On Long Island, Incantalupo & Marshall report Hofstra Univ. President Stuart Rabinowitz, who co-Chairs the Long Island Economic Development Council, "succeeded in getting" Baltimore-based Cordish Co. "to renew interest in developing the area around the Nassau Coliseum." Rabinowitz during a meeting Tuesday said that he "had 'solicited interest' from a developer in the 77-acre site around the Coliseum" in Uniondale, N.Y. Cordish "first showed interest in the land" in '05, when the first request for proposals was issued, but Islanders Owner Charles Wang "won that RFP." Rabinowitz said, "Cordish hasn't decided whether it will bid. It's just one of those that are interested" (NEWSDAY, 9/15).
DEVELOPING SITUATION: Magic President Alex Martins said team execs plan "to have full discussions" with the merchants across the street from Amway Center "about how they're incorporated into" the team's prospective plan to build an entertainment complex in that area. In Orlando, Pedicini & Schlueb note even if the merchants "can stay, construction will cause more disruption," and rent "in the new complex might cost too much." Some tenants "are skeptical about the new entertainment center welcoming them into the fold." City Commissioner Daisy Lynum "met with tenants Tuesday to inform them about the proposal, and Mayor Buddy Dyer followed up with them" yesterday (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 9/15). NBA.com's John Denton noted similar complexes "tied to downtown arenas in Los Angeles, Memphis, Nashville and Columbus have been smashing successes." Some have been "owned by NBA teams, while others have not been" (NBA.com, 9/14).
DEMOLITION DERBY: The CP's Andy Blatchford reported Quebecers are "being invited to come up with ideas for the future of the billion-dollar Olympic Stadium," and everything is "on the table for Montreal's 'Big O' except for the frequently touted one: blowing it up." Suggestions from the public will be accepted "beginning next week," and a committee "will present a report on the brainstorming sessions in 2012." The cost of demolition "has been estimated" at C$700M, and committee head Lise Bissonnette noted, "You would have to do it almost by hand with the kind of concrete that's there" (CP, 9/14).
