San Diego Mayor Susan Golding is trying to "persuade"
Chargers Owner Alex Spanos to "renegotiate" some of the
"least popular aspects" of the team's new stadium lease.
Golding did not "sound optimistic," saying discussions
"haven't gotten very far" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/31).
...In Boston, State House Speaker Thomas Finneran
"threatened" yesterday to rewrite the MA Port Authority's
charter if the agency follows through on plans to lease land
in South Boston to the Patriots at below-market prices
(BOSTON GLOBE, 1/31)....In Milwaukee, details involving the
bonds issued for the Brewers' new stadium have been "ironed
out." Underwriters Robert W. Baird & Co. and Bear Stearns &
Co. have applied for municipal bond insurance. If they get
it, the bonds, which are now rated A, will be rate AAA by
Standard & Poor's and AAA by Moody's Investors Service.
Also, investors will be able to choose maturities of between
one and 30 years. The bonds will be sold in increments of
$5,000, starting with a minimum of $5,000 (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL
SENTINEL, 1/31)....The Palisades Club in Newport Beach, CA,
and Riviera Club in Pacific Palisades are possible sites to
host a future Davis Cup match (L.A. TIMES, 1/30)....The
Pacers scheduled two extra tours of Market Square Arena due
to "high demand." The team is offering the tours to show
the need for a new facility (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 1/30).