In Chicago, Genevieve Bookwalter noted Northwestern is in the "early stages of asking Evanston officials for permission to host professional sporting events on campus, a move that's drawing strong opposition from some neighbors." Evanston Planning & Zoning Manager Scott Mangum said that early permit applications "sought permission to host events that could fill Ryan Field's 40,000 seats and Welsh-Ryan Arena's 10,000 seats." More recently, "modified proposals only include a rezoning request for Welsh-Ryan Arena -- not Ryan Field -- and might cap the attendance at 7,000, meaning not all seats would be filled." Mangum said that city officials have "asked for a list of events" that the school is "interested in hosting as they consider the proposed change" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 5/31).
TOUGH COMPETITION: In Dallas, Kevin Sherrington wrote AT&T Stadium will not host another Super Bowl "as soon" as Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones "would like." The NFL is "booked up" through '24, and Las Vegas is expected to host in either '25 or '26. If AT&T Stadium "doesn't get one of those two, it'll mean it's been 15 years since the debacle" of '11. That year's blizzard, along with "seating screw-ups, left a bad taste in everyone's mouths." Lawsuits "weren't settled" until '17, which "had to happen before the NFL would even consider" AT&T Stadium again. Since then, "other new stadiums have come online" (DALLASNEWS.com, 5/31).
LOOKING BOTH WAYS: In Ft. Lauderdale, Safid Deen noted Hard Rock Stadium's "pedestrian safety improvements bridge/tunnel project has already elevated one of two new bridges, with construction also underway for two underground tunnels to keep fans from walking directly on Don Shula Drive and Dan Marino Boulevard when entering or leaving the stadium." The entire pedestrian project -- which cost at least $15M and was funded by the state -- "will be completed" by Sept. 30 (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 6/1).
