Facility Notes

STOCK MARKET: ABC's Al Michaels noted various naming-rights deals and said PSINet, which title sponsors PSINet Stadium in Baltimore, "is about a penny a share." CMGI, sponsor of the Patriots' new stadium, "is about $2 a share," while Ericsson, which title sponsors the Panthers' stadium, "is down to $5.50." Michaels: "The minute a company gets naming rights to a stadium, short the company" (ABC, 1/7). Meanwhile, Patriots Vice Chair Jonathan Kraft said that CMGI "already has made its first payment" for naming rights to CMGI Field (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/8).

PONTIAC EXCITEMENT? ESPN's Tony Kornheiser, on Sunday's Cowboys-Lions game being the final game at the Pontiac Silverdome: "You hosted your last Lions game (Sunday). Next year, the sorry team moves to Ford Field in downtown Detroit. You're trading one dome for another and GM for Ford." ESPN's Michael Wilbon: "Never has such a worthless franchise had so many stadiums in a short time. That place was the indoor (Veterans Stadium). You talk about a dump. It needs to be closed down" ("PTI," ESPN, 1/7).

NOTES: Hamilton County (OH) yesterday unveiled a new Web site at www.hamilton-co.org/gabp, which features information and images of Great American Ball Park (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 1/8)....In Providence, Marion Davis wrote that CVS Chair & CEO Thomas Ryan "has been instrumental in making" the Univ. of RI's 8,000-seat arena "a reality, lobbying legislators, co-chairing a campaign to raise $15[M] from private donors, giving $2[M] of his own money, and securing another $3[M] from his company." The arena will host basketball games and concerts (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 1/6)....In Rochester, Michael Caputo reported that the A-League Rochester Rhinos have hired Robert Scott Gaddy, a former legislative aide to Rochester Assembly Senior Member David Gantt, as a lobbyist for the team's soccer stadium project (ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 1/6).