The Long Island Association, the region's largest business group, yesterday "backed the effort to build a new Nassau Coliseum and ballpark." The LIA argued it would "create jobs and enhance our region." But Association for a Better Long Island President Desmond Ryan said that the deal "would 'fleece the taxpayers' because they would foot the bill for a plan that primarily benefits" Islanders Owner Charles Wang. Ryan added, "This has nothing to do with the Islanders. This has everything to do with a real estate deal" (NEWSDAY, 7/7).
GETTING A LITTLE HARDER TO HELP: In San Diego, Roger Showley reported local redevelopment projects "face a $69.8 million cut in revenues this year and $16.5 million annually thereafter, under the new state budget enacted last week." Centre City Development Corp. Exec VP Frank Alessi said that for larger projects like a proposed new stadium for the Chargers, "it's problematic how much aid CCDC would be able to provide" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/6).
SPORTING A TRENDY LOOK: In K.C., Alyson Raletz reports MLS Sporting KC affixed QR codes to the "back of each chair" in Livestrong Sporting Park "in a novel approach to the trendy, boxy, pixilated bar codes being used in marketing campaigns around the world." The "often 1-inch-by-1-inch black-and-white squares allow businesses to interact with customers and solicit business in a nontraditional format." Sporting KC uses the chair codes to "track fans and link them to an internal point reward system." Team staff is "seeing strong use from early adopters, who gain points whenever they scan their seats and other QR codes" around the stadium (K.C. BUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/1 issue).
MAKING THE SWITCH: In Columbus, Mark Znidar reports Ohio State Univ. is installing AstroTurf GameDay Grass at Bill Davis Stadium and it "should be ready by the time the Buckeyes begin fall practice." Yankees RF and OSU alum Nick Swisher "provided a generous donation to get the project started" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 7/7).
