Facility Notes

Citrus Bowl Renovations Low On Central Florida Voters’ Priority List

The Arlington City Council approved a financial incentive package for Glorypark, which is being developed by MLB Rangers and Stars Owner Tom Hicks’ holding company and Ohio-based Steiner & Associates. The city will issue $135M in bonds to pay for public infrastructure and parking garages. The bonds will be repaid with funds generated from a “tax increment finance district in which 70[%] of the increase in property taxes and a half-cent of the city’s sales tax will fund public infrastructure” and from a public improvement district, in which the city will assess extra property taxes on Glorypark to build garages (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 5/25).

MAGIC ACT: A poll paid for by the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce surveying 500 Central Florida voters showed a plan to spend $1.1B on a new arena and performing sports center and upgrades to the Citrus Bowl ranked “dead last in a poll of community priorities.” Only 14% ranked “building world-class performing arts, sports and entertainment venues” a high priority, last among the 16 issues included. However, just 150 of those surveyed live in Orange County (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 5/25).

PARK PLACE: In L.A. Bill Plaschke writes the parking lot at Dodger Stadium “is not only working again, but it’s better than ever.” The team tweaked its system, which caused massive backups on Opening Day, by “adding many more attendants, city workers and cameras,” and reopening an additional gate. Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt said, “We’re not declaring victory yet, but right now we’ve improved every aspect of the old system” (L.A. TIMES, 5/24).