In Tucson, Greg Hansen wrote the Univ. of Arizona's McKale Center "is now a 21st century basketball arena that, if beer were sold and dancing girls posed for cameras, could pass for an NBA experience." UA "hired AECOM to redesign the look and feel of the 42-year-old building." McKale Center "is a financial resource like none other in the Pac-12." Even the foot-rests "on the player and coach seats has a Wells Fargo advertisement." New, "more upscale sponsors debuted on Friday," including local law firm Farhang & Medcoff, Priority Lending and Larry H. Miller Dealerships. Rather than having fans "listening to the UA Pep Band play a fight song" during timeouts, PA announcer Jeff Dean "often reads advertisements" (ARIZONA DAILY STAR, 11/16).
HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM: In Houston, Benjamin Wermund reported the Univ. of Houston "is launching an internal audit" into the use of $5M "reserved for academics on its new football stadium, where construction costs have jumped" more than 20% from preliminary estimates. Costs on the facility "have continued to rise and questions have percolated about how the massive construction project was handled." UH Chancellor Renu Khator "announced the audit Friday during a spirited defense of the stadium that she says has put the Cougars at the table nationally" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/15).
THE OTHER JERRY WORLD: Wofford College yesterday announced that it plans to build the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium to house a new basketball/volleyball arena, locker rooms and other facilities. NFL Panthers Owner and Wofford alum Jerry Richardson provided the gift to fund the 92,000-square-foot facility that will include a 3,400-seat basketball arena and a 500-seat volleyball venue. Construction on the facility begins in the fall of '15 with the opening date slated for September '17 (Wofford).
