Facility Notes

In Green Bay, Richard Ryman reports the Green Bay/Brown County Professional Football Stadium District received $21.09M in sales tax money last year, $799,719 more than in '07, meeting the stadium district's goal of 3% growth in '08. But they "might not" reach the 3% goal this year, as District Exec Dir Pat Webb said that the January distribution was an "inexplicable 16[%] more than last year -- given the current economy -- coming in at $1.66[M]." At 3% annual sales tax growth, Webb expects to pay off the district's debt for '03 Lambeau Field renovations in '11 and "retire the tax in 2014" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 1/29).

Chicago 2016 Proposes $25.8M Tennis Venue Near Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Lincoln Park

BIRD WATCHING: In Chicago, Bergen & Cohen reported Chicago 2016 is planning to build a $25.8M tennis center near the Bill Jarvis Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Lincoln Park. But the plan for the complex, which includes temporary seating for 17,000, "aggravates" some Chicago residents, and the "bird-sanctuary standoff is but the latest in a series of environmental fights that have dogged" Chicago 2016. More details on the plan will be released when Chicago 2016 unveils its formal bid book on February 13. Park advocates, "many of whom have reserved judgment so far, will evaluate whether the plans mesh well with various parks' environmentally sensitive features and their historic design elements" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/25).

NOTES: The Mets yesterday completed the financing of Citi Field by selling $82.28M in "tax-free 37-year bonds" at a reported average interest rate of 6.45%. The Yankees Tuesday sold $259M in bonds with an average interest rate of 7% for the $192M that "carried a 40-year maturity" (AP, 1/28)....In Orlando, Alan Schmadtke reported there are "increasing signs the major renovation of the Florida Citrus Bowl is in deep trouble." Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer is "letting people know he's going to revamp stage 2 of the downtown Orlando venues," which includes the Citrus Bowl (ORLANDOSENTINEL.com, 1/28).