Facility Notes
New York state Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said that Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga racetracks and the proposed casinos at Aqueduct and Belmont should be “auctioned off under the oversight of an 11-member state corporation.” Under Bruno’s proposal, the five-member Oversight Committee, established under former Gov. George Pataki, would “anchor the new state corporation.” In September, Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who has a “strained relationship with Bruno, recommended that NYRA receive a 30-year extension to its racing franchise in exchange for the state taking title to Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga” (DAILYRACINGFORM.com, 10/16).
ASTROS: The HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL’s Jennifer Dawson reports the Astros and the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority have filed a lawsuit against the four contractors involved in the design and installation of a malfunctioning water pipe system at Minute Maid Park that could cost “as much as $70[M] to fix.” According to the lawsuit, “improper insulation is causing current condensation problems in the pipe system that pumps chilled water to provide air conditioning” to the ballpark. The Astros will have to “front the money for initial repair work,” as the legal process could take 12-18 months (HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL, 10/12 issue).
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Belvedere Vodka Acquires Naming
Rights To Prudential Center's Ice Lounge |
NOTES: SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL’s Don Muret reports Belvedere Vodka has acquired the naming rights for Prudential Center’s ice lounge, a club for premium-seat holders located at center ice (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 10/15 issue)....A Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE editorial is written under the header, “Credit Carl Pohlad For Final Stadium Push.” The editorial states, “The Twins will kick in an additional $15[M] for the [team’s new stadium], bringing the team’s total investment to $145[M]. The Pohlads deserve credit for their perseverance -- and for writing another check to make the deal work” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/17),
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