Facility Notes
In Baltimore, Childs Walker reports the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) yesterday ordered a $70,000 study to "determine whether Prince George's County would be a suitable home" for MLS United. Crossroads Consulting will "examine the county's potential as a soccer market and the potential tax and economic development benefits of attracting" the team. A report is expected to be completed by July. The club has "agreed to reimburse the [MSA] for its effort if the club ends up staying" in DC (Baltimore SUN, 2/28).
PARK PLACE: DC Mayor Adrian Fenty and DC Department of Transportation Dir Emeka Moneme "reiterated calls for fans to take Metro" to Nationals Park and "outlined a plan that restricts parking in the area almost entirely for residents." As a result, there will be "only 1,000 available spaces in the ballpark area for fans on game days." Meanwhile, a panel of three arbitrators yesterday ruled that the Nationals are liable for $4.2M in "furniture, fixtures and equipment" at the new ballpark. The Nationals had claimed that the city was liable for the costs (WASHINGTON TIMES, 2/28).
UNDER REVIEW: Essex County (NJ) Exec Joseph DiVincenzo yesterday "called for a thorough review of the Izod Center's finances." DiVincenzo said that he "will ask Gov. Jon Corzine to hire independent auditors to determine whether the state-owned venue makes a profit," and that the arena "should close if it is losing money." DiVincenzo added that he will "drop his calls for the Izod Center to close if the venue is profitable" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 2/28).
NO RESTRICTIONS: ISC Senior Dir Wes Harris said that there are "no plans to turn Auto Club Speedway into a restrictor-plate configuration or otherwise modify the layout" of the track, despite reports that track President Gillian Zucker would "love" such a change. Harris said that such a makeover is not "even in the discussion phase, nor is it likely to be" (SPEEDTV.com, 2/27).
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