Venue News & Notes: Sharing Is Caring

In the NFL, pairing teams as roommates is a long process, but, in the San Francisco Bay Area, the teams are taking a second shot at joining forces (and fences). The Santa Clara City Council votes this week to expand the environmental review of the 49ers’ proposed stadium to look at the potential impact of a second team’s using the facility. The NFL is considering a requirement that any franchise proposing a new stadium in a large market, such as the Bay Area, should analyze the potential shared use of the stadium by a second NFL team, so the 49ers are getting a jump on things. In addition to the Oakland Raiders, Michael Huyghue, commissioner of the newly formed United Football League, has said his league’s Northern California franchise is interested in playing at the 68,000-seat stadium if it is built.

The Santa Clara, CA, City Council could vote this week to expand the environmental review of the San Francisco 49ers’ proposed stadium to consider the potential impact of a second team’s using the facility. Although, at this point, there are no specific plans for the two NFL franchises to share a stadium, city officials said they’ve been informed by the 49ers that the NFL is considering a requirement that any franchise proposing a new stadium in a large market, such as the Bay Area, should analyze the potential shared use of the stadium by a second NFL team…

…Madrid’s proposed venue for two of the sports for 2016 Olympics has this weekend demonstrated its readiness to host the Games, with thousands of fans packing into the Palacio de los Deportes for a four-day festival of basketball. The sports arena will be the venue for judo and taekwondo should Madrid be successful in its bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016…

…After their first joint workshop in October 2007 in Kimberley, South Africa, the leading medical staff of FIFA and the LOC Medical Officers met again on Feb. 21 to discuss progress in the preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa. The focus was on assessing the local resources, infrastructure, manpower, and operational plans that have been implemented in the meantime…

…Amid all the speculation about what A’s owner Lew Wolff is planning to do after his abrupt announcement that the team is no longer pursuing plans to build Cisco Field, a new stadium in Fremont, CA, there is apparently no backup plan. At least that’s the line from Wolff himself, who said on Sunday, “To tell you the truth, I don’t really have a Plan B. Right now, I’m going to take a breath and think things out.”…

…The Durham County, NC, Board of Commissioners approved a stadium contract Monday evening for renovations to Durham County Memorial Stadium. Phase one of the renovation project includes new artificial turf for the football field, adjustable goalposts, a new scoreboard, and an eight-lane track. The venue would also get a new sign on Duke Street. The county Stadium Authority has recommended a budget of $7.7 million for the project.