On Long Island, James Bernstein notes Nassau County Exec Edward Mangano's plan for the county-owned land around the Nassau Coliseum “was dealt a blow Thursday after Long Island's largest developers group objected over the issue of who has the right to develop the property.” The Association for a Better Long Island on Thursday told Mangano “it was unhappy because Islanders' owner Charles Wang was negotiating with him for the right to develop not just a new sports arena and a ballfield, but the rest of the property around the arena, which amounts to about 40 acres.” ABLI Exec Dir Desmond Ryan said that the county “should put that taxpayer-owned land up for bid” (NEWSDAY, 5/20).
WHAT'S IN A NAME? T’Wolves officials said that Target Corp. “hasn’t made a decision yet whether it will continue to hold the naming rights on Target Center when its contract runs out at the end of September.” In Minneapolis, Sid Hartman noted the T’Wolves “have 14 years left on their lease with the city and would prefer a 14-year naming rights contact.” There have been reports that South Dakota-based Sanford Health “would be a candidate, but apparently that’s not the case.” Life Time Fitness, which “has a health club in the arena, is reported to be one of the leading candidates if Target doesn’t renew” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/19).
LACING UP THE SKATES: In Boston, John Connolly notes the universities of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont may participate in a “college hockey doubleheader at Fenway Park next January.” Fenway Sports Management President Sam Kennedy “offered no confirmation” on the games but had “plenty of optimism.” Kennedy: “While there is nothing to report, as we said in the past, the Red Sox would love to work with the city of Boston and bring outdoor skating and ice hockey back to Fenway Park.” Fenway in January ’10 hosted the “largest crowd ever to watch a college hockey game in the eastern United States” when Boston Univ. defeated Boston College in front of 38,472 fans (BOSTON HERALD, 5/20).
DEAD ON ARRIVAL? In Milwaukee, Walker & Sandler note Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Milwaukee County Exec Chris Abele are “opposed to extending the Miller Park stadium sales tax to help build a new arena” for the Bucks. The idea was “floated” by Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce President Timothy Sheehy, who “raised the possibility at a civic forum Wednesday, in part to jump-start a communitywide discussion on the Bucks’ future in Milwaukee, and finding the best way to build a new facility.” Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said he considered the idea “a dead issue” as soon as Walker announced his opposition (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 5/20).
