In L.A., Pringle & Lin II wrote under the header, "Tracing The L.A. Coliseum's Fiscal Decay." Despite GM Patrick Lynch's assurances, the Coliseum had "become mired in conflicts of interest, spending irregularities and loose accounting that eroded its fiscal foundation and had all but bankrupted its future as one of the nation's most-storied public landmarks." How a multimillion-dollar scandal at "such a high-profile venue could go undetected for so long is not entirely clear." But the groundwork for "alleged abuse lay in a history of clumsy stewardship, inattentiveness by commission members and a cozy relationship between Lynch and his overseers." The commission was "empowered to safeguard the interests of the state, county and city." But it became "more of a sportsmen's club than a watchdog." The Coliseum is now "so broke that it is unable to make upgrades promised in its lease with USC, whose football Trojans are the stadium's main tenant." As a result, the panel is about to "turn over day-to-day control of the taxpayer-owned property to the private school" (L.A. TIMES, 12/31).
HEIGHTENED SECURITY: On Long Island, Jim Baumbach noted tightened security at MetLife Stadium has "generated a sharp rise in complaints for alleged criminal behavior ranging from ticket scalping to assault." Officials said that criminal complaint filings this year are "consistent with last year's." MetLife Stadium President & CEO Mark Lamping said that "most of the complaints filed are for ticket scalping or selling goods without a permit." Lamping and spokespeople for both the Jets and the Giants said that it is their concern for "fan comfort, and a low tolerance for foul language and drunkenness, that have increased arrests and ejections from the stadium" (NEWSDAY, 1/2).
PLAYING TO THE FAN: Barclays Center is working with the Disney Institute to improve the guest experience for major sports and entertainment events. When the arena opens in Brooklyn in September it will provide visitors with "Street-to-Seat" service and hospitality. The Disney Institute will offer experiential services and practice training for arena staff, as well as recommendations and input on creative design ideas such as signage, guest flow and in-game staff outfitting (Nets).
