In San Jose, Anthony Slater notes Chase Center in S.F. "finally has a construction date." A groundbreaking ceremony will be held Jan. 17, with Warriors F Kevin Durant, coach Steve Kerr, co-Owner Joe Lacob and others attending. Barring any setbacks, the arena is "scheduled to open" for the '19-20 NBA season (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/4).
RIGHT ON TIME: In Green Bay, Bollier & Ryman noted the Titletown District "remains on track to open its first three anchors" before the '17 NFL season. Hinterland Brewing, Bellin Health Sports Medicine & Orthopedics and Lodge Kohler hotel and spa "will open, likely in that order, between April and August." The public space, skating pond and sledding hill in the middle of the development are "expected to open by Thanksgiving." The Packers will have "snow- and ice-making equipment to keep the amenities available for most of the holiday and winter seasons." The team also is "expected to announce new tenants for the Titletown District" during the first half of '17 (GREENBAYPRESSGAZETTE.com, 12/29).
ONE STEP CLOSER: In Iowa, Vanessa Miller noted months after "hinting at a 'multimillion-dollar contribution' in the works" for a nearly $90M renovation of Kinnick Stadium’s north end zone, the Univ. of Iowa has announced longtime Hawkeye supporter Ted Pacha is giving $5M to the project. Iowa Foundation Exec Dir of Communications & Marketing Dana Larson said that with the gift, the campaign now is a "third of the way toward its target." Although the renovation will "increase the number of high-end seats, it will decrease the stadium’s total capacity," which currently stands at 70,585 (Cedar Rapids GAZETTE, 1/3).
NOT SO FAST: In Orlando, Gray Rohrer notes three years after the Florida state legislature "set up a system for funding sports stadium construction and renovation projects using taxpayer money, one lawmaker wants to dismantle it." State Sen. Tom Lee yesterday filed SB 236, which would "repeal the law that called on the state’s economic agency to rate stadium projects" and award up to $13M each year "based on the return on investment for each project" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/4).
