Facility Notes
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Stadium Authority Acquiring Land Near Lucas
Oil Stadium To Extend Covered Walkway |
In Indianapolis, Jeff Swiatek reports a "2.3-acre parking lot near Lucas Oil Stadium will soon belong to the public for the price of $6.77[M]." The Indiana Stadium & Convention Building Authority's (ISCBA) board yesterday "unanimously approved the purchase of the prime parcel from a family trust." The ISCBA "wants to use the parking lot to extend a covered walkway between the stadium" and the Indiana Convention Center (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 9/23).
DELAY OF GAME: In Louisville, Marcus Green reported Louisville-based construction company RAM Engineering "has sued the city's downtown arena planners, claiming a subcontractor received a trade contract in violation of Kentucky's procurement laws." RAM said that the court "should void the contract and require" the Louisville Arena Authority and its construction manager, Minneapolis-based M.A Mortenson Co., to "seek new bids for the work." RAM and two of its execs, Richard and William Chilton III, are "seeking damages including lost profits and are asking for a jury trial" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 9/20).
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Charlotte City Council Approves $32M
Increase To NASCAR HOF Budget |
ALL IN FAVOR? In Charlotte, Julia Oliver reports the Charlotte City Council yesterday voted 9-2 to "increase the NASCAR HOF budget by $32[M] to boost exhibits and pay for unexpected building costs." The decision brings the project's total cost to $195M -- "all of it paid for by a mix of hospitality taxes and money from land sales." Of the additional finances, "$17[M] will be used to improve the range of exhibits in the building, which is scheduled to open in April 2010" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 9/23). NASCAR and primary lenders Wachovia and Bank of America have "offered to defer royalty and loan payments" due to the increased budget. NASCAR Senior VP Paul Brooks said, "Because of the [HOF] and because of how the city embraced not only that project but NASCAR and our industry, it caused us to shift our strategy" (CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/19 issue).
SEVENTH-INNING STRETCH: In Chicago, Fran Spielman reports bars and restaurants around Wrigley Field "will be asked to stop serving alcohol after the seventh-inning stretch -- just as they do inside the ballpark -- to prevent Cubs playoff celebrations from turning ugly." Chicago's Office of Emergency Management & Communications Exec Dir Ray Orozco said the proposed seventh-inning cutoff would occur "only if it's a clinch game." He added that liquor sales "could resume once the game is over" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 9/23).
GROUND BREAKER: Florida Atlantic Univ. (FAU) President Frank Brogan yesterday pledged that a proposed football stadium "will be built by 2010 and that ground will be broken on the 30,000-seat structure by the end of winter." Brogan said that he "expects a proposal to be made to FAU's board of trustees within the next month" (PALM BEACH POST, 9/23).
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