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Marlins Say Ballpark Construction Is About A
Quarter Done, On Track For April '12 Opening |
In Miami, Andres Viglucci noted the Marlins' new $634M ballpark is "rapidly taking shape in East Little Havana, where its tall roof-support columns already loom like alien monoliths over the modest apartment houses around it." Team officials and contractors Tuesday said that after seven months of construction, work is "about a quarter done and 'on track' for the scheduled April 2012 opening." Viglucci noted the "shell of the seven-story main structure -- which will house team offices as well as luxury suites -- has been topped off, water pipes and bathrooms are going in, and grandstand construction is under way" (MIAMI HERALD, 3/17).
BACK ON TRACK: In Jacksonville, Don Coble reports "new SAFER barriers at the exits of Turns 2 and 4 removed nearly three feet of the racetrack" at Bristol Motor Speedway, and that "puts the track squarely in the racing groove" for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500. Bristol for years was the "most difficult place to make a pass." Now there "might not be enough room to run side-by-side, so everyone expects a lot of pushing and shoving to be the first in line" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 3/18).
GETTING AN UPGRADE: In Indianapolis, Phillip Wilson notes the latest addition at Victory Field, home to the Triple-A Int'l League Indianapolis Indians, is a "$600,000 LED digital video board that is 6 1/2 feet tall and 120 feet wide" along the outfield wall. The new board "will feature interactive videos, advertisements and ... will keep fans up on scores and statistics." The Indians "already have sold out the spots" on the scoreboard for the upcoming season. The team "landed two new sponsors, Tire Barn and General Mills," while Community Hospitals "made more of a commitment to be on the board" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 3/18).
HOME SWEET DOME: In N.Y., Pat Borzi wrote the Metrodome "may have said goodbye to major league baseball, but for now, it remains a Teflon-roofed lifesaver for more than 100 college, high school and other amateur teams throughout the upper Midwest." The Metrodome has "more available dates than usual this year because two trade shows canceled and it will not host an NCAA men's basketball regional." Even with the Univ. of Minnesota playing 28 baseball games and 16 softball games at the facility this year, Ron Petrich, who schedules games at the venue, said that he had "enough slots to accommodate a record 240 college games and 420" overall. The price to rent out the Metrodome for a game ranges from $300-500 "an hour for high schools and small colleges to $2,000 for a single" UM game (N.Y. TIMES, 3/17).
