In San Jose, David DeBolt noted the A’s "have the blessing" of the Oakland City Council to study both the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum and Howard Terminal sites in their "quest to build a new ballpark in Oakland." The city council approved an “exclusive negotiating agreement” with the A’s, allowing the two to "begin talks about constructing a ballpark at the Coliseum, the team’s home for 50 years." The city will "negotiate with the A’s over the next nine months" while team President Dave Kaval studies whether the 112-acre East Oakland site is the "right fit." The city can "extend the negotiations an additional three months" (MERCURYNEWS.com, 5/16).
PUBLIC APPROVAL: In Boston, Sean Sweeney noted Foxborough residents "voted in favor of the Revolution’s plan to expand their Gillette Stadium training facilities." The design is "only conceptual," as the club still has to "go through the permitting process with the town." Construction on the facility is "expected to start this year." The team "currently holds a majority of its practice sessions on a fenced-in grass pitch nestled in a wooded area just to the south" of Gillette Stadium. The expanded complex "would add three full-sized fields -- two grass, one turf -- as well as new parking lots along Keith Road." A building "would also be constructed, which will consist of offices for all technical staff between the first team and the Academy, coaches offices, and locker rooms" (BOSTONSPORTSJOURNAL.com, 5/15).
TEXAS FOREVER: Univ. of Texas AD Chris Del Conte said that he has "hired an architectural firm to design an UT-themed hall of honor that will take up 30,000 square feet inside the north end zone of Royal-Memorial Stadium." Del Conte added that the project will cost just under $10M and "half the money has already been raised." Construction will begin after the '18 football season (HOOKEM.com, 5/15).
