of Nebraska athletic department this year has "four major improvement projects" totaling about $18.1M. Most of that money -- $14M -- is "earmarked for the new gymnastics complex for the men’s and women’s teams." The three other projects "involve upgrades in and around Memorial Stadium: State-of-the-art LED lighting; new restroom and concessions additions on level three of the North Stadium; and new Field Turf on a practice field to replace the existing artificial turf at the Gass Football Practice Field facility" (NEBRASKA.RIVALS.com, 4/15).
SAME GAME, NEW NAME: In Montreal, Pat Hickey notes Uniprix Stadium, the venue of the Rogers Cup, will be "rechristened as IGA Stadium" under a partnership with the IGA grocery store chain. The switch in sponsorship for the stadium "came after Uniprix ended a 15-year association with Tennis Canada" (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 4/17).
