Lightning Owner Jeff Vinik said that he and his Cascade Investment partners "are 'making good progress' on signing a tenant for half of a 650,000-square-foot office building planned for the first phase of their downtown redevelopment project." In Tampa, Richard Danielson notes Vinik "gave no further details about the prospect's identity." Vinik: "My sense is once we announce the phase one major tenant, I think dominoes are going to start falling. An awful lot of good conversation is going on, and nothing (breeds) success like success" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 11/17).
LISTEN UP! A SEATTLE TIMES editorial stated M.T. Phoenix, which has expressed interest in redeveloping KeyArena, "may not be Seattle's first choice of a partner, and the group should be more forthcoming about its backers and business plan." But any "such overtures should be welcomed and prompt the city to consider all its options." Choices give the city "leverage in its dealings" with hedge fund manager Chris Hansen (SEATTLE TIMES, 11/15).
COMM AS YOU ARE: Vanderbilt AD David Williams said that more than 80 donors have "pledged 'real close'" to $10M to "pay for the first phase" of the school's new baseball facility. In Nashville, Adam Sparks noted groundbreaking for the facility has "been moved up" to as early as February '16 at the start of Vanderbilt’s season, "rather than the previous plan of beginning construction at the end of the season." Construction "will not interfere with home games" at Hawkins Field (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 11/14).
