Facility Notes

In Detroit, Mark Snyder reports the Detroit Metro Sports Commission is bidding to hold a men's college basketball Final Four at Ford Field between 2012-2016. Other cities bidding for the events are Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Phoenix, San Antonio and St. Louis. Ford Field is already hosting the '09 Final Four (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/14).

Saratoga Hoping Promise Of Ballpark Upgrades Can Keep Reds From Moving Spring Training Site

SPRING TRAINING: Sarasota County (FL) commissioners voted Tuesday to contribute $17.6M toward renovations of Ed Smith Stadium, the spring training home of the Reds. The contribution is part of a $41M renovation plan of the complex, which has "drainage issues and is not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act." However, the city "might be too late." The Reds are in an exclusive negotiation period with the city of Goodyear, Arizona, about moving into a spring training facility there (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 2/14).

NYRA: A NEWSDAY editorial states the NYRA deal to continue to run Belmont, Aqueduct and Saratoga is "bad for the state and bad for Long Island," and NYRA is "the only winner." The editorial: "The state caved to the politically connected horse-set, claiming it feared losing the tracks based on the whims of a bankruptcy court judge. ... This deal shuts out Long Island, where there was strong support for a 'racino'" (NEWSDAY, 2/14).