Facility Notes

In NJ, Herb Jackson reports the McGreevey administration "alerted legislative leaders [yesterday] to expect a deal for a new sports arena in Newark." An administration official said that an "`agreement in principle' had been reached, while cautioning that financial details have to be finalized" (Bergen RECORD, 5/1)....In N.Y., Kirsten Danis reports that the Giuliani administration "quietly spent" $2.7M to renovate the fields at Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium last year, "without revealing the deal to the public." The Parks Department "decided last year to reimburse the teams for the work, but the pact didn't surface in public records until this year" (N.Y. POST, 5/1)....In Louisville, Chris Poynter wrote that security measures for the KY Oaks and KY Derby —including "new infield rules that have angered some fans — are more strict than those at other national sporting events." For example, fans will not be allowed to carry coolers. Louisville police spokesperson Helene Kramer: "Could you imagine if we allowed coolers and some horrible tragedy occurred because something dangerous was brought in? Then the public would be very, very justified in wanting to know why we didn't ban coolers" (COURIER-JOURNAL, 4/29). In Cincinnati, Jim Hannah reported all vehicles entering the track "will be checked for bombs — and even tubes of sunscreen will be taken from race-goers" (CINCY ENQUIRER, 4/30)....IRL VP/Competition Brian Barnhart said that Indianapolis Motor Speedway's cost of installing about 4,500 feet of soft walls was about $650,000, although "raising the fence and the accompanying overhang was an additional expense" (INDY STAR, 5/1).