In Detroit, Helene St. James notes in an effort to "make attendance woes less visible" for games at Little Caesars Arena, the year-old facility has "black covers on the red seat backs in the lower bowl." A months-long installation of "new black seats will begin in December." Thursday was the first time the Red Wings "skated on the main ice sheet since the renovations." Red Wings G Jonathan Bernier "wondered if it might affect seeing pucks being dumped in from the other end of the ice" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 10/12).
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE: In Las Vegas, Mick Akers notes a steel beam "signed by various dignitaries" was placed atop the north wall of the planned $150M, 10,000-seat Las Vegas Ballpark. There are 179 days until the Triple-A PCL Las Vegas 51s "play their first game" in the new ballpark. Team President Don Logan said that there is "no contingency plan in case there is a delay" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 10/12).
NOT ENOUGH: Meadowlands Racetrack Chair & CEO Jeff Gural said that revenues from the East Rutherford facility's new sports betting operation "simply are not enough to close the competitive gap with tracks in neighboring states." In New Jersey, Stephen Edelson notes Gural "hammered home that point" when it was announced that the track will "apply for just 68 days of live racing" in '19, down from 90 this year (ASBURY PARK PRESS, 10/12).
