In Daytona Beach, Godwin Kelly reports crews at Daytona Int'l Speedway yesterday "began installing 10,000 seats on the east end of the almost mile-long frontstretch grandstands." The $400M Daytona Rising renovation project is "on target to meet the deadline for the July 4 weekend events at the track." The seat installation "follows the complete removal of the Sprint Tower, all the seats on the backstretch and most recently, the seats in the Campbell section of the old grandstand." DIS President Joie Chitwood III said that turning the grandstands "into the first motorsports stadium is '60 to 70 percent complete'" (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 4/28).
WINGS AND A PRAYER: Univ. of Michigan professor Mark Rosentraub said that the price of the Red Wings' arena and entertainment development project "is likely to go beyond" the $650M total cost frequently cited by developers. Rosentraub: "How much more, you have to wait until the dust settles and the buildings start coming out of the ground." MLIVE.com's David Muller noted the developers' figure "includes at least" a $250M public contribution (MLIVE.com, 4/27).
NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: In Tampa, Contorno & Thalji in front-page piece reported Lightning Owner Jeff Vinik's development team "has begun exploring the idea of moving" the Museum of Science & Industry to Vinik's $1B development near Amalie Arena. The museum currently has "no definite or decided plan to leave" its current location near the Univ. of South Florida. Still, both parties "are intrigued by the prospect that a move -- facilitated by financial help from Vinik -- could benefit everyone" (TAMPABAY.com, 4/27).
YOU LUCKY DUCKS: On Long Island, Ken Schachter reported the independent Atlantic League Long Island Ducks have "added a 12-seat Fan Can" -- a "twist on the standard luxury box" -- to the 6,000-seat Bethpage Ballpark. The team is "offering two Fan Can packages: $400 for use of the roughly 20-foot can, two large pizzas and vouchers for 12 fountain beverages; $500 gives you the same package except that 12 Trout Town beers from the Roscoe Beer Company -- the upstate company that sponsors the Fan Can -- are substituted for the fountain drinks." The Fan Can "was concocted" by Long Island-based Seating Solutions (NEWSDAY, 4/25).
