Wizards Owner Ted Leonsis took to his blog to address delays at Verizon Center during Saturday's game against the Rockets due to dripping water on the court, writing, "We have staff working all day [Sunday] to make sure this issue doesn't occur again." He continued, "The big freeze this past week might have created a small fissure in roofing materials, and as the rain came on and some ice was melting, some water was able to seep in" (TEDSTAKE.com, 1/12).
TOBACCO ROAD: In North Carolina, Owen Covington noted construction crews are "continuing work within the Greensboro Coliseum" as part of a $24M renovation with an "eye on the opening of the 2014 ACC basketball tournament in March." Among the biggest changes will be "the widening of the upper concourse to add a total of 17,750 square feet of space." The improvements "take on particular importance this year for Greensboro Coliseum Complex, which will play host to a larger field of schools" for this year's tourney (TRIAD BUSINESS JOURNAL, 1/10 issue).
LIFE IN THE FAST LANE: A DAYTONA BEACH NEWS-JOURNAL editorial stated a Florida Senate committee "has rightfully advanced a proposal" to grant Daytona Int'l Speedway $60M in tax incentives over 30 years, "meaning that perhaps this year the track will get the same kind of benefits given to football and baseball stadiums in Miami, Orlando, and Tampa." They are "incentives the Speedway has earned" in light of its $400M Daytona Rising renovation. It is "logical to keep that economic growth going by offering the same kind of tax breaks to the Speedway that other major sports venues in Florida have so successfully used" (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 1/12).
