Facility Notes

In DC, Tarik El-Bashir cited sources as confirming that discussions for a November 28 Capitals-Canadiens game at Montreal's Olympic Stadium "are dead," and the teams instead will play the game at Bell Centre as scheduled.  Plans for the game at the 70,000-plus-seat stadium reportedly were nixed because of the possibility of the CFL Alouettes "playing deep into the postseason." If that were to happen, the NHL "would not have enough time to properly prepare the stadium" to install a rink (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 8/24).

Giants Likely Will Return To Training Camp At Albany Next Year, But May Shorten Their Stay

SUMMER CAMP: In N.Y., Paul Schwartz notes the NFL Giants "have no contract for next year" to hold training camp at the Univ. of Albany, where they have held camp since '96. There is a "good chance the Giants will come back to Albany, but shorten their stay to two weeks before breaking camp and concluding the preseason at their brand-new training facility in New Jersey." Giants President & CEO John Mara: "We haven't agreed yet as an organization as to where we're going to go. It will happen soon enough. It doesn't necessarily have to be four weeks" (N.Y. POST, 8/25).

OFF TRACK: In San Diego, Tanya Mannes reports California state officials yesterday "decided to postpone a decision on awarding a new contract to operate the Del Mar Racetrack, citing the recession and turmoil in the horse racing industry." State Sen. Christine Kehoe "suggested the delay, saying taxpayers might get a better deal by waiting." Kehoe also cited "uncertainty about the future of the Del Mar Fairgrounds, which came up during discussions about selling off state property this year" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 8/25).