A SACRAMENTO BEE editorial states the NBA Kings' new arena deal is "better for taxpayers than the tentative one approved a year ago." The "major improvements are that the city will own the land under the arena, as well as the building itself, and will have a firmer and higher guarantee on how much the Kings would pay under the 35-year lease" -- at least $6.5M a year, growing with inflation to at least $18M (SACRAMENTO BEE, 4/24).
DOWNS AND OUT? The AP's Bob Salsberg noted Suffolk Downs race track, New England's only thoroughbred facility, warned yesterday that the '14 racing season "would likely be the last one at the 79-year-old track unless Mohegan Sun is awarded the sole eastern Massachusetts resort casino license." Suffolk Downs has "promised to continue racing for at least the next 15 years if the Massachusetts Gaming Commission gives the license to Connecticut-based Mohegan Sun" (AP, 4/23).
BEGINNING A NEW ERA: New Era yesterday announced the opening of a New Era Team Store in the right-field pavilion plaza at Dodger Stadium. The store is more than 2,200 square feet and features New Era headwear as well as men's and women's apparel. New Era ambassador and Dodgers CF Matt Kemp is featured prominently throughout the store. The store is outfitted with a history wall that documents the brand and Dodgers' past (New Era).
TAKE A SEAT: Butler Univ. and People for Urban Progress yesterday said that they will "sell several hundred seats that were removed" from Hinkle Fieldhouse as part of its ongoing $34M renovation. In Indianapolis, Dana Hunsinger Benbow noted the seats cost $100 each, and proceeds will "raise money for the fieldhouse renovations as well as for PUP to do public installation of seats around Indianapolis" (INDYSTAR.com, 4/23).
