In San Antonio, Guillermo Garcia reports Bexar County "has asked the Spurs to re-evaluate when the organization expects to begin spending $75 million in bond money earmarked for capital improvements at the county-owned AT&T Center." If the team "were to delay starting to spend the bond funds that voters approved in 2007, it essentially would be putting off having to spend $15 million -- its portion of the nearly $90 million total dedicated for arena technology improvements and enhanced fan experience." Bexar County officials said that the Spurs could use that $15M "as a cushion against the financial shock certain to hit if part or all of next season were scuttled" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 8/24).
CALIFORNIA LOVE: In New Orleans, Jeff Duncan reports Saints coach Sean Payton wants to "hold training camp in Oxnard," Calif., again in "some form or fashion very soon, perhaps as early as next season." But the Cowboys "might have something to say about that." The Saints held part of their training camp this summer in Oxnard, while the Cowboys "have a long history of conducting training camp" there. The Cowboys trained in "nearby Thousand Oaks for decades and have held camp in Oxnard off and on for the better part of the past decade" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 8/24).
KEEP YOUR MOTOR RUNNIN': Circuit of the Americas spokesperson Jeff Hahn contends that construction on the Austin track is "still moving ahead as planned." In Austin, Eric Dexheimer cited sources as saying that "work had ceased at Circuit of the Americas" ahead of next November's inaugural F1 U.S. Grand Prix in the Texas city. But Hahn said that the "construction work is phased." He added that because of dry weather, "early work has moved ahead quicker than planned" (STATESMAN.com, 8/22).
DOUBLING DOWN: Texas Motor Speedway yesterday announced that the Izod IndyCar Series twin race format will return in '12, and the track's "two NASCAR stops will be highlighted by a Saturday night spring race and the eighth Chase race." The TMS schedule for next year starts with the Samsung Mobile 500 on April 14, the "first Saturday night race of the Sprint Cup season," before NASCAR returns Nov. 4 for the "eighth stop in the Chase for the Sprint Cup." Between those two Cup weekends will be the Firestone Twin 275s on June 9 (ESPNDALLAS.com, 8/23).
