Venue News: South Florida, Santa Clara Named Finalists for Super Bowl L; Details Emerge About Proposed Warriors Arena

Compiled by Karen Hogan, Associate Editor, Sports Video Group

After the conclusion of its owners meetings, the NFL announced Super Bowl L in ‘16 will be played in either South Florida or in the 49ers’ new Santa Clara stadium. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the Dolphins’ Sun Life Stadium was in the running even though he has previously said the venue needs an upgrade. Asked about this inconsistency, he replied a renovation could be part of the final bid. Owners will choose the winner in May. The loser will then square off the same day against the Texans’ Reliant Stadium to host Super Bowl LI in ’17…

…After months of speculation, details are emerging about the arena that the Golden State Warriors want to build on San Francisco’s Embarcadero — how it might look and what it might cost city government. The team is proposing a 17,500-seat glass-covered arena on the southeast edge of Piers 30-32, with retail buildings along the Embarcadero and 8 acres of terraced plazas in between. Beneath the plazas would be 630 parking spaces.The arena’s height would be 135 feet, roughly the same as the top of the upper deck at AT&T Park. The design and finance plans also include such water-specific uses as kayak docks and a fireboat landing, part of the effort to win state approval for the project that the team seeks to finish in time for the NBA’s opening day in 2017…

…The Sacramento Kings will have a new name for their arena. The team on Monday announced a multiyear naming rights deal with Sleep Train Mattress Centers. The arena in Sacramento was called Power Balance Pavilion last season but the Kings were looking for a new partner after Power Balance filed for bankruptcy. The name change will become official in November. The Kings’ home opener this season is Nov. 5 against the Golden State Warriors…

…The University of Connecticut plans to break ground in the spring on its new basketball training center after raising $24 million toward the construction of the building. The UConn Foundation announced on Tuesday that it has donations and pledges in hand for 75% of the estimated $32 million in construction costs for the facility, which is being built entirely with private funds. The school said it expects to finance the remaining $8 million. School officials said the overall cost of the center, including furnishings and equipment would likely approach $40 million. The facility will be built adjacent to Gampel Pavilion on the site where the former football stadium was razed earlier this year. Plans call for separate practice courts for the men’s and women’s basketball teams, locker rooms, weight rooms, classrooms, a sports medicine center and offices for the basketball staff…

…The Nets said hello to Brooklyn and their first night at Barclays Center was mostly a success. The Nets rolled over the Washington Wizards, 98-88, for their second preseason victory. The jubilant crowd of 14,219 roared at Andray Blatche’s power dunks and broke into frequent choruses of “Brook-lyn” in the fourth quarter. Although 3,500 shy of a sellout, the attendance was the Nets’ highest in five years for a preseason game.