With PA Gov. Tom Ridge's stadium task force on the verge of
issuing its report, Eagles Owner Jeffrey Lurie met with
Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell last week to "make his case" that
if only one new facility is built, it should be for the Eagles
(PHILA. DAILY NEWS, 7/29)....Johnny Dean Page is expected to be
named new Chair of the Tampa Sports Authority today (TAMPA
TRIBUNE, 7/28)....CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS examines different
financing avenues for the Bears' proposed $415M domed stadium.
Among the suggestions: Sell part of the team; seek bond-back
financing; a stadium partnership; and "hit up the NFL" (CRAIN'S
CHICAGO BUSINESS, 7/29)....The N.Y. TIMES examined the effect of
Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan's bill to end of the use of tax-free
bonds for sports stadiums on the markets. Howard Richard, an
attorney with Chicago's Katten, Muchin & Zavis: "There's intense
lobbying. No one believes this bill will pass, but it's wreaking
havoc with the market" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/27).... The Virginia
Baseball Stadium Authority has 24 privately-owned sites from
which to choose for a new ballpark (WASHINGTON BUSINESS JOURNAL,
7/26-8/1)....Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner: "We haven't made
up our mind yet [on a new stadium], but it's going to come very
soon as to what we're going to do" ("Up Close," ESPN, 7/26).
