In Jacksonville, Timothy Gibbons reports SMG “will face off with just one competitor as the city looks to sign a new contract” for its entertainment facilities. Global Spectrum “also submitted a proposal” yesterday. SMG is now paid about $1M yearly "in management fees to handle the facilities. However, the city "also has to kick in" about $10M to cover expenses "that exceed revenue brought in by the venues.” Neither of the company's proposals “will be made public for 30 days, as state law allows them to be kept under wraps unless the city selects one of the companies to do the job before then” (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 5/17).
ON OUR WAY: Greater Baltimore Committee CEO Donald Fry on Tuesday said that more than 35% of the private financing needed for a new $500M downtown arena and hotel "has been identified” (BIZJOURNALS.com, 5/16).
HALTON HEARS A WHO: The AP reported the football field house at the Univ. of North Carolina-Charlotte “has a new name -- Halton Field House.” The name comes after “a donation from Dale Halton, a long-time supporter of the college’s athletic program.” UNCC’s basketball and tennis facilities “are also named after Halton.” The school in '13 will field a football team for the first time since '48, and is “actively seeking a donor for naming rights for the football stadium.” The football field itself has "already been named after Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson and banking industry pioneer Hugh McColl” (AP, 5/16).
