Facility Notes
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Ballpark Village Construction Expected
To Begin In The Spring |
In St. Louis, Tim Logan reports the Missouri Downtown Economic Stimulus Authority (MDESA) Thursday "recommended approval of plans to build" the MLB Cardinals' $320M Ballpark Village. MDSEA Housing, Urban Development & Zoning Committee Chair Fred Wessels said that the decision "moves the project to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, which likely will hold a hearing" on it November 19. If the aldermen and the Missouri Development Finance Board approve the project, the developers "plan to issue bonds and start construction in the spring." Baltimore-based developer Cordish Co., the developer of Ballpark Village, Thursday said that "its private financing is lined up" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 11/7).
DEVIL IN THE DETAILS: A Newark STAR-LEDGER editorial states the Devils "should pay up" on the first year of the team's 30-year contract with the city of Newark to play in the Prudential Center. The Devils "have gotten the city to compromise on contracted items such as parking spaces, fire security systems and more." But the team, which is refusing to pay the first-year's rent on the building, "shows no interest in reciprocating." That is a "good reason why, as the rent dispute goes to arbitration, any objective judge should support the city's contention that the bulk of the rent must be paid." And "never mind that the Devils were responsible for building the arena or that the arena was complete enough for the team to host inaugural events and kick off its first concert series on time" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 11/7).
HOME MAKEOVER: In Vancouver, Ian Walker reports the USL Vancouver Whitecaps and BC Pavilion Corporation Thursday "made public a snapshot of how BC Place Stadium -- with its proposed new retractable roof -- might be configured in order to best accommodate soccer events." Key features of the rendering "include a retractable roof and centrally hung, state-of-the-art electronic scoreboard, floor-level seats and a flexible draping system," which "looks to seamlessly limit the capacity of the stadium to approximately 22,000 seats from BC Place's maximum of 59,000." Additional planned "soccer-specific renovations include modular floor-level hospitality areas and a new synthetic FIFA-approved pitch." Walker notes the rendering "was part of Vancouver's MLS bid book, which was submitted" October 15 (VANCOUVER SUN, 11/7).
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