The Tiger Stadium Fan Club sent a letter to the
Detroit/Wayne County Stadium Authority, asking that the
team's new stadium project "be halted" until the $145M
financing is secured. However, authority co-chair Michael
Duggan said that the financing "is nearly complete and
construction will continue," adding "[t]here is no exposure
to taxpayers." The team "has yet to complete" financing
with Sumitomo Bank, but Tigers President John McHale said
that the deal "is expected to be completed this month"
(DETROIT NEWS, 7/10)....In Baltimore, Jon Morgan writes an
extensive chronicle of the construction of the new Ravens
Stadium this morning under the sub-head, "From Its Brick
Exterior To Its Gap-Toothed Upper Deck, Oriole Park's
Neighbor To The South Achieves A Look That Is Distinctive,
As Well As Compatible" (Baltimore SUN, 7/10)....The state of
LA has selected SMG to manage the 18,500-seat New Orleans
Arena, which is scheduled to be completed in the summer of
'99. The new agreement, which includes the connecting
Louisiana Superdome, extends through June 30, 2006. SMG has
managed the Superdome since '77 (THE DAILY)....The Bucs
unveiled an $11M video and scoreboard system for Raymond
James Stadium that will be the largest in the NFL. The
structures will be 74 feet high and 160 feet wide with video
boards that are 24 feet by 92 feet (ST. PETE TIMES, 7/8).
