RED SOX RUNNING BEHIND? In Boston, Scott Van Voorhis
cites observers as saying that "so far, compared to other
sports teams that have successfully financed ... stadium
deals, the Sox appear to be off to a slow start" in their
pursuit of private financing for a new Fenway Park. Team
execs "must raise" $352M from private sources for the
planned facility. One "top Boston sports finance expert"
said, "It's probably the toughest financing anybody has seen
in the sports facility field and among one of the two
toughest politically" (BOSTON HERALD, 8/30).
NOTES: In a USA TODAY Cover Story, Weisman & Howlett
examine the Packers' sales tax referendum to help fund a
renovation of Lambeau Field. The election "looks closer
than anyone anticipated heading to the vote" on September
12. Packers President Bob Harlan: "It's been a much tougher
battle than I thought. It's the word 'tax.' We know it's
going to be a very tough battle." Weisman & Howlett write
that there is "no alternative plan in the hopper" if the
referendum fails (USA TODAY, 8/30)....An ARIZONA REPUBLIC
editorial examines why early polls show the Cardinals
stadium bill trailing among voters: "The problem to date has
been the absence of a campaign to clearly educate the
electorate. This omission has left the playing field to the
opposition, and it has capitalized on anti-stadium
sentiment. The 'Tourism and Sports Authority' measure is a
good story. ... Tourists visiting our state would pay
virtually all of the tab. ... The message is there.
Presented property it will resonate" (AZ REPUBLIC, 8/30).
...In San Antonio, Rudolph Bush reports that 300 people who
live near the planned new Spurs arena attended a meeting
last night about the facility. The meeting "was the second
of a series the Spurs plan to hold by the time the arena" is
completed in 2002. Bush: "No one in the crowd who spoke up
had anything negative to say about the way the Spurs, the
city and the county are handling things" (EX-NEWS, 8/30).
