In Landover, MD, USAirways Arena "is almost certain to
be torn down to make way for the shopping and entertainment
complex being planned there." Facility Owner Abe Pollin,
who is a partner in the new complex: "We played with all
different types of projects. The final result is we feel
that by taking the arena down, we can have a much better
project" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/25)....In N.Y., Anthony
McCarron writes that Isles President John Sanders is "ready
to reopen the stalled talks" between the team and Nassau
County officials on a new arena. Sanders dismissed
speculation that talks would be on hold due to the team's
uncertain ownership situation: "The Milsteins' expectation
and Steven Gluckstern's expectation is that they're going to
continue to own this team. There's no one lurking out there
who's about to buy this team" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/25)....In
St. Paul, Charley Walters writes that a Target Center exec
said that T'Wolves Owner Glen Taylor and arena CEO Dana Warg
"have no plans to buy out the Ogden firm that manages Target
Center" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 5/25).....Former Charlotte
Mayor Harvey Gantt wrote an Op-Ed in Saturday's OBSERVER on
Charlotte's downtown development and addressed the need for
sports arena. Gantt: "If the city builds a new arena, it
needs to be downtown and built into the urban fabric of the
city. ... A public-private arena, with the potential of more
than 150 nights of use, will help create more activity and
energy. ... I believe it will be supported, if the funding
proposal is reasonable" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/22).
