Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith has asked the
local corporations that helped build the downtown Circle
Centre mall to help fund a new arena for the Pacers,
according to Kathleen Johnston of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR-
NEWS. Although details "are still up in the air,"
Goldsmith's plan calls for the Circle Centre equity partners
to sell their stakes in the mall and invest the proceeds in
a new arena. Goldsmith "appears to have found some
enthusiasm for his new funding plan." PSI Energy Inc.
President John Mutz said some companies that invested in the
mall will not be able to invest in the arena, but that "most
of them will. I'm optimistic." Goldsmith hopes to raise
$50M from local firms (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 3/11).
ARENA PLANS UNVEILED: Plans for a new Pacers arena,
including an estimated 65 luxury suites and 2,000 premium
club seats, were unveiled Tuesday. Designed by Ellerbe
Becket, the new arena would have a "wider concourse at seat
level" and a seating bowl with enough seats for 18,000-
20,000 spectators. Also planned are a practice facility, a
restaurant, a cafe, a rotunda "that might serve as a hall of
fame," a team store, more than 100 concession sites and an
outside terrace (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 3/12).
