In Milwaukee, Kenneth Lamke cites sources as stating
that the payments for the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies
to cover repairs from the crane accident at Miller Park have
now reached $79M. Another $20M has been paid to the Brewers
"to cover the team's economic losses caused by the accident"
(MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 12/21)....In Miami, Edwin Pope
writes on the Marlins' new ballpark proposal: "I hope I'm
wrong in fearing it isn't going to happen -- not by the
current plan, anyway. But right now we seem to be trying to
put together a giant jigsaw puzzle with too many pieces cut
to impossible sizes and shapes" (MIAMI HERALD, 12/21).
THE SOUND OF SILENCE? In Green Bay, Kendra Meinert
notes that while the Packers' 30-year lease at Lambeau Field
"moved the stadium one step closer to becoming a potential
concert venue," a "bigger obstacle" than deciding which
musical artists may perform at Lambeau could be the lease
that states the Packers "have the right to reject any event
that presents 'an unacceptable risk of damage' to the
field," or is "incompatible or inconsistent" with any
sponsorship or promotional arrangement or the public image
of the NFL (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 12/21).
NOTES: In K.C., Jim Pedley wrote that season tickets
for the '01 racing season at KS Speedway are "almost sold
out." Execs said that about 72,000 season tickets have been
sold at the 75,000-seat facility (K.C. STAR, 12/20)....The
Saints and CA-based LiquidSeats have partnered to present a
ticketing platform for the rental of '01 Nokia Sugar Bowl
suites held by the Saints at the LA Superdome. Beginning
immediately, Sugar Bowl suites will be listed on the Saints'
Web site, www.neworleanssaints.com, where buyers and sellers
can view suite tickets listed for sale. The LiquidSeats
Engine makes all transactions for buyers and sellers, with
the company acting as financial intermediary and taking
responsibility for transferring tickets (LiquidSeats).
