BLOOMBERG reported that "asset-backed bonds valued at
$315M have been sold to pay for construction of the Staples
Center." The securities are backed by revenue from Staples'
naming-rights deal, a "portion of the luxury box and premier
seat licenses, and concession leases" (BLOOMBERG, 4/28).
....AZ State Univ. is "considering" spending as much as
$200M to renovate Sun Devil Stadium. ASU officials say the
renovations "are not in response" to the NFL Cardinals'
desire to leave Sun Devil Stadium for a new $497M stadium at
Rio Salado Crossing (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/30)....In MN
yesterday, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig "pleaded" for
Minnesotans to have the "vision and courage" to build a new
ballpark for the Twins. Selig: "It's important for baseball
to succeed in middle America. ... It's easy to blame the
club and the owner; that's the great American sport. That's
wrong" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 4/30)....Plans for a new
Steelers stadium on Pittsburgh's North Side will include
shops and entertainment venues that will "operate year-
round" (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 4/30)....Chicago Motor
Speedway officials "have reached a deal" with IMG to sell
the naming rights for the dual-purpose track set to open in
August (John Lombardo, SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 4/26)....The
Charlotte Steeplechase is selling PSLs ranging between $250-
$1,000 for next year's event. Charlotte Steeplechase co-
Founder Bill Price: "It's an idea that's never been done in
American steeplechase racing" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 4/30).
