In Pittsburgh, Alex Nixon reports the Steelers and their North Shore development partnership "threatened to sue" Alco Parking Corp. Owner Merrill Stabile if he "doesn't ‘immediately cease and desist’ from talking about buying a North Shore parking lot that the Steelers have an option to buy." A letter from the Steelers’ attorney to Stabile noted that “by offering more than the Steelers would pay under an option agreement with the Stadium Authority, and talking to the news media, Stabile has engaged in tortuous interference.” Stabile's offer of $10M is “10 times the $1 million North Shore Developers can purchase the 3.3 acre lot for under its option agreement with the authority,” and that agreement expires Oct. 12 (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 10/5).
HARD HAT ZONE: In Austin, John Maher notes construction resumed yesterday at the F1 race track being built southeast of Austin after a "near-stoppage that lasted for weeks, a delay that raised questions about the future of the $300 million project." Project Construction Manager Max Chapman said that “work on the foundation of the grandstand would begin in about a week and a half, but the first big project would be fill work on the 3.4-mile circuit.” Although the land on the 1,100-acre site has been “cleared and sculpted, additional soil will have to be trucked in.” Chapman said that construction was “on schedule and current plans call for five-day work weeks.” Maher notes, “Not long after construction began in December, workers were on the site six days a week” (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATEMEN, 10/5).
ROAD WORK: SCENEDAILY.com’s Bob Pockrass noted Pocono Raceway can be added “to the list of NASCAR tracks being repaved,” as work “began Saturday on the 2.5-mile track, which was last repaved in 1995.” There will be “no configuration changes to the unique, triangular track.” The outer pit wall “will be new and the pit stalls will be concrete.” Pocono Raceway President Brandon Igdalsky “met with NASCAR officials Friday to make sure the sanctioning body was OK with the plans” (SCENEDAILY.com, 10/4).
SPEEDING ALONG: In Charlotte, Steve Byers reports Speed Channel “is gearing up for another expansion” and network execs “strongly hinted at future growth Tuesday during a visit” by Mayor Anthony Foxx. Speed President Hunter Nickell, referring to the “22,000 square feet of the 78,000-square-foot building that Speed doesn't already occupy,” said, "I wouldn't be surprised if we continued to grow in the near future" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/5).
