In Seattle, Geoff Baker notes a movement backed by an online petition to "have CenturyLink Field renamed" after late Seahawks Owner Paul Allen "will almost certainly go nowhere." CenturyLink last year signed a "lucrative deal extending its name on the stadium" through '33. CenturyLink will pay $162.7M over 15 years beginning next season -- "more than double its previous total package -- a significant portion of which will go toward maintenance at the venue." There is "no provision for CenturyLink modifying the name for reasons other than a corporate takeover of its company" (SEATTLE TIMES, 10/23).
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX: In Tampa, Charlie Frago noted proponents of a new Rays ballpark are "looking at a combination of ways to pay" the projected $892M cost for a venue in the team’s "preferred Ybor City location -- among them, a community development district, tourism tax revenues, naming rights, corporate sponsorships and a team contribution." One other option would be an "Opportunity Zone," which is the "creation of bipartisan congressional sponsors" as part of the '17 GOP tax cut plan. But the Opportunity Zone legislation is "so new" that the IRS "hasn’t issued final rules yet on how to use it, although further guidance was issued by the federal agency on Friday" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 10/20).
WARRIOR DASH? In S.F., Bruce Jenkins wrote with the Warriors playing their final season in Oakland before moving to S.F. and the Chase Center in '19, the club could move the G League Santa Cruz Warriors "to Oracle Arena next fall." But there is "no chance" of that actually happening, as such a move "wouldn’t begin to appease disgruntled East Bay fans, and the arena would be mostly empty." Plus, the Santa Cruz Warriors have a "very cool thing going, with lively crowds and an intimate atmosphere" at the 2,500-seat Kaiser Permanente Arena (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/21).
