In Houston, Eric Berger reports that a group of Houston
business leaders, led by Enron CEO Ken Lay, said yesterday
that "they would offer" the Harris County-Houston Sports
Authority an interest-free loan to help build a parking
garage for a new downtown arena. But "questions arose on
whether the business leaders would receive preferential
treatment" in selecting seats and suites in the $175M arena,
as well as buying ads (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/27).
LURIE KEEPS HEAT ON: In Philadelphia, Marcus Hayes
writes that Eagles Owner Jeffrey Lurie yesterday "restated
his disappointment over the logjam" in progress toward a new
stadium for the team, "as the city wrestles with where to
build" a new ballpark for the Phillies. A lease agreement
states that the Phillies and Eagles "must receive identical
treatment" from the city concerning the facilities and
"neither team can receive city funds before the other." The
Eagles "were ready to go with the project last year," and
Lurie said another year of waiting for a stadium would force
the Eagles to explore "other options." Lurie: "Mayor
Street, I think, understands the urgency and the need to get
this done this year" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 7/27).
NOTES: In AZ, Shaun McKinnon writes that developer John
Long offered yesterday to donate land in Phoenix' West
Valley for the proposed NFL Cardinals stadium. Long also
said that he "has not formally presented the idea" to the AZ
Tourism and Sports Authority, which would own and operate
the facility, "nor has he talked to" Phoenix Mayor Skip
Rimsza about the idea (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 7/27)....In Albany,
Dennis Yusko writes that "nearly 28,000 people poured
through the newly refurbished gates" at Saratoga Race Course
yesterday, setting a new July opening day attendance record
at the track. NY Racing Association (NYRA) spokesperson
William Nader "credited the robust attendance" to the
track's renovations, "which many fans raved about" (Albany
TIMES-UNION, 7/27). The DAILY RACING FORM's David Grening
writes that the NYRA spent $8M to renovate the 136-year-old
track with "amenities that fans, officials, and horsemen
should all appreciate" (DAILY RACING FORM, 7/26).
