In Knoxville, Adam Tamburin reported a bill that could allow alcohol sales at Univ. of Tennessee venues for concerts "got overwhelming approval from the state Senate and could be headed to Gov. Bill Lee's desk in days." The House is "scheduled to consider the bill" tomorrow. State Sen. Becky Massey has said that her bill "would not explicitly allow alcohol sales" at football games at Neyland Stadium. The SEC currently prohibits the sale of alcohol in general admission areas (Knoxville NEWS SENTINEL, 3/19).
ADDING SPACE? The Raiders are "still very much interested in gaining control of the Bali Hai Golf Course site for stadium parking and potential other uses." The golf course "sits on federal land and is at the center of a messy legal entanglement between Clark County and the federal government." Its 155 acres are a 15-minute walk to the team's new stadium that is currently under construction, and "could provide space for the Raiders to even have buildings that could generate income depending on their uses" (LVSPORTSBIZ.com, 3/18).
READY FOR CHANGE: In Hartford, Mike Anthony writes it is "time for real, lasting renovation" of the XL Center, or "an implosion." There is "no more in-between." Anthony: "Make the XL Center a premier New England sports and entertainment destination. Make it the type of building UConn will be proud to play in for years to come. Or just wipe it off the city map and plant some trees" (HARTFORD COURANT, 3/20).
