DAILY RACING FORM’s Matt Hegarty reported Penn National Gaming “has reached an agreement to sell its stake in Pimlico Racecourse and Laurel Park to a company that is being set up by” MI Developments CEO Frank Stronach. The transaction “will allow Penn National to divest itself of an investment that soured shortly after the company bought” the 50% stake in the two tracks early in ‘10. Penn National said that the stake “will be transferred to Stron-MJC Limited Partnership.” That company also is “expected to receive the stake in the two tracks currently held by MI Developments, which will transfer all of its racing and gambling assets to companies controlled by Stronach on June 30 as part of a deal approved by shareholders of MI Developments earlier this year” (DRF.com, 6/16).
ROCK ON: In Cincinnati, Lori Kurtzman notes Paul McCartney's Aug. 4 concert at Great American Ball Park “will mark the first stand-alone performance in the park's history -- and, officials hope, the beginning of a long list of stadium acts.” The Reds “have been working for years to lure a big act” to their ballpark. Reds COO Phil Castellini said that the team “got close to landing rock bands U2 and Bon Jovi,” and this year they “nearly signed up the Eagles and Rascal Flatts” (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 6/17).
JUST IN CASE: In Milwaukee, Don Walker wrote the Bucks are the “most important tenant at the Bradley Center,” and if the NBA lockout “goes into effect and stays that way into the regular season, that's a big problem for the revenue-starved" arena. Bradley Center President & CEO Steve Costello said that he and his staff “had begun to plan for the possibility, however remote, that the lockout will be a reality.” One possibility “is reducing staff, or cutting the center's operational budget if a lockout drags on.” Costello also disclosed that the Bradley Center BOD “has decided not to increase the arena's ticket facility fee.” The current fee is “$1.35 per ticket for tickets priced $12 or more for all Bradley Center events, and $1 per ticket for tickets that are less than $12” (JSONLINE.com, 6/16).
DROP YOUR WEAPONS: In Columbus, AJ Mazzolini noted major sports venues in the city “plan to continue their bans on weapons, even after" Ohio state legislators approved a bill Wednesday to "allow concealed weapons in establishments that serve alcohol.” Arenas and stadiums will “continue restrictions on guns and knives under a current state law that permits privately owned or leased property to prohibit weapons” (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 6/16).
