SOME THINGS WILD: The St. Paul Pioneer Press hired IU
Associate Dean and sports facility analyst Mark Rosentraub to
analyze financial numbers released by the NHL expansion Wild.
Rosentraub was paid $350 to analyze the data and afterward
concluded that the team "isn't likely to do well" if the
three other major pro franchises remain in the city.
Rosentraub: "The margins are small. If four teams stay, this
thing can't go" (PIONEER PRESS, 3/29). Meanwhile, MN State
Auditor Judith Dutcher said former St. Paul City Council
member Dave Thune "broke no conflict-of-interest laws when he
signed a contract" with M.A. Mortenson Co., which "ultimately
got a construction management contract for the arena."
Dutcher also said the team broke no laws by awarding the
contract without a public competition (PIONEER PRESS, 3/30).
COURSE DESIGN: CNBC's Tyler Mathisen reported on the
"big business" of golf course design, saying that the
"business of golf course design has never been hotter. In
fact, according to the national golf foundation there were
more than 420 courses being built or remodeled last year.
That's triple the pace of the 1980s" ("Business Center,"
3/27)....CNN/SI's Jaime Diaz reported that Arnold Palmer and
Jack Nicklaus will collaborate for the first time on a golf
course design. Called "The King and The Bear," the course
will be built in conjunction with the World Golf Village and
could open by the year 2000 ("Pro Golf Weekly," 3/28).
OTHER NOTES: The A's will designate 150 seats as an
alcohol-free zone (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 3/29)....In N.Y., Robert
Hardt writes that "quiet progress is being made toward"
building a new facility for the Mets. An official of NYC
Mayor Rudy Giuliani: "The Mets' plan is moving ahead more
clearly and coherently." Another administration official
said they are "still waiting to hear" from Yankees Owner
George Steinbrenner regarding his plans (N.Y. POST, 3/30).
