Facility Notes

In Detroit, Catherine Jun reports city officials have "authorized negotiations" with Michigan-based attorney H. Wallace Parker to convert the Pontiac Silverdome into a thoroughbred racetrack and casino. Parker, whose $12M bid to buy the 127.5 acre property was the highest among three finalists, is proposing an indoor track called Silver Stallion Racino (DETROIT NEWS, 1/11).

HALL BALL: In New Orleans, Jim Kleinpeter reports that the Louisiana Sports HOF held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for a new 27,000-square-foot facility in Natchitoches. Construction will begin later this year and is expected to take 18 months. The Louisiana Sports Writers Association, along with the city and state, had sought a new location for the HOF for 15 years, and last year "received an $18.3[M] appropriation from the state for the project under the auspices of the state museum system" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 1/11).

NOT A DRAG: The inaugural event at the new Lowe's Motor Speedway (LMS) drag strip will be "the first in the [NHRA] Powerade Series' revised Countdown to the Championship." Details of the September 11-14 event are "expected to be formally announced Jan. 24 during the annual preseason motorsports media tour hosted by LMS" (THATSRACIN.com, 1/10).

NO FREE RIDE: In Milwaukee, Don Walker reports that the AHL Milwaukee Admirals have "reached an agreement on a lease with the Bradley Center" to keep the team at the facility through the 2009-2010 season. Under the deal, the franchise will pay $2,500 for each Friday night game and $10,000 for each Saturday night game, "the first time the franchise has paid rent since the 2001-02 season." The franchise will "receive additional revenue from the arena's Club Cambria, the Courtside Club and upgraded advertising and entertainment systems" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 1/11).