In Pittsburgh, Ray Fittipaldo reports the Steelers' plans for training camp “have not changed,” and the team still plans to hold camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. Saint Vincent Dir of Public Relations Don Orlando yesterday said that the college "is ‘optimistic’ that the Steelers will hold training camp there despite the uncertainty of the lockout.” Orlando also noted that the Steelers “have not informed the college of a date when they would make a decision regarding training camp” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 6/28).
GOALS TOO LOFTY: In Charlotte, Doug Miller noted a report released yesterday from Pricewaterhouse Coopers reveals that Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority officials “rejected early, more modest attendance projections for the NASCAR Hall of Fame as competition to host the facility intensified.” The PWC report said that “it is possible that the hall’s failure to hit its projected first-year attendance of 800,000 -- 274,000 visited in its first year -- resulted from the weak economy.” But the report also said that the CRVA “should have clearly identified the potential lack of supporting evidence for the projections at the tax-supported project” (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.com, 6/27).
MOVING INTO COLLEGE: In Baltimore, Sandra McKee reported the Troy Park Tennis & Sports Center in Elkridge, Md., was “supposed to be developed enough to host a $220,000 WTA International-level event next month, but because funding did not come through as expected in December, the tournament is being moved.” Instead, the Tennis Center at College Park will host this year's Citi Open from July 25-31. Troy Park developers will “wait for an independent economic impact study, approved by the Maryland Stadium Authority last week, before pursuing other sources of financing.” Howard County Tennis Patrons President Art Tollick said, “We thought we had the financing lined up last December, but the bond markets, the economy is a mess and no one was lending” (Baltimore SUN, 6/27).
SPEND SOME TIME ON THE ISLAND: Nassau County officials said that they are “conducting an environmental assessment of the property surrounding Nassau Coliseum in advance of an Aug. 1 vote on whether to build a new arena” for the Islanders. The environmental assessment will “examine the proposed $400 million development’s possible impact on area traffic, air, water and noise quality, visual aesthetics and human health.” The assessment, begun “several weeks ago by planners and engineers from the Department of Public Works, is expected to be completed after the Aug. 1 vote” (NEWSDAY, 6/28).
ALL BECAUSE OF YOU: THEPOSTGAME.com's Jeff Arnold reported U2 “will foot the bill to have the playing surface at Spartan Stadium replaced after playing in front of a sold-out crowd of 65,000 crazed fans Sunday night.” U2 will pay the Michigan State athletic department “a little more than $253,000” to cover the cost of new grass. Workers will “begin removing the old sod July 5th, and then will regrade the field two days later before the new grass arrives” on July 11th (THEPOSTGAME.com, 6/27).
