Venue News: Utah Jazz Announce Major Video-System Upgrade; San Jose Earthquakes’ New Stadium Under Construction

Compiled by Karen Hogan, Associate Editor, Sports Video Group

Miller Sports Properties announced plans for a new center-court high-definition video-display system at EnergySolutions Arena, home to the NBA’s Utah Jazz. The video-display system will be seven times larger than its predecessor, and includes upper deck corner boards with video and statistics, audio system improvements, and other digital enhancements for the 19,911-seat multi-purpose venue.  Utah-based YESCO has been selected to manufacture and install the custom-designed and integrated system, whose primary component weighs about 55,000 pounds. Anthony James Partners served as consultants in the design and procurement of the system. Installation of the new video and sound system is scheduled for completion by October for the 2013-14 Jazz basketball season…

…There’s no name yet, so for now, it’s just The Other Stadium. This is the South Bay sports venue under construction that doesn’t cost $1.3 billion, won’t be hosting a future Super Bowl and hasn’t received much fanfare. The future home of the San Jose Earthquakes soccer team is a largely unnoticed site near the Mineta San Jose International Airport — and it gets nowhere near the attention lavished on the 49ers’ growing palace in Santa Clara. The most eye-catching feature is massive piles of broken and crushed concrete gathered up by excavator machinery. The $60 million privately funded facility is scheduled to open next spring, although prep work has been challenging on land that once was a factory for M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles. Crews have spent the past few months digging out huge, reinforced-concrete footings and underground vaults — including Cold War-era bomb shelters…

…The first test of Brazil’s ability to host the World Cup and Olympic Games over the next three years began on Saturday, when the eight-nation Confederations Cup tournament kicked off. The new or renovated stadiums around Brazil were ready in time, give or take a lick of paint and a final sweep. And violent protests on the streets of two of the biggest cities, Rio and Sao Paulo, have tested authorities’ ability to deal with civil unrest. The tournament began in the capital Brasilia with a game between the host and Asian champion Japan. It ends in Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium in two weeks…

…In what equipment manager Steve Vucinich, a 46-year employee of the A’s, described as a first, the A’s and Mariners had to shower together in the Raiders’ second-floor locker room after today’s 10-2 Oakland win. Players from both teams trudged up and down one stairway in towels and shower shoes as both teams tried to get their flights out of town. Raw sewage backed up into both clubhouse shower areas, the umpires’ room and all bathrooms on the clubhouse level, as well as both managers’ offices and the Mariners’ training room. No other part of the building was affected on Sunday; the A’s drew 36,067, a sellout, which might have put additional strain on the aging plumbing, but leaking pipes and backed up drains are common even on days off because the facility was built in 1966. In addition, the field is 22 feet below sea level and the clubhouse level is 3 feet below sea level…

…The NFL is tightening stadium security starting this preseason, limiting the size and type of bags fans can bring to the game. The restrictions are designed to enhance security while speeding up entry into stadiums. With the exception of medically necessary items, only clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches will be allowed. One-gallon clear plastic freezer bags also will be OK, as will small clear plastic bags approximately the size of someone’s hand, with or without a handle or strap. One of those clear bags and a small clutch bag will be allowed per person. Binoculars, cameras, and smartphones also will be permitted.