Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's executive committee is
expected to give its endorsement of the city's sports facilities
referendum (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9/26). ...In Tampa, former Mayor
Bill Poe intends to file a lawsuit today to stop $318M in sales
tax money from being used on a new Bucs stadium. Last month,
Poe's suit was thrown out by a Circuit Judge, and today is the
deadline for Poe to appeal the ruling. Hillsborough County
Attorney Emeline Acton said the proposed lawsuit may "damage" the
Tampa Sports Authority's ability to sell stadium bonds by scaring
potential investors. Acton: "It may lead some purchasers not to
buy the bonds. They don't want to become involved in something
that may be overturned by the courts" (TAMPA TRIBUNE,
9/26)....The Lightning could begin to practice in the Ice Palace
next week, but will likely wait until after the first game of the
regular season so as to not interfere with workers trying to
complete the arena in time for the October 20 home opener (TAMPA
TRIBUNE, 9/26)....Mitsubishi Corp.'s offer of a lease agreement
and $2.5M in cash to help pay for the Brewers new stadium is seen
as "a pride thing," by stadium district board member Ulice Payne.
Payne: "Their name means a lot to them and they don't want to be
part of a project that is not state-of-the-art." Mitsubishi has
a tentative deal to design and build the ballpark's retractable
roof (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 9/26)....AMBAC Investors
Services, a New York investment insurance company, has agreed to
insure nearly $33M in construction bonds for West Valley City,
UT's new arena for the IHL Grizzlies (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE,
9/26)....Leland's will hold an auction of artifacts from the
Boston Garden Friday, however, among them will not be a men's
room urinal, "legendary for their propensity to break down,"
despite inquiries made by one person (USA TODAY, 9/25). VP Fleet
Enterprises Frank Giamette: "One man's been driving me crazy for
a urinal. Why he wants the urinal, I have no idea" (ESPN,
9/25)....The new Marine Midland Arena will officially open Friday
with a ribbon cutting ceremony and multimedia production entitled
"Arena Magic...Catch It!" (Marine Midland Arena).
