Facility Notes
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Lawsuit Challenges Soldier Field
Janitorial Contract |
In Chicago, Mark Konkol reports Yvonne McGinnis, owner of Chicago-based janitorial service We're Cleaning, "filed a lawsuit Monday claiming a firm owned" by Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's "biggest fund-raiser in the black community, Elzie Higgenbottom, scored the Solider Field [janitorial] contract as payback for Higgenbottom's 'generous donations' to the Democratic Party." McGinnis said that her company "held the cleaning contract at Solider Field for more than 15 years and never got any complaints." The suit claims that We're Cleaning was the "lowest bidder on the 2008 Solider Field contract" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/17).
RACE TO THE FINISH: The DAILY RACING FORM’s Matt Hegarty reported Delaware Bankruptcy Court Judge Mary Walrath Friday approved a request by Magna Entertainment Corp. (MEC) to borrow $13.4M from its parent company, MI Developments, to "fund its ongoing operations as it reorganizes under Chapter 11 bankruptcy rules." The request will allow MEC to "continue operating its racetracks and other associated businesses despite the bankruptcy filing" (DRF.com. 3/16).
LAPSE OF LUXURY: In Milwaukee, Don Walker noted when the Bradley Center opened in '88 there were 68 suites available. Bradley Center officials indicated that since then, through a joint agreement with the Bucks, "10 of those suites were combined and were remade into Club Cambria." Another three "were combined to create Club 71," while an addition three suites "were grabbed to create the Miller Lite Home Court Club." That leaves 52 suites remaining with 45 currently "under lease." Walker noted the "situation involving the Bradley Center bears watching next year." Will companies and clients "renew their existing leases, or will they back away to save expenses?" (JSONLINE.com, 3/16).
OFF THE PACE: In Indianapolis, John Ketzenberger wrote the $15M the Pacers "want the city to shoulder for operating Conseco Fieldhouse" is "not even that much money." If the "major players" -- Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, Pacers co-Owner Herb Simon and the city's Capital Improvement Board -- "can't figure this one out, the city's entire sports, convention and tourism strategy is at risk." There is "no clear path to resolving this, but it is not a simple fight over taxes, potholes or subsidizing the rich." It is "about finding the right balance to make sure Indianapolis remains a good city, one that aspires to greatness" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 3/15).
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