Facility Notes

AEG filed a slander lawsuit against NBC Universal, KNBC and producer Frank Snepp after several “inaccurate and alarmist ‘news’ broadcasts that purport to show unsafe conditions at Staples Center.” AEG claims KNBC used “‘deceptively juxtaposed images’ and special effects to convey the misimpression that the arena was a firetrap.” AEG seeks unspecified monetary damages (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 5/11).

DYE JOB: Multiplex is replacing 17,000 luxury seats at Wembley Stadium because they “turned pink in the sun.” The work is expected to be completed by the end of next week (London TELEGRAPH, 5/10).

GOPHER MORE: Construction on the Univ. of Minnesota’s (UM) new 50,000-seat on-campus football stadium has not started, but UM AD Joel Maturi “already is talking about an expansion.” Maturi told UM’s Board of Regents Thursday that he “expects the stadium to add an upper level ‘in the near future’ because of what he is sure to be an

Taxpayers May Be On Hook For $1M In U.S. National Whitewater Center Losses

increased fan interest in [UM] football.” He added that the athletic department “still needs to raise $28[M] to fulfill its obligation for financing the stadium.” A grass-roots effort focusing on smaller donations is “expected to begin in about a year” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/11).

DOWNSTREAM: Expected losses at the U.S. National Whitewater Center could force taxpayers to cover about $1M in operating costs through 2010. Charlotte and Mecklenburg County (NC) leaders learned of the projected losses when the center’s operators announced that they are borrowing $6M to cover rising costs in construction and other areas. Six local governments pledged up to $12M for operating costs to cover potential shortfalls during the center’s first seven years (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/10).