N.Y. Mayor Rudy Giuliani "blasted state officials
yesterday for shortchanging his drive to build ballparks for
the Mets and Yankees." Giuliani said that the city of N.Y.
has a "dedicated construction fund of about" $300M that is
"projected to grow to about" $500M over the next two years,
and added, "The city is willing to put in one-third the cost
of a new Shea Stadium. ... The problem has been getting the
state to do that" (N.Y. POST, 10/20). But NY State Economic
Development Corp. Chair Charles Gargano said that
construction of a facility on the West Side of Manhattan
"would require at least" $3B in "mass transit and other
taxpayer-financed improvements." Gargano: "No one is
against the concept [of a new facility], but all I see are
state dollars. Where is the beef from the city? You have
to have a realistic plan" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 10/20).
NOTES: In AZ, David Casstevens writes that supporters
of a new NFL Cardinals stadium, which will be voted on
November 7, have been gaining "momentum." Casstevens: "A
game that once seemed unwinnable has turned as the result of
an ambitious advertising blitz. Radio ads. Three TV spots.
Direct mail. Bumper stickers. A 40-person bureau. ...
Because the organized opposition lacks funds to mount a
significant counterattack, AZ Wins [the group supporting the
stadium proposal] just might have a chance" (ARIZONA
REPUBLIC, 10/20)....ChoiceSeat President & CEO Mary Frost
said that while the company's interactive touchscreens are
"currently available in only a handful of locations," she is
"in talks with almost half" of the teams in the NBA
(MEDIAWEEK, 10/16 issue)....Green Bay Finance Dir James
Blumreich released a study yesterday showing that the sale
of naming rights to a renovated Lambeau Field "could
generate" between $80-200M (GREEN BAY POST-GAZETTE, 10/20).
