In Florida, Craig Handel reports when phase two of the Lee County Sports Complex is "completed this coming spring," the Twins "will have new sponsorship." The club on Thursday announced that CenturyLink bought naming rights for the complex. In renderings, CenturyLink Sports Complex signage will "have a prominent position at the top of William H. Hammond Stadium." Financial terms were not disclosed. A Lee County spokesperson said that the Hammond name will remain on the venue "at least until the Twins' lease ends" in '44. CenturyLink will not pay anything "help maintain the complex" (Ft. Myers NEWS-PRESS, 9/26).
CORNER KICK: In Las Vegas, Alan Snel reports the city, Cordish Cos. and Findlay Sports & Entertainment on Thursday finalized a new deal on a soccer stadium that "calls for the city to borrow a maximum" of $50M instead of the $115M proposed in the old deal. The Cordish-Findlay joint venture will assume $65M in debt as a "move to reduce the city’s financial risk." Instead of the city borrowing $115M to help pay for the $200M venue on 61 acres at Symphony Park and "receiving annual rent and other payments from the developers, the city will borrow" $46-$50M and "receive no rent or payments" from Cordish-Findlay (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 9/26).
MICRO-MANAGEMENT: In Tampa, Thalji, Martin & Danielson report an investment fund controlled by Microsoft founder Bill Gates "will help finance" Lightning Owner's Jeff Vinik’s "ambitious plan to build a massive entertainment, office, residential and retail district around the Amalie Arena." Lightning CEO Tod Leiweke said, "This has the potential to be a billion-dollar development." Leiweke would not say "what percentage of the 24-acre project that Gates' fund, Cascade Investment LLC, would finance." But he said that Vinik "will remain in charge" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 9/26).
