Honda Center To Undergo Multimillion-Dollar Improvement Project

Honda Center management company Anaheim Arena Management LLC Thursday announced a series of new developments that will break ground this fall. The new 12,000-square-foot Grand Terrace will be an indoor/outdoor entertainment space that will be equipped with an 80-foot bar, upscale decor and outside views. A new 250-seat restaurant will be located on the main level and will be open to the public for all events. Additionally, the Honda Center is in the final phase of its suite renovations, which will see upgrades to all 84 luxury boxes. The Ducks Team Store also will expand from 1,800 square feet to 4,200 (Honda Center). In California, Eric Stephens noted Ducks Owner Henry Samueli, "who attempted to bring the Sacramento Kings to Anaheim earlier this year, is funding the project that an arena spokesman said will cost in the 'tens of millions.'" The renovations are "expected to be completed in time for the 2012-13 NHL season -- or NBA season if the Kings cannot secure a plan for a new arena in Sacramento and reconsider its original plan to relocate to Orange County." Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait said, "Not only will the improvements enhance the guest experience, but more than ever, Honda Center itself will be NBA-ready" (OCREGISTER.com, 6/16). In Sacramento, Tony Bizjak notes while Anaheim was "unable in May to finalize a deal with the Kings," NBA officials said that the city "remains a possibility to host a basketball team at some point" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 6/17).

TRYING TO WORK IT OUT: The SACRAMENTO BEE's Bizjak notes Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson has formed a group called "Here We Build," a "coalition of 71 political, business and labor officials from six counties to explore arena financing." The group "includes 29 elected officials or their representatives." It "has announced a self-imposed 100-day deadline to cobble together a financing plan," though representatives Thursday were "vague on how concrete the group's Sept. 8 report will be." Bizjak notes Johnson and others "for months ... have been saying some form of public contribution will be needed, possibly including tax revenue." But some of the "several dozen residents" who attended a Thursday town hall meeting were "skeptical" about that notion. The meeting was the "first of a half-dozen such public gatherings planned for this summer" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 6/17).