Coliseum Commission approves long-term lease with USC
NEWSWIRE
The agreement now goes to the USC finance committee, which will vote Wednesday on whether to give the school's final approval.
In a special meeting Monday, the Coliseum Commission voted unanimously to approve a long-term lease that will keep USC playing football at the historic stadium for decades to come.
The agreement now goes to the USC finance committee, which will vote Wednesday on whether to give the school's final approval.
It is the first long-term agreement in a relationship between USC and the Coliseum that spans more than 80 years. The 25-year lease can be extended to 47 years.
"It's great that it's done," said Pat Lynch, general manager of the Coliseum.
"We can look forward to a long and bright future together."
The proposed pact gives USC veto power over an NFL team returning to the Coliseum, and provides the school seats on the California Science Center Board and the Coliseum Commission.
In exchange, USC will allow the commission to use the school's name and logos as the centerpiece of a future naming-rights deal. The money generated would be earmarked for stadium improvements, including new video displays, concession areas, seating, drainage systems, locker rooms, elevators and escalators.
The document also says that if the commission fails to make the promised improvements in a timely and satisfactory manner, the school can opt out of the agreement after two years. USC would have the right to pay for the improvements itself and be repaid with interest.
--
Sam Farmer
TENNIS
Zvonareva continues to play well on clay
Tenth-seeded Vera Zvonareva extended her impressive streak of clay-court victories, cruising past Ai Sugiyama, 6-3, 6-3, in the first round of the Italian Open at Rome.
Zvonareva won the Prague Open earlier this month and posted a three-set win over Vania King on clay to clinch victory for Russia in the Fed Cup semifinals against the United States.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga rallied to beat Nicolas Mahut, 0-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2, in the first round of the Hamburg Masters in Germany, for his first win since returning from a knee injury.
The U.S. Open's cable TV coverage is leaving USA Network after 25 years and moving to ESPN and the Tennis Channel starting in 2009.
MISCELLANY
U.S. hockey team routs Norway, 9-1
New York Rangers forward Brandon Dubinsky scored three goals and the U.S. scored three times in each period to wrap up their qualifying round at the world hockey championships with a 9-1 win over Norway at Halifax, Canada.
