In N.Y., Pat Leonard writes the NHL Rangers last night played their first home game at the newly renovated MSG, and it "fizzled into one big short-circuit." The venue's "enormous new big screen ... didn't show stats the entire first period, apparently due to an NHL issue." Fans at the game were "lifeless," perhaps "distracted by the flashy new big screen" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/29).
YANKEE DOODLE DANDY? In N.Y., John Crudele reports Steiner Sports Founder & CEO Brandon Steiner "has been trying for four years to sell the old Yankee Stadium piece by piece," but "hasn't turned a profit yet on his venture." However, Steiner "swears he will" turn a profit. He is "pretty sure his 50-50 deal with the Yankees will turn out worthwhile." Steiner: "At the end of the day we can make a few million dollars. Right now, I'm real, real close to even" (N.Y. POST, 10/29).
ROCKY MOUNTAIN WAY: In Denver, Adrian Dater wrote after a couple of years in which he "kind of dreaded" covering Avalanche games at Pepsi Center, it is now "a really fun place to be." The venue used to offer "amateur-hour in-game entertainment" with the same "tired features at exactly the same times in every game." But now the game staff and entertainment is "soooo much better." The pregame intro is "edgy and real good," and the "stuff on the screen throughout the game -- promos, player talks, stats, highlights -- is tremendous" (DENVERPOST.com, 10/27).
HOME SWEET HOME: Delaware North Cos. said that it will "negotiate a 20-year lease" for its proposed new HQ in Buffalo, but "only if the project gets tax breaks, special bridge financing and possibly a grant from the county and state to help close" a $10M gap. Delaware North and Uniland Development Co. said that the incentives from the Erie County Industrial Development Agency and the state of New York are “necessary to make it financially feasible to construct a 12-story mixed-use tower and five-level parking ramp" (BUFFALO NEWS, 10/29).
