Facility Notes

New plans for the Giants’ and Jets’ Meadowlands stadium include an additional 2,500 seats, with the price tag expected to increase from $1B to $1.1-1.2B, “mostly due to rising construction costs” (AP, 7/10). But Giants CEO John Mara said that the increased construction costs “were not yet firm.” Mara: “Those numbers can fluctuate up or down depending on a variety of things. I would not put too much stock in them” (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 7/10).

THE GREAT RACE: Buffalo-based Delaware North Cos. is joining Empire Racing’s bid to operate Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga race tracks (Delaware North). In N.Y., Joe Drape wrote Empire Racing, in joining with Delaware North, “adds a company experienced in operating horse-racing facilities and video lottery parlors” (N.Y. TIMES, 7/9).

GO FISH: The D’Rays next week will unveil a “12,000-gallon tank with 30 live cownose rays” above the outfield fence at Tropicana Field (N.Y. TIMES, 7/9). In St. Petersburg, Marc Topkin reported a plan “is in the works” for a donation to charity for each time a D’Rays player hits a home run into the tank (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 7/9).