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Developers Outside Of Sacramento Region
Getting Involved In New Arena Talks |
The effort to build a new arena in Sacramento "has gone national," as competing groups in recent days "have emerged that include some of the country's most prolific developers of arenas and stadiums," according to Lillis & Bizjak of the SACRAMENTO BEE. One group, which "began talking last week at the request of Mayor Kevin Johnson," includes ICON Venue Group, Turner Construction, Populous and local developer David Taylor. No proposal has developed yet, but the group is "expected to submit a letter expressing interest in the project to the mayoral arena task force by next week." Johnson's aides said that his involvement with the group "doesn't mean he would favor a proposal submitted by the group over others being vetted by a task force he convened to analyze project bids." Also "re-emerging in the game" Tuesday was Sacramento developer Gerry Kamilos, "who spearheaded the now-dead proposal to build an arena in the downtown railyard through a land swap involving the State Fair." The railyard "remains a likely candidate for an arena in both new proposals." In a letter to city officials, Kamilos said that he "has teamed with Hunt Construction, which headed the construction team for the massive new Amway Center in Orlando, and recently broke ground on the Barclays Center in New York." Kamilos said that his team also has added "one of the largest architectural and engineering firms in the world, AECOM, as well as companies with experience in transportation projects." He added that he would "submit a preliminary proposal by the end of the month." Kamilos said that he is "trying to bring more expertise to the table." Other proposals are "in the works as well." A group "proposing an arena for the current Arco Arena site in Natomas has said it would re-submit a plan to the arena task force" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 12/22).
