nccanes
05-16-2003, 07:58 AM
Guyute - you get your light band sign thingy! I'm sure I'll get used to it, but I think those things are cooler to see on TV. In Atlanta, I kept getting distracted when the whole thing would switch from a dark ad (like UPS) to something really bright and flashy....
Arena board, N&O agree to settle suit
By J. ANDREW CURLISS, Staff Writer
RALEIGH -- The News & Observer and the public agency and private company that run the RBC Center have agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by the newspaper over access to financial information about the arena's operations.
The Centennial Authority, a 19-member appointed board that owns the West Raleigh arena, voted unanimously Thursday to settle The N&O's lawsuit and release those records, which had been withheld for three years, to the public.
Also agreeing to the settlement is the company hired to run the arena, Gale Force Sports and Entertainment, parent of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes. The N&O has agreed, too, after a mediation session last week.
The settlement is not final until all three parties sign the three-page document, but that is expected next week.
The newspaper filed the lawsuit last August seeking financial information that Gale Force and the authority had refused to release to the public, which paid $130 million of the arena's $160 million price tag.
The newspaper argued that Gale Force, a private company, is subject to the state Public Records Law -- which applies to public agencies -- because the authority contracted the arena's management to Gale Force.
Gale Force argued the financial information was a trade secret and had threatened to sue the authority if the data were released.
In the settlement, the authority and Gale Force agree that all information Gale Force provides to the authority is presumed to be a public record. That covers financial records, including a breakdown of expenses and revenues, required to be exchanged as part of Gale Force's long-term lease to operate the arena.
The N&O has agreed that Gale Force is not a public agency.
The newspaper's lawsuit also said the authority violated the state Open Meetings Law by discussing the arena's operations and finances behind closed doors. The settlement does not address that issue.
All parties agreed to characterize the settlement as amicable.
"Like any negotiation, we didn't get everything that we wanted, and they didn't get everything they wanted," said Melanie Sill, the N&O's executive editor. "But we did come to a settlement that's in the public interest and resolves the conflict in a timely manner."
Centennial Authority chairman Steve Stroud said he was satisfied with the outcome, too.
"We all came to a middle ground," he said.
in other action
* The authority backed off an earlier demand that Gale Force pay for about $150,000 in maintenance and capital repairs in exchange for an ahead-of-schedule $225,000 maintenance payment from the arena's naming-rights money. Authority members had made the demand based on a laundry list of items it thought were needed. But Gale Force officials said Thursday that the $150,000 in maintenance was part of a "wish list" and that only $225,000 worth of items are needed immediately.
* The authority agreed to let Gale Force install a $1.3 million electronic display board around the inside of the stadium seating area. Gale Force and a private company owned by Capitol Broadcasting Co. will split the cost. Gale Force will give the authority about 4 percent of total advertising revenues from the board.
Arena board, N&O agree to settle suit
By J. ANDREW CURLISS, Staff Writer
RALEIGH -- The News & Observer and the public agency and private company that run the RBC Center have agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by the newspaper over access to financial information about the arena's operations.
The Centennial Authority, a 19-member appointed board that owns the West Raleigh arena, voted unanimously Thursday to settle The N&O's lawsuit and release those records, which had been withheld for three years, to the public.
Also agreeing to the settlement is the company hired to run the arena, Gale Force Sports and Entertainment, parent of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes. The N&O has agreed, too, after a mediation session last week.
The settlement is not final until all three parties sign the three-page document, but that is expected next week.
The newspaper filed the lawsuit last August seeking financial information that Gale Force and the authority had refused to release to the public, which paid $130 million of the arena's $160 million price tag.
The newspaper argued that Gale Force, a private company, is subject to the state Public Records Law -- which applies to public agencies -- because the authority contracted the arena's management to Gale Force.
Gale Force argued the financial information was a trade secret and had threatened to sue the authority if the data were released.
In the settlement, the authority and Gale Force agree that all information Gale Force provides to the authority is presumed to be a public record. That covers financial records, including a breakdown of expenses and revenues, required to be exchanged as part of Gale Force's long-term lease to operate the arena.
The N&O has agreed that Gale Force is not a public agency.
The newspaper's lawsuit also said the authority violated the state Open Meetings Law by discussing the arena's operations and finances behind closed doors. The settlement does not address that issue.
All parties agreed to characterize the settlement as amicable.
"Like any negotiation, we didn't get everything that we wanted, and they didn't get everything they wanted," said Melanie Sill, the N&O's executive editor. "But we did come to a settlement that's in the public interest and resolves the conflict in a timely manner."
Centennial Authority chairman Steve Stroud said he was satisfied with the outcome, too.
"We all came to a middle ground," he said.
in other action
* The authority backed off an earlier demand that Gale Force pay for about $150,000 in maintenance and capital repairs in exchange for an ahead-of-schedule $225,000 maintenance payment from the arena's naming-rights money. Authority members had made the demand based on a laundry list of items it thought were needed. But Gale Force officials said Thursday that the $150,000 in maintenance was part of a "wish list" and that only $225,000 worth of items are needed immediately.
* The authority agreed to let Gale Force install a $1.3 million electronic display board around the inside of the stadium seating area. Gale Force and a private company owned by Capitol Broadcasting Co. will split the cost. Gale Force will give the authority about 4 percent of total advertising revenues from the board.