Watkins Glen Int'l President Michael Printup said that the race track “suffered more than an estimated $50,000 worth of damage” from Hurricane Sandy, according to Bob Pockrass of SPORTING NEWS. Part of victory lane was “ripped apart, eight billboards were blown down, grandstand signage destroyed and building trim was damaged.” Trees were “blown down by winds estimated at 60 miles an hour.” Elsewhere, Pocono Raceway President & CEO Brandon Igdalsky yesterday morning wrote on his Twitter feed that the racetrack was “without power ... but only lost one of the two steeples that tower above its grandstands.” Dover Int’l Speedway Communications Dir Gary Camp said that the track “did not sustain any significant damage” (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 10/30). Meanwhile, the storm “caused some flooding, uprooted trees and knocked out power at Oak Hill Country Club,” which in August will host the PGA Championship. Tournament Dir Ryan Cannon said that he was “not certain when the course would be cleared” (ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 10/31).
ASSESSING THE DAMAGE: The MLS Red Bulls are "evaluating options" for Saturday's playoff game against DC United "because of a power outage" at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 10/30). DC United President & CEO Kevin Payne said that Red Bull Arena "did not suffer any severe damage” (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 10/30). Meanwhile, MetLife Stadium "got through Hurricane Sandy unscathed and the NFL is preparing to go through with Sunday’s Giants-Steelers showdown." NFL Senior VP/PR Greg Aiello in an e-mail wrote, "The stadium apparently is fine. We are going to prepare to play and will stay in close touch with public authorities" (NYPOST.com, 10/30). The AP reported the Ravens “were running a generator" at the team's practice facility in Owings Mills, Md. Elsewhere, the Giants, Bills, Browns, Patriots and Eagles “reported no damage at their practice facilities" (AP, 10/30).
RINK AT RISK: In Toronto, Lance Hornby notes the AHL and ECHL “closed some offices to ride out the storm, but that was it.” AHL President Dave Andrews said, “We were lucky it was a light couple of days on the schedule. We don't have any postponements, though our main concern is the rink in Atlantic City. ... We know there was damage in Atlantic City and that the rink is just above the Boardwalk.” Hornby notes Boardwalk Hall “is to host some games starting in late November for New Jersey's farm team in Albany" (TORONTO SUN, 10/31).
WORKING BY CANDLELIGHT: The WALL STREET JOURNAL’s Dana Mattioli writes Foot Locker Chair, President & CEO Ken Hicks “disregarded the shutdown of his New York headquarters on Monday and worked at his office until 3 p.m.” He then “picked up the work again six blocks away at his home in Manhattan's Murray Hill neighborhood.” When the power went out, he “lit a lantern and did paperwork for another 2 ½ hours.” Hicks yesterday morning “headed to the office again," despite the continued power outage. He “couldn't afford to wait for conditions to improve,” as Foot Locker has a “major launch for a new basketball shoe this Saturday -- a new set of Nike Inc.'s Jordan Retro 9 -- and hurricane-related disruptions have left his stores with four fewer days to sort out inventory.” Hicks and his team “decided to delay a major shipment of the shoes that was due Monday, and they are rerouting other parts of the supply chain” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/31).
