Allegheny (PA) County Commissioner Bob Cranmer is
sending letters to 80 local companies in an effort to raise
"at least" $31M in private investment for the Steelers and
Pirates new stadiums. The companies are being asked to
invest in the "depreciable" physical assets of the stadiums,
which include scoreboards, seats and electronic advertising
marquees (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 7/23). Stephen Leeper, a
"top aide" to Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy, has been named
Exec Dir of the city's Public Auditorium Authority. In his
new role, Leeper will "be the point man" overseeing the new
facilities for the Steelers and Pirates (PITTSBURGH POST-
GAZETTE, 7/22)....Organizers of a grass-roots petition drive
yesterday in N.Y. filed "more than" 40,000 voter signatures
at City Hall in a bid "to hold a Yankee Stadium referendum
in November." The petition effort is separate from a
"similar referendum sought by" the NYC Council (N.Y. DAILY
NEWS, 7/23)....Devils Owner John McMullen said that his
plans for a new Hoboken arena "would not change" even if
Giants co-Owner Robert Tisch moves ahead with his proposed
Meadowlands development plans, which includes a new arena
and other sports-themed attractions. McMullen, on the Tisch
plan: "I wish him luck, but it doesn't affect me one way or
the other" (RECORD, 7/21)....A $1.7M project to expand the
Packers' locker room and training facility has been
finalized, with construction slated to begin after the
season. The project will add 16,000 square feet to the
team's administration building (JOURNAL SENTINEL, 7/23).
