Venue News & Notes: A’s on the Way to San Jose?

The Oakland Athletics this week officially scrapped their plans to move to Fremont, CA, giving another city a chance to get in on the A’s action. San Jose’s elected officials and community leaders jumped to work Wednesday on reviving a stadium romance that withered nearly three years ago. Some gathered in a hastily called meeting. Other boosters signed up for a new “Baseball San Jose” page on Facebook. They talked of conducting polls and rounding up sponsors and perhaps even offering a discount on city-owned land already earmarked for a downtown stadium.

…The Portland, OR, Timbers Army, clad in green soccer jerseys and telltale wool scarves, invaded the Tuesday-night meeting of the city’s Major League Soccer Task Force to show support for a bid to bring another major-league sports team to Portland. “This is an opportunity to go through a door that will close shortly,” said soccer fan Ean Todd. “We need to do this now.” Todd was right on target in terms of timing. Major League Soccer is set next month to pick two cities where it will expand for the 2011 season…

…Demolition of Reunion Arena is expected to begin in April. The Dallas City Council on Wednesday approved a more than $2 million contract with A&R Demolition to bring down the former sports and entertainment venue. Reunion Arena in June 2008 hosted its last event, a Spanish-language religious service…

…Florida Marlins fans will be glued to meetings five days apart as Miami and Miami-Dade County commissioners vote on key agreements that could make a new $630 million baseball stadium possible by 2012. Miami commissioners will be the first at bat, with their vote set for 9 a.m. on March 4. County commissioners will follow five days later, with debate set to begin at 9:30 a.m. on March 9. In addition to the vote, officials will be dealing with a lawsuit filed Wednesday by Miami residents Graciela Solares and Elvis Cruz against the city and county over the Marlins’ new stadium…

…The New York Yankees and Bank of America ended months of negotiations on a long-term, high-profile sponsorship agreement, fallout from the financial industry’s decision to accept aid from the federal government. While the sides never discussed naming rights to the team’s new $1.5 billion stadium, they had talked about the possibility of a 20-year deal that would have included signage, special events, and tickets…

…Hawaii officials said Thursday they will continue negotiations with the NFL to bring the Pro Bowl back to Aloha Stadium. However, they want assurances that, if the annual all-star game is to be played in Honolulu in 2011 and 2012, it will attract the television viewership and attendance to make the state’s investment worthwhile. To that end, the Hawaii Tourism Authority on Thursday elected to not approve a tentative contract that would pay the NFL $4 million for the two games.