In California, Art Marroquin noted China-based development company LT Global Investment is “revising its plans in order to use fewer parking spaces at Angel Stadium for tenants and customers” of a proposed $500M mixed-use complex. However, Angels officials said that they “are not willing to hand over any stadium parking spaces.” LT Global's “plan initially relied on using about 2,000 parking spaces.” But LT Global Investment Project Development Dir Randy Jefferson said he is working to get that number down to “less than 1,500.” The Angels “emphasized that the proposal still would impact operations during baseball games and special events at the city-owned stadium” (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 5/16).
GETTING TO WORK: In Winnipeg, Gary Lawless wrote the CFL Blue Bombers “should be concerned about the state of their stadium, how it's going to get fixed and who is going to pay for it.” They should “also be worried about the folks in charge, some of whom have been intimately involved in the mess known as Investors Group Field.” The stadium “needs to be repaired and transformed into a fully functioning facility capable of churning out the level of revenue needed to compete in the CFL.” The cost of the repairs “can't fall on the Bombers,” as they are “already over-burdened with debt.” Correcting stadium deficiencies must be President & CEO Wade Miller's “top priority” (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 5/16).
BETTER FOR ALL: Daytona Int’l Speedway officials yesterday announced that work has “started on safety initiatives that include additional ‘soft wall’ coverage as well as asphalt in one area formerly covered with grass.” In Daytona Beach, Ken Willis notes the addition of new SAFER barrier “became a hot topic in the aftermath” of Kyle Busch’s wreck the day before the Daytona 500. The inside retaining wall, inside Turn 1 and “beginning with the exit from the infield road course, will be realigned and fitted" with the SAFER barrier. Some 20,000 square feet of asphalt “will be put down to replace the grass in that area of the track -- the lack of traction on grass adds to the inability to slow or possibly control a wrecking car” (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 5/19).
