BEARS MAKING PROGRESS? Bears President Ted Phillips
said plans for a new stadium are "progressing very well,"
and he hopes a deal could be completed by the end of the
upcoming season. He said the plans include "a new stadium
within" Soldier Field. Phillips: "Things have been kept
quiet and behind-the-scenes and I'm very pleased with the
status of those negotiations" (SUN-TIMES, 7/23).
DELAY FOR HOUSTON ARENA VOTE: In Houston, Eric Berger
wrote that a vote on a new downtown arena deal by the Harris
County-Houston Sports Authority "will be delayed, possibly
for two weeks, because of unfinished negotiations" with the
Rockets. Sports Authority Vice Chair Grover Jackson: "We
want to make sure we have a complete agreement before the
board votes on it" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/22).
NAMING RIGHTS: In Portland, Roger Anthony reported that
Portland General Electric is negotiating with Portland
Family Entertainment (PFE) to acquire naming rights for
Civic Stadium. PFE Chair Marshall Glickman: "We're having
discussions with PGE and several other companies." Glickman
said that he will cap the number of sponsorships available
for his PCL and A-league soccer franchise at 30 and "he's
hoping to bring in one set of sponsors" to partner with both
teams and the ballpark. Glickman: "With a limited number of
clients, we can give better service" (OREGONIAN, 7/21).
NOTES: In Indianapolis, Bill Koenig reports that while
IMS officials decline to be specific, officials say they are
getting offers to put corporate names on the new Pagoda and
Media Center building at the Speedway (see THE DAILY, 7/18).
IMS VP/Public Relations Fred Nation: "I can absolutely
guarantee you nothing is on the verge of happening. Nothing
is very far along any of these fronts" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR,
7/24)....The Charlotte City Council will "most likely" vote
tonight to begin negotiating with the Hornets to build a new
arena. City Manager Pam Syfert will lead the talks and she
discussed a timetable on a deal: "Sixty days, I think that's
a goal to shoot for" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/23)....A SAN
ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS editorial lauds hometown company SBC
Communications' naming-rights deal for the city's new arena:
"What could be more appropriate?" (EXPRESS-NEWS, 7/21)....In
Boston, Nick Cafardo wrote that the Patriots received a
"favorable ruling" Friday in federal court when a suit
brought by Foxboro trailer park resident Phyllis Handy was
dismissed. Hardy had asked the court to rule that the
Patriots' "quest to remove people from the" park for stadium
development was unconstitutional (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/23).
