Venue News: Detroit Red Wings Break Ground on New Arena; AEG Seeks Extension on Farmers Field Project

After years of debate and delays, civic leaders broke ground Thursday on a new sports and events arena that will host the Detroit Red Wings for decades into the future and serve as the epicenter for a massive entertainment district development, writes the Detroit Free Press. The celebratory event near Woodward and Sibley north of downtown, featured a band and speakers who heaped praise on the Ilitch family that owns the Wings and will operate the arena, and on state and city leaders who shepherded the complicated arena deal. There were a few quips about the Detroit Pistons possibly sharing the arena one day. The $450 million stadium is expected to be finished and ready for the Red Wings’ season opener in late 2017…

…The Anschutz Entertainment Group, the company behind Farmers Field, a proposed $1.5 billion football stadium and convention center expansion in downtown Los Angeles, is seeking a six-month extension to its existing agreement with the city of Los Angeles for the project, writes ESPN Los Angeles. In a letter sent to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson and Council Member Curren Price, AEG requested an extension to allow for additional time to pursue an NFL team and also to further assess and develop an alternative development plan for the expansion and modernization of the Convention Center and the potential construction of another large hotel at L.A Live. While AEG has been pushing the Farmers Field project for four years, this six-month extension will likely be the final push for the stadium project before the plan is abandoned and another convention center expansion plan is adopted…

…More than half a century ago, Kohei Jinno was evicted to make way for a new stadium for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, writes the Wall Street Journal. Now, as the city prepares to host the Games once more in 2020, the 80-year-old is being asked to move again for a new arena. At the time of Mr. Jinno’s first eviction, few questioned the need to remake a capital devastated during World War II. This time, the $1.7 billion project has led to more soul-searching, showing the dilemma facing modern cities like Tokyo when they host sports megaevents. His apartment and the old stadium are to be torn down for the new 80,000-seat arena…

…The proposed D.C. United stadium at Buzzard Point will be in use 46 times per year, and for much more than just soccer, according to the Washington Business Journal. The District last week released the transportation management plan for the $300 million, 20,000-seat stadium complex. Prepared by Gorove/Slade Transportation Planners and Engineers, the document predicts what routes and modes fans will take to the stadium area, where they will park, how they will walk from Metro and parking lots to the arena, and what improvements are needed to get them there…

…The Colorado State University community has stepped up to deliver record-level donations to fund a new, on-campus football stadium, and there is a practical and readily achievable plan of finance to pay for it, writes The Denver Post. The CSU Board of Governors should adopt this plan and challenge the people in the university responsible for delivering it to do so. Over the last few months, representations from the university’s administration and press articles have consistently and significantly understated the financial support for the stadium. One report indicated as little as $17 million had been raised. As of early August, $44.3 million worth of commitments had been secured and an additional $15 million of donations were imminent…

…Duke University will launch three projects to enhance Wallace Wade Stadium following the current season, Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Kevin White announced on Wednesday.  This past weekend, the Duke Board of Trustees approved design and granted construction authorization for the three initiatives, which are being funded entirely by private gifts specifically for the renovation, writes WCTI. The three developments include a new tower to replace the Finch-Yeager Building on the west side of the stadium, a new video board and speaker arrangement to be located in the south end zone as well as concourse enhancements on the North and West Gates of the facility, which opened in 1929 as Duke Stadium and was renamed for Hall of Fame coach Wallace Wade in 1967…

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