TX State Rep. Kim Brimer said yesterday that athletes
should help pay for new arenas through a "locker room usage
fee" of up to $5,000 per player per game. Stars President
Jim Lites, calling the fee an income tax, added such a plan
"ain't gonna wash" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/19)....In
Atlanta, the City Council voted to rename a section of
Capitol Avenue, including the part that passes Turner Field,
Hank Aaron Drive (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 3/18)....Also in
Atlanta, the dispute over Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
"appears to be headed to court," over the issue of whether
city and county officials give away public property without
a legislative body debating and voting on the contract. In
'93, the Braves were given a 20-year lease on the land where
Fulton County Stadium sits and the agreement with the team
calls for the stadium to be demolished to make room for
2,300 parking spaces (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 3/16)....New
Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority (NJSEA) officials
confirmed that they are "actively negotiating" a naming
rights deal with Seagrams to rename the Meadowlands
racetrack Seagrams Park at the Meadowlands (N.Y. POST,
3/19)....The Raleigh City Council voted 5-3 Tuesday to delay
$48M in additional public funding for a sports arena until
more seats on the arena authority are filled locally and
additional hotel-tax revenues are earmarked for the arts.
The Council and Wake County officials "are trying to resolve
their differences" on the financing repayment conditions
(Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 3/19).
