Venue News: New Marlins Ballpark Nears Completion, Brazil Promises World Cup Readiness

With the debut of their 37,000-seat stadium in 2012, the Marlins plan to make day games a major part of the new ballpark experience.  The new building will have a retractable roof and air conditioning, ensuring that games will not be susceptible to delays caused by the frequent rain and high temperatures of Florida. In addition to day games on Sundays, a number of getaway-day games also will be played during the day, which will allow the club an easier travel schedule. Construction on the stadium is now 76% completed, and 32,000 of the 36,000 seats have been installed (counting 1,000 for standing room, capacity will be 37,000). Construction of the roof, and the exterior skin that will cover it, should be completed by September. The final 20% of work will all be indoors…

…Despite severe delays in all 12 cities chosen to stage matches, Orlando Silva, the Brazilian Minister of Sports, has promised that all 12 stadiums for the 2014 World Cup finals will be ready by the end of 2013. He insists that eight stadiums will be ready by the end of 2012, 10 by the start of the Confederations Cup in 2013, and all 12 by the end of 2013. Most of the planned investments for the World Cup are state-sponsored, with federal and local governments in Brazil pledging $13 billion to boost the country’s infrastructure. The bulk of the money – $6.4 billion – will be spent on much-needed upgrades in the public transport systems of the host cities with the hope that the investment in the tournament will have long-lasting effects on residents. The qualifying draw for the 2014 tournament is slated for July 30 in Rio de Janeiro, which will also host the Olympic Games in 2016…

…Detail Design and Fabrication, a creative studio in Phoenix, has announced a new retro-fit and tamper-resistant solution for brand sponsorship on cup holders and seats. Unlike the stickers currently used in stadiums and arenas across the country, Branded Seats clip onto existing cup holders and are not susceptible to weather, cleaning products, or vandalism. As stickers are difficult to remove cleanly, stadiums and arenas were forced to update by applying new stickers on top of old stickers, which can result in an improper placement or unprofessional appearance.  The Branded Seats retro-fit is less expensive than replacing the entire cup holder, and expands the areas available for sponsorship and branding…

…The Ice Haus at Nationwide Arena and the Chiller Ice Rinks will get new names as part of a multiyear sponsorship agreement between OhioHealth and the Columbus Blue Jackets. OhioHealth, a Columbus-based health-care provider, hasn’t settled on a name for the rinks, and financial terms were not available.  Since 2005, the Ice Haus had been sponsored by the Dispatch Media Group; however, the company chose not to continue its name sponsorship of the venue. The five Chiller Ice Rinks have never had a sponsor name. OhioHealth has been a corporate sponsor of the Blue Jackets since the 2000-01 inaugural season, and the new agreement extends and expands that sponsorship agreement through the 2015-16 season. As part of the expanded sponsorship agreement, OhioHealth will have more signs and promotional rights at Nationwide Arena, with its logo appearing on the ice, on the Zamboni, and on the Blue Jackets’ practice jerseys.