The Bi-Lo Center in Greenville, SC, and its developer,
Carl Scheer, were profiled by Leah Beth Ward of the
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, who wrote the facility, opening in
October, will "set a new standard for minor league sports,
according to sports developers and finance experts."
Scheer's company, ScheerSports, which also owns the ECHL
Greenville Grrrowl, which will play in the arena, "is in a
position to profit handsomely from the enterprise without
having taken significant financial risk." Scheer invested
about 2% of the arena's $63M cost, or about $1M. In
addition, ScheerSports will receive "at least" $1.4M in
development fees upon completion of the arena, though it
must cover any cost overruns. Advance sales of luxury and
premium seating and naming rights "have been so strong that
ScheerSports was able to upgrade the scoreboard to major
league quality." Scheer also signed Bell Atlantic Mobile to
a five-year deal worth $800,000 to be a permanent signage
sponsor of a new scoreboard (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 4/12). In
addition, Bell Atlantic will equip suites with a cellular
phone for free local calls during events (Bi-Lo Center).
