Venue News: Niners’ New Stadium Projected to Cost $1.2 Billion; IOC Abandons Venue-Covering Plans for London

The cost of the 49ers’ new stadium in Santa Clara has increased by $157 million to nearly $1.2 billion, as revealed in the first of several key approvals the city made this week. The stadium project as a whole will cost roughly $1.177 billion, in contrast with the $1.02 billion estimate presented in December, according to a complex financing deal Santa Clara leaders approved 6-1 Tuesday night. Construction alone, estimated to cost $1.05 billion, will be the biggest expense. Building the stadium will cost $29 million more than previously projected because of several design tweaks, including reconfigured stair towers; an expanded network for cell phone service; upgrades to the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems; and other changes, according to the 49ers. The projected cost also includes $50 million for emerging technology upgrades…

…Denis Oswald, the IOC chairman of the London coordination commission, said the committee had abandoned a plan to have covered stadiums at outdoor venues for the Olympics.  According to Oswald, if there is inclement weather, “the people will be wet.” He said he had been battling for more than a year to have some cover provided at venues for rowing, equestrian, canoe slalom, triathlon, hockey, canoe sprint, and beach volleyball, but has now conceded his lobbying has failed. Spectators have paid up to £450 for a seat at those Olympic events and there is uncertainty about the ability for spectators to bring umbrellas into the venues…

…Mitsubishi Electric has installed a new high-definition video display system at the south end of CenturyLink Field, bringing 10mm (ODT10) SMD technology to the home of the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Sounders FC. The new ODT10 display will be the highest pixel density display in the NFL stadium market. The new video boards are the same size and layout as the previous boards: in the north end, approximately 44 feet wide by 50 feet high and in the south end, approximately 84 feet wide by 24 feet high. The X8 display is an advanced lamp-based LED product produced by Mitsubishi Electric. It provides ultra wide viewing angles, a high LED fill ratio and high contrast with the low power consumption…

…New Jersey’s quest to build one of the nation’s largest shopping centers has long been plagued by money problems, but now a new obstacle has emerged: potential opposition from two professional football teams, the Giants and Jets. The powerful franchises are concerned that the American Dream Meadowlands would intensify traffic around their home field, MetLife Stadium, worsening what is already the No. 1 complaint from fans. The stadium is unique among the region’s sports facilities in that the majority of fans travel there by car. Exiting the parking lot already takes about an hour. The sports teams want the developers to shut down an amusement and water park on the days of their 20 home games during the regular and preseason, people familiar with the negotiations said.