Facility Notes

In Charlotte, Steve Harrison reports the NASCAR HOF "lost $187,983 in January," pushing its cumulative loss for FY '11 to $1.03M. Before the HOF opened in May, the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority projected that it "would have a surplus of roughly $700,000 for its first year." But that budget "has since been revised, and the CRVA now forecasts a loss of $1.29 million for fiscal year 2011." The "good news for the CRVA is that the hall's financial performance is now matching the revised budget." In its revised budget, the CRVA "projected a loss of $1.07 million through January," which "means the hall is slightly ahead of its new budget" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 3/10).

PUT IT ON THE BALLOT: In Las Vegas, David McGrath Schwartz reports Caesars Entertainment is "giving up on trying to win legislators' support for a resort-corridor sales tax to finance its proposed arena on the Strip, and instead will hope for voters' approval in 2012." Caesars Entertainment VP/ Public Policy & Communications Marybel Batjer: "We know the reality of the political times we're living in. Taxes are a very difficult thing for a legislator, in many, many states right now to vote for. We're going right to a vote of the people. We're on the ballot in 2012." Under the Nevada Constitution, lawmakers "have 40 days to act on an initiative petition." Caesars "collected 200,000 signatures last year to qualify the proposed sales tax increase for an arena" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 3/10).

CLASSY MOVE: A K.C. STAR editorial states the naming-rights deal between MLS Sporting K.C. and the Livestrong cancer foundation for Livestrong Sporting Park is a "heartfelt effort befitting a team in the heartland." The editorial: "While the move isn't purely altruistic, it is unprecedented. Never before has a professional sports organization handed a trendily lucrative stadium name to a charity. Making a financial commitment beyond that is a classy move. ... This effort is a positive sign" (K.C. STAR, 3/10).

GETTING BACKING: In London, Simon Hart reported U.K. Athletics "has secured the backing of the Government and the Mayor of London's office to launch a bid to stage the 2017 World Championships in the Olympic Stadium." An "expression of interest" will be "submitted to the International Association of Athletics Federations this month which will emphasise that the bid has the full support of local and national government" (London TELEGRAPH, 3/9).