Venue News & Notes: Chargers Sack $1 Billion Stadium Proposal

The NFL’s only Southern California
franchise maintains that it needs a new stadium to remain financially
competitive, but a $1 billion stadium is taking things a little too far. The
San Diego Chargers this week rejected a developer’s proposal to build a $1
billion stadium as part of a redevelopment of the land surrounding Qualcomm Stadium,
the Chargers’ current home. The team says the project would be too enormous for
the site in Mission
Valley.
The San Diego
Chargers have rejected a developer’s proposal to build a $1
billion stadium as part of a redevelopment of the land surrounding Qualcomm
Stadium. Hours before the project was to be announced Thursday,
attorney Mark Fabiani sent the developer a letter saying the Chargers wanted
him to stop referring to the team in promoting the project. The team says the
project would be too enormous for the Mission Valley
site…
…As Santa Clara finally
releases its plan to help subsidize a new stadium for the San Francisco 49ers,
stadium finance experts and local critics say they will zero in on the fine
print. That means studying not just how stadium revenue is divvied up on
opening day, but also on the long-term economic projections and the strength of
taxpayer protections if those predictions don’t pan out…
…A Michigan company that
installed seating in the Prudential
Center is suing a New
Jersey Devils’ offshoot and two other defendants, seeking nearly $1.2 million
it claims it is still owed. The suit filed last week in federal court in Newark by Irwin Seating
Co. of Grand Rapids claims that Devils Renaissance Development, the arena developer, made changes in the original design that
resulted in additional costs, delays, and overtime. Irwin said its final
bill was $5.61 million, but it has received only $4.41 million from the
defendants. The suit seeks payment, compensatory damages, interest and legal
costs…
…Skyboxes at the new Red Bull Arena will range from
$65,000 to $75,000, the team has announced. The 25,000-seat arena is being constructed in Harrison, N.J., and is scheduled to open for the 2010 Major
League Soccer season. Each of the 30 skyboxes will seat 17 to 22 fans and
requires a multiyear lease. The prices include all food and beverages, except
alcohol. Leaseholders have access to all MLS regular season and playoff matches
and may use their suite for private events…
…Twelve years after Franklin County, Ohio voters rejected
a temporary tax increase to pay for a new downtown arena, a new plan has
emerged to increase local beer, wine, liquor and cigarette taxes to allow the county to purchase Nationwide Arena. The plan is
being floated around the Statehouse by Matthew Kallner, a lobbyist who
represents Worthington Industries, whose CEO, John P. McConnell, also owns a
majority stake in the Blue Jackets. Kallner reportedly wants language inserted
into the new two-year state budget that would allow Franklin County
commissioners to increase taxes for the arena purchase.