In N.Y., Richard Sandomir reported that Nassau Coliseum
manager SMG "was served" a subpoena to testify at a county
hearing examining SMG's "stewardship of the Coliseum" on
Thursday, but there "remains doubt" that SMG "will appear."
Nassau County Legislature Planning, Development and
Environment Committee Chair David Denenberg said, "We asked
them to testify but they said they'd be in Florida. ... SMG
said they wanted a one-month adjournment. I said that is
unacceptable." The hearing (N.Y. TIMES, 3/18)....In
Cincinnati, Mike Rutledge wrote that local reporters saw
"dazzling views" during a tour on Friday of the Bengals'
taxpayer-funded administration building, which Project
Manager Dan Streyle said will cost "probably" between $8-9M.
The costs include "stylish furniture, also to be funded by
taxpayers." Bengals employees "plan to move in" in June
(CINCINNATI POST, 3/18)....Mighty Ducks LW Paul Kariya
"renewed his quest for better ice conditions" at arenas
throughout the NHL. Kariya: "You can count good ice in the
league on one hand. It's really poor. There's no question
it affects the level of play. ... I think it's inexcusable
with the technology there is in the world now, not to be
able to have consistent sheets" (O.C. REGISTER, 3/18).
NAMING RIGHTS: In St. Paul, Charley Walters reported
that Sprint, US West, Northern States Power, Wells Fargo or
3M Co. are all possible naming rights partners for the
Wild's new $130M arena (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 3/19).
...HSBC was able to change the name of Marine Midland Arena
to HSBC Arena in time for this weekend's NCAA men's college
basketball tournament East regional action in Buffalo. One
arena "attendant," when asked what HSBC stands for, said,
"Hong Kong Singapore something or other." Another
"attendant" responded, "I don't know, it's got to be
something about basketball." HSBC stands for Hong Kong
Shanghai Banking Corporation (AP, 3/18)....Monster.com CEO
Jeff Taylor confirmed his company is "in serious" talks
about naming rights to the proposed Pats stadium (AP, 3/20).
