In San Diego, Ed Zieralski reported the Oak Tree Racing Association "wants to run a fall meeting" at Del Mar Racetrack in '12, a move that "could lead to the Breeders’ Cup coming to the seaside track within four to five years." OTRA Exec Dir Sherwood Chillingworth said that his organization “would loan $2 million to $3 million” to Del Mar and California's 22nd District Agriculture Board “so it could expand Del Mar’s Jimmy Durante Turf Course to attract a future Breeders’ Cup.” He said that the fall Del Mar meeting “would run at the end of September through the early part of November to ‘pick up the Breeders’ Cup.’” Chillingworth “plans to apply for the 2012 fall dates this summer at a California Horse Racing Board meeting” (SIGNONSANDIEGO.com, 6/6).
ROSES ARE RED: In California, Brenda Gazzar reported Legacy Connections, a "private fundraising group created to close a $12 million gap in the Rose Bowl's $152-million renovation project," has raised more than $3 million in gifts and pledges since January. Among the donations is a "$500,000 gift from Pasadena residents Carolyn and Charles Miller." Officials said that the couple will "have their names placed above one of the historic stadium's tunnels, Tunnel 19" (PASADENA STAR NEWS, 6/5).
NOTES: In Illinois, Ashok Selvam notes the expansion ECHL Chicago Express have “entered a three-year deal to play their homes games at the Sears Centre.” Team Owner Craig Drecktrah said that “season ticket sales are high.” Drecktrah: “We’re very pleased at what’s happening, the same thing with sponsorships” (Illinois DAILY HERALD, 6/7)....N.C.-based marketing and developing firm Sports & Properties, Inc. has completed a naming-rights sponsorship valuation analysis of The Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Ga., for the Gwinnett Convention & Visitors Bureau. The 13,000-seat venue plays host to the ECHL Gwinnett Gladiators and the AFL Georgia Force (SPI).
