In Buffalo, Jonathan Epstein in a front-page piece reports the "final price tag" for the Sabres' HarborCenter project will be $200-210M, nearly 22% more than the original projection of $172.2M. Sabres officials attribute the increase to "significant design upgrades along the way, weather delays and added labor costs." This makes HarborCenter "one of the most expensive projects ever in Buffalo." Sabres officials suggested that more development "is coming, both from team owners Terry and Kim Pegula and others motivated by what the Pegulas have built" (BUFFALO NEWS, 9/21).
DAYS OF THUNDER: ESPN.com's Bob Pockrass noted Daytona Int'l Speedway "didn't make any changes to the way its catch fence is structured after Austin Dillon's scary wreck" in the July 5 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400. Track President Joie Chitwood III on Saturday said that the fence "has been rebuilt to the specifications from before the accident." Chitwood: "We did not make any changes to the catch fence. We've reinstalled all the appropriate poles and mesh fence and the cable and all those elements" (ESPN.com, 9/19).
NORTHERN DELIGHTS: The GLOBE & MAIL's Michael Chen reported Air Canada Centre is getting new concessions "such as the sumo hot dog, a peanut butter and jelly panzerotti, and fries filled with the taste of cheeseburgers." The venue will roll out "18 new concession stand items" that will be available by the first preseason games for the Maple Leafs and Raptors (GLOBE & MAIL, 9/18).
