Venue News: US Open Construction Underway; Minnesota United FC Unveils Stadium Renderings

Six months before the US Open opens across the street from Citi Field, there is plenty of construction underway at the USTA Bille Jean King National Tennis Center, including the crown jewel atop Arthur Ashe Stadium, a steel retractable roof that will be fully functional before the first match of the year’s final Grand Slam begins. In addition, writes the New York Daily News, this year’s Open will unveil a new Grandstand stadium with nearly 2,000 more seats than the old version…

…Fans in Minnesota got a first glimpse at what their team’s new stadium might look like when Minnesota United FC released new renderings for their planned facility in the Snelling-Midway neighborhood of Saint Paul, writes MLSsoccer.com. The renderings for the 20,000-seat stadium, which will be designed by Kansas City-based sports architecture firm Populous, were revealed in a press conference by Minnesota owner Bill McGuire and Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. The full set of renderings, plus a full list of the new stadium’s features, can be found on Minnesota’s official website…

…The New York Yankees have selected HOK to form a master plan for future upgrades to Yankee Stadium, bypassing Populous, their longtime architect, writes SportsBusiness Journal. By choosing HOK, which includes the old 360 Architecture sports practice that the firm acquired in January 2015, the Yankees have picked a new partner over Populous, the ballpark’s original designer and architect for more than 20 MLB facilities…

…As Bridgestone Arena turns 20 later this year, the Nashville Predators and Metro are set to explore new development opportunities outside the arena that could include major additions to the facility, writes The Tennessean. Kansas City-based sports architecture firm Populous Inc. is leading what is projected to be a three- to four-month process to study all sides of the arena site, underutilized space surrounding it and whether to pursue building additions or other development…

…San Diego Chargers chairman Dean Spanos reiterated that in order for the team to stay in San Diego beyond the 2016 season it would need a new stadium, writes CBSSports.com. Recently, the Chargers released a statement updating the search for a new stadium site. Mission Valley, which is about eight miles north of downtown (and where Qualcomm Stadium is located), was in the running, along with a downtown location near Petco Park, home of MLB’s San Diego Padres…

…The likelihood of the Arizona Coyotes ending up in Tempe is increasing each day and the organization is hopeful a deal with Arizona State could happen by the end of the season, writes azcentral. Coyotes president, CEO and co-owner Anthony LeBlanc has mentioned his “tight alliance” with ASU in the past and it’s true. Both sides have said privately how positive the process has been. Because it’s a deal that wouldn’t require a referendum, the process of a building a shared facility for the Coyotes and ASU – which moved up to the NCAA level this season – could get under way quickly once an agreement is reached…

…Tottenham have confirmed that their £400 million renovation plans for White Hart Lane have received approval from the Mayor of London, writes the Evening Standard. The north London club’s plans were given the green light by Haringey Council in December 2015 but Boris Johnson’s stamp of approval was still needed to ratify the scheme. Spurs hope to move into a new 61,000 capacity stadium, which will also stage NFL matches, in the time for the 2018-19 season and chairman Daniel Levy is delighted to have taken another step forward.