Facility Notes

Hempstead Town Supervisor Has Offered To Meet With Wang To Discuss Lighthouse Project

On Long Island, Laikin & Marshall note Lighthouse officials Thursday "may have taken a baby step toward getting something built on the site surrounding the Nassau Coliseum." Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray said that she called Islanders Owner Charles Wang, "telling him she was happy he wasn't abandoning the project and offering to meet with him to discuss 'scaling down' the project in an effort to find 'commonality.'" In a letter sent to Wang Thursday, Murray "argued that modifying the project could resolve some of the town's environmental concerns, 'making it possible for the town board to more promptly provide the certainty that you are seeking'" (NEWSDAY, 10/16). The CBC's Mike Milbury, who was Islanders GM from '95-'06, said, "I just can't for the life of me understand why they can't get this through. It's a political football in Nassau County, but there's too many fingers in the pie. It's one of the few embarrassing things about Nassau County" ("NHL Live," NHL Network, 10/15).

ON THE AUCTION BLOCK: In Baltimore, Hanah Cho reported a federal bankruptcy judge Wednesday approved a plan "to auction Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park early next year." Developers David Cordish and Carl Verstandig "reiterated their interest in bidding on the tracks and the Preakness Stakes." Potential bidders "have until Nov. 2 to submit proposals" to Magna Entertainment Corp., which owns the tracks. Bidders "must provide a 10[%] deposit, as well as evidence that they have the money to complete the deal" (Baltimore SUN, 10/15).

WEATHER CONDITIONS: The Yankees spent $1.5B to build the new Yankee Stadium, and in L.A., Kevin Baxter wrote, "Apparently there wasn't enough left over to pay for windows in the press box, which is pretty much exposed to the elements." The auxiliary press box, which is "for the overflow media who can't fit in the main box, is in the top deck in right field -- about a half-mile from home plate and right in the teeth of the wind." Baxter: "It's going to be tough for the Yankees and Angels to play in a wind-chill that's forecast to be in the 20s. But try typing in that weather" (LATIMES.com, 10/15).