In Detroit, Gregg Krupa noted in the coming several weeks, Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert and Pistons Owner Tom Gores will try to persuade Wayne County that a jail can be "built on a different site from where they would like to develop an MLS stadium." Rock Ventures principal Matt Cullen, who is leading Gilbert’s effort to buy the site and develop a jail northeast of downtown, said that he is confident Gilbert and Gores’ group will have "solid information on developing the stadium when MLS officials visit Detroit in May or June." Cullen said that if the site is ultimately unavailable there has been "no discussions of alternative sites" (DETROITNEWS.com, 3/22).
BROOKS WAS HERE: In South Carolina, Alan Blondin notes Coastal Carolina Univ. "held a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday afternoon for its expansion of Brooks Stadium." CCU is in the process of a "required expansion of the football stadium" for its move to FBS that will expand its seating from 9,214 seats to at least 15,000 seats before the '17 opener. This year’s first phase will include "adding seats to both corners of the end zone nearest the field house, expanding the sections closest to the field on both sides toward the scoreboard and expanding the upper deck on the east side to match the length on the lower deck." The second phase will includes "adding luxury suites and an upper deck to the west side" (Myrtle Beach SUN NEWS, 3/22).
DUAL THREAT: In Idaho, Teya Vitu noted Atlanta-based Agon Sports & Entertainment, the owners of the Single-A Northwest League Boise Hawks, "expect to add a second-tier men’s professional soccer team to their portfolio, and to have both teams play in a 5,000- to 7,500-seat stadium they propose to build in downtown Boise." AS&E President Jeff Eiseman "proposes a stadium with 5,000 fixed seats for baseball and the option to add grandstands and concessions on the field to increase soccer seating to 7,500." Eiseman: "We’re reverse-engineering, looking at optimal sight lines for both sports" (IDAHOBUSINESSREVIEW.com, 3/21).
