In Chicago, Fran Spielman reports the Cubs are "accusing City Hall of demanding security improvements around Wrigley Field in a 'calculated' public relations campaign designed to 'distract attention from the city's lack of resources and the decision not to close public streets'" around the ballpark. Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney, in a letter to City Hall, wrote that the city of Boston has closed streets around Fenway Park, but Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has "repeatedly refused the Cubs' request to close Addison and Clark on game days for fear of exacerbating congestion and alienating residents" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/29).
FULL SPEED AHEAD: In Milwaukee, James Nelson reported the seating bowl at the new Bucks arena is "largely in place and the electrical, heating and air conditioning equipment are nearly ready to rock." With construction "proceeding at breakneck pace, many elements of the finishing building are popping up throughout the site." Mortenson Construction Project Principal Mike Sorge said, "We're actually slightly ahead of schedule" (JSONLINE.com, 6/28).
NOT WHAT THEY EXPECTED: In Hartford, Kenneth Gosselin reports the agency that oversees XL Center "drew just one response after seeking out private investors willing to take on a portion" of the venue's $250M makeover. The response from XLR Partners "does not include a specific proposal, just a willingness to explore options." Capital Region Development Authority Exec Dir Michael Freimuth said that the agency will "interview XLR in the next few weeks and determine if it is feasible to move forward" (HARTFORD COURANT, 6/29).
