Negotiations on funding for a proposed $300M arena for
the Islanders to replace Nassau Coliseum resumed Tuesday
"for the first time in five months," with what Nassau County
Exec Thomas Gulotta called "substantive" discussions. To
date, $30M in state funds have been committed (NEWSDAY,
6/23)....Steelers VP Art Rooney, on the team talking with
NFLP and IMG "to find ways to maximize" naming-rights
revenue for its new stadium: "We're exploring what we want
to do" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 6/23)....Philadelphia City
Council member Darrell Clarke, on the Phillies' proposed
ballpark site at Broad and Spring Garden Streets: "The
proposal I have seen to date is not something I feel
comfortable with. If I had to make a decision to vote for
it right now, I'd have a problem with it." In Philadelphia,
Edward Moran writes that Clarke's opposition could "prove to
be more of a problem" than that of State Sen. Vincent Fumo
(PHILA. DAILY NEWS, 6/24)....Brant Sports co-Owner & VP Bob
Brant was interviewed on Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh's
"SportsBeat" on the planned domed motorspeedway in Allegheny
County. Brant, on competition for the facility: "If you ...
draw a 150-mile perimeter around [the major racetracks on
the East Coast], ... all those 150-mile rings will overlap."
Brant, on a naming rights deal: "That's part of our
financing piece. We continue to work toward a naming rights
partner for the track." Brant, on if the facility will be
able to hold "non race-related events," such as concerts:
"Absolutely. ... We think of it in terms of a motorsport
facility, but it will be much more" ("SportsBeat," 6/23).
CELEBS SPIKED? In N.Y., Neal Travis writes that during
the NBA Finals, many celebrities "can no longer get
admission to [MSG's] inner sanctum, Suite 200," because now
that "bottom-liner [Cablevision Chair] Chuck Dolan owns the
world's greatest arena, the free lunch is over." Travis
writes a Knicks PR exec said that MSG "management feels that
during big games, the suite should be used for corporate
entertaining. No media, very few celebrities, just people
they do business with" (N.Y. POST, 6/24).
