The U.S. Figure Skating Association (USFSA) announced
that Dallas will host the 2003 National Championships, with
the AmericanAirlines Center serving as the main venue.
Dallas beat out Minneapolis and St. Louis in a vote of the
USFSA's BOD. Todd Bromley, who chaired the local organizing
effort, says the event "will bring an estimated" $40-50M in
revenue to the area (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/12)....In
Miami, Pedro Acevedo wrote that the Breeders' Cup at
Gulfstream Park "promises to pump $100 million into the
local economy and to thrust South Florida into the
international spotlight by bringing some of the world's best
horses to compete" (MIAMI HERALD, 10/11). Meanwhile,
Churchill Downs announced that it will charge 28% more at
next year's Kentucky Derby "for the hot seats near the
finish than those on the first turn." Churchill Downs
VP/Communications John Asher: "The market tells you that
Derby seating was really underpriced compared to other
sporting events." Ticket increases have Millionaire's Row
seats at $450-500, up from $400; First-floor box seats at
$85-95, up from $75-85; grandstand bleacher seats at $50-65,
up from $42-55. Asher added that "most Derby tickets are
handed down from year to year ... and only about 1,000
change hands every year" (LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, 10/9).
