This week's podcast:
Penguins aren't left out in the cold
NEW!
May 9,
2008
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story) Each
week senior editor Dave Wright brings you news
from the arena world on the Arena Digest podcast.
This week's topics: The Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
aren't left out in the cold with a new arena
design; back to the drawing board for Tucson;
Bruce Ratner finally admits what we all know about
his Atlantic Yards project; and Michigan Tech's
arena is getting a much-needed facelift.
Arena Digest podcasts are in an MP3 format and can
be played on almost any PC or downloaded to a
portable device, such as an Apple iPod. Or, click
on the icon below to listen to the podcast
directly on your PC. Have a comment for Dave or a
show suggestion? Drop him at a line at
dwright@augustpublications.com.
Board
recommends new Evansville arena
NEW! May 9,
2008
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story) The
Roberts Stadium Advisory Board has recommended a
replacement for Evansville's Roberts Stadium, with
the next step being the hiring of an architect and
financial consultant to evaluate potential funding
sources and budgets. A report from Gateway
Consultants indicated the Evansville market could
support a 10,000-seat arena costing $90 million
and suggested several funding sources, but warned
specific numbers would be based on a specific
arena design. The City Council must approve
spending funds on an architect and a financial
consultant, but any proposal is likely to pass:
Roberts Stadium is a smaller arena -- for
instance, it's too small to house an ice sheet for
professional hockey -- that's probably reached the
end of its functional life. The International
Hockey League has already expressed great interest
in placing a team in Evansville.
More from the Evansville Courier-Press.
Independence
puts hold on Global contract pending negotiations
NEW! May 9,
2008
(feedback)
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story) Nobody
is saying this is a deal breaker, but it cannot be
considered good news. Plans for a hockey arena in
Independence are on hold while the city and the
developer clarify some important contract details.
KMBC-TV reported that the city wants to iron out some details
with Global Entertainment about who is responsible
for what. City officials are still saying the
arena will be completed in time for a Central
Hockey League team to play there in the 2009-10
season.
Despite the current disagreement, crews are still working at
the site near Interstate 70 and Little Blue
Parkway, along with others involved in the
operation.
New NKU
arena to open Saturday
NEW! May 9,
2008
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story) The
$68 million Bank of Kentucky Center at Northern
Kentucky University is set to open tomorrow with
spring graduation ceremonies. It's not totally
done -- the site has a temporary certificate of
occupancy and leaders don't expect it to be fully
open until September -- but crews are working hard
to bring it up to passable status for the
ceremonies.
Warriors
offer to put millions into new Moose Jaw arena
NEW! May 9,
2008
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story) The
Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) are stepping up to help
themselves get a new home. The team owners pledged
$2.5 million to help build a proposed multiplex
that would include a new arena. The pledge was
made under the condition the Moose Jaw City
Council gives the go-ahead for the project, which
could cost from $36-60 million. The league told
the team it needed a new building by the start of
the 2009-10 season or it risked losing the
franchise. The team's current home, the Civic
Centre, was built in 1959 and hold just 2,700
people. The WHL has said the arena is no longer up
to league standards. If the Moose jaw City Council
gave the approval, it is expected the WHL would
cut the Warriors some slack. Moose Jaw has been a
member of the WHL since 1984.
Renderings courtesy of the Pittsburgh Penguins and
HOK Sport.
It's
official: Tucson tortoise-shell design dead May 7,
2008
(feedback)
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story) Too
bad. Tucson officials officially scrapped a
neat-looking tortoise-shell design for a new arena
and downscaled the entire project to fit on 7
acres in the city's downtown, near the convention
center. The original plan called for the unique
design and 12,300 seats, but the move of the arena
site means a smaller venue, probably around 9,300
seats. Budgetary considerations were at play: the
cost estimate for the cool design and larger
facility came in at $196 million, and the city
council was adamant about sticking to a lower $130
million budget.
More from the Arizona Daily Star.
Newspaper:
UAA arena plan sound May 7,
2008
(feedback)
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story) The
Anchorage Daily News comes out in favor of the
latest arena plan from the University of Alaska
Anchorage, calling the $80-million plan a sound
way to replace Wells Fargo Sports Complex, a
rather limited (1,200 seats) facility sorely in
need of replacement. Part of what's kept UAA from
obtaining state funding for a new arena has
nothing to do with the merits of any plan; last
year, for instance, the governor vetoed $1 million
in planning money because of budget shortfalls.
Now, with a budget surplus in hand and a more
refined arena plan in place, UAA has a much better
shot at state funding.
MacInnes
receiving much-needed facelift May 6,
2008
(feedback)
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story) Renovations
have begun at John J. MacInnes Student Ice Arena,
the home of the Michigan Tech Huskies hockey team.
Every seat is being replaced: 2,843 orange, green
and yellow seats are being replaced by 2,913
plastic seats in the school's colors, black and
yellow. Repairs in the facility's concrete floor
follows. MacInnes opened in 1972; the Huskies play
in the WCHA.
More from the Mining Gazette.
Dave Wright: In Waterloo,
bells are ringing and fans are happy at the arena
April
25, 2008
(feedback)
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story) Of
all the cities that are still playing hockey this
April, few can top the intensity of those who
showed up for Waterloo’s 4-1 win in Game 1 over
the Chicago Steel in the USHL playoffs. Granted,
the attendance number at Young Arena of 2,003 may
not impress you when compared to the final figures
for, say, Detroit or Montreal but take my word for
it: these folks care passionately about their
team. In fact, Iowa – not normally considered a
hot bed for the sport – has truly taken to the ice
game. Young Arena is a smallish building (there
are 2,929 seats with room for about 600 more to
stand) with low-hanging ceilings. As a result, it
doesn’t take a lot to make the place noisy.
Although fan output alone could probably turn the
trick, the Black Hawks couldn’t resist following
the lead of many other teams. In addition to
piping in loud music, they sold small cowbells as
well. The resulting mayhem was so loud that a
Chicago assistant coach sitting in the small press
box wore ear plugs all night as he made notes.
Dave Wright
takes in the scene at Young Arena.
Arena Visit: Wells Fargo
Arena / Iowa Events Center
April
16, 2008
(feedback)
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story) Not
all modern arenas are created equal. While pretty
much every newer arena has suites and other
premium seating, good sight lines and a signature
design feature, you rarely see all the elements
come together just right. But Wells Fargo Arena in
Des Moines is a gem that comes awfully close to a
perfect fit. The achievement is particularly
impressive when you consider that this jewel had
to be placed perfectly within a crown -- namely,
the sprawling Iowa Events Center on the northeast
edge of downtown. Originally, Des Moines featured
the 1950s-era Veterans Memorial Auditorium,
followed by Polk Convention Complex in 1985
located a few blocks closer to downtown. Wells
Fargo Arena and the Hy-Vee Hall linked the two
older facilities, creating the impressive Iowa
Events Center.
We
tour the arena and the adjoining events center.