Venue News: Detroit Red Wings Plan Most-Expensive NHL Arena; Jaguars Eye Additional Stadium Upgrades

The Detroit Red Wings are focused on developing the finest arena in the NHL. As a result, it will most likely be the most expensive hockey barn when it opens for the 2017-18 season, writes the Sporting News. Team officials announced this week the addition of $95 million in upgrades to arena design, including a practice rink to be built 40 feet underneath an outdoor plaza next to the facility. The plaza itself, featuring a large LED video board, will serve as a focal point for special events such as Detroit Lions draft-day parties, said Red Wings President Tom Wilson. All told, the design improvements have increased the total project cost to $627 million, which would make it the most expensive NHL-specific arena…

…The city of Jacksonville and Jaguars owner Shad Khan have $90 million in upgrades planned for EverBank Field, writes the Associated Press. The city still needs to get funding approved for its half of the project, which includes remodeled club seating, an indoor practice facility, and a 5,000-seat amphitheater. The practice facility and the amphitheater would be outside the south end of the stadium. Khan already has pledged $45 million toward the project, adding to the $31 million he already invested in the stadium. The billionaire spent $20 million for the world’s largest scoreboards last year and $11 million for locker room and training room renovations in 2013…

… TCU will have to wait a little longer to play games in its new basketball arena, writes the Associated Press. The school recently said that weather and other unforeseen circumstances led to construction delays. The $72 million arena will not be ready for the men’s and women’s teams to play their openers on Nov. 13. The season-opening doubleheader will be played at the University Recreation Center across the street…

…Penn State’s athletic director says she would prefer to renovate the university’s aging icon, Beaver Stadium, rather than build a new one on campus, according to the Associated Press. The announcement came Wednesday after Sandy Barbour addressed the Nittany Lion faithful during a town hall meeting organized by Penn State’s athletic program. Barbour also said she wasn’t opposed to reducing Beaver Stadium’s seating capacity as part of a future renovation. Beaver Stadium, with just under 107,000 seats, is the second-largest college football venue and the third-largest stadium in the world. But university officials said they’ve received complaints for years that the building was overcrowded…

…After months of twists, turns, legal fights, legislative threats and, more recently, watchable football, the Rams’ future in St. Louis could be hitting a critical juncture, according to St. Louis Public Radio. Local and state politicians could make consequential decisions on funding a new stadium, while NFL owners may soon vote on whether the Rams, the San Diego Chargers or the Oakland Raiders will venture off to the Los Angeles area. The site offers a look at what’s ahead — and what’s in the way — in this meandering stadium scramble…

…Yankee Stadium is, arguably, the most iconic sports stadium in the world (the British might vote for Wembley Stadium in London.) The House That Ruth Built opened in 1923 (the Yanks won their first World Series that season); the new stadium opened its doors across the street from the original in 2009 (the Yanks won their 27th World Series that year.) Sustainability was a key facet of the design process and is an integral part the new ballpark’s operational DNA. GreenSportsBlog visited with Doug Behar, the Yankees’ VP of Stadium Operations, at his offices in Yankee Stadium to discuss the many sustainable aspects of the Big (Green) Ball Orchard in the South Bronx.