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Sprint Center Hits 10-Year Anniversary, Making The Most Without Pro Tenant

The Sprint Center turns 10 this year, and the downtown K.C. arena "appears as fresh as it did the day it opened," according to Blair Kerkhoff of the K.C. STAR. Sprint Center will host 140 dates in '17, and the question becomes whether the arena could hold an "additional 45 to 50 dates for a pro sports team." K.C. "isn’t on the radar at the moment for an NBA or NHL team," but the city "does its best to make the Big 12 and NCAA feel like the Sprint Center is home." Sprint Center Chair & GM Brenda Tinnen said, "They feel like it is truly their building and they can put their own brand on it." When the building opened, Tinnen said there was “more pressure” to find an anchor tenant. Tinnen: "As I always tell my staff, the great thing about not having an anchor tenant is we haven’t had a losing season yet." Kerkhoff wrote it also "means no partner to help defray maintenance and upgrade costs." But the Sprint Center "made several improvements after last year, including a new scoreboard, speakers and upgraded Wi-Fi." Tinnen said, "That can be a downside of not having a tenant. In terms of capital improvements we don’t have a team owner that comes in and says it’s time to get a new scoreboard, time to get new Wi-Fi. We’re on our own with our partnership with the city and AEG." No anchor tenant also "means the calendar is more available" as K.C. "seeks events and shows." The Sprint Center, which was the nation’s 12th busiest arena in '16, makes K.C. a "player for such events in a way" Kemper Arena has not (K.C. STAR, 3/25).

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