In K.C., Dave Hellling writes it is "time for the metropolitan area to begin thinking about the future of the Truman Sports Complex," which houses both Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums. Jackson County voters in '06 "approved a 3/8 cent sales tax for improvements at the complex," and both the Chiefs and Royals "signed 25-year lease extensions." Those lease agreements are "now 11 years old," which "means the area has just 14 years to figure out if it wants to keep professional sports in the community for several more decades." The "crushing math of big-time sports means the Kansas City area should at least start considering the choices it will face" when the current leases expire in '31 (K.C. STAR, 1/11).
LEMME GET AN UPGRADE: In Houston, Adam Coleman noted the back section of Rice's Tudor Fieldhouse is set for a $4M renovation, "creating locker rooms and team lounges" for the golf, soccer, track and field and cross country teams with "additional space for future enhancements." The privately funded project's completion date is set for summer '17 and "will be ready for use" for the '17-18 athletic year (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/7).
THEY GO TO EXTREMES: On Long Island, Glenn Gamboa notes Nassau Coliseum’s Long Island All Access Pass program "offers tickets to every event planned at the new arena, including the much-sought-after tickets to opening night," a Bill Joel concert April 5. Barclays Center and Nassau Coliseum VP/Marketing Kate Girotti said that "both businesses and families have jumped at the chance to be part" of the program, which is now about 50% sold out. Girotti said that every member of the program is "able to pick out the seats they want in the arena’s lower bowl" (NEWSDAY, 1/11).
