In Detroit, Jahnke & Reindl report the USA Hockey Foundation and Compuware Arena "have an agreement in place that could result in the foundation acquiring" the Plymouth, Mich., facility "by the first half" of next year. Compuware currently "does not own the Plymouth Arena, but it does have a $250,000-a-year naming-rights deal" that runs through November '16. The arena is home to the OHL Plymouth Whalers (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 11/25).
AN IGLOO FOR TWO: In Pittsburgh, Fontaine & Oravecz report the Penguins and St. Louis-based developer Clayco will build "a five-story corporate headquarters" for U.S. Steel on the former Civic Arena site by September '17. U.S. Steel "plans to lease the building for 800 workers for at least 18 years from a partnership that includes" the Penguins and Clayco. Officials did not disclose the anticipated costs or terms of the lease, but said that construction "would begin next summer" (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 11/25).
PUBLIC SKATE: In Detroit, Mark Hicks noted the city's neighborhood advisory committee and Olympia Development held a meeting last Friday night regarding the "proposed Red Wings arena and entertainment district." Committee members "presented an overview of the project plans," and among the requests being explored are "stepping up police presence three hours before and after arena events, providing for clean-up and maintenance, and adequate parking." The Detroit City Council "set a public hearing" for this morning (DETROIT NEWS, 11/22).
NEW CROWN JEWEL? A K.C. STAR editorial stated a downtown Royals ballpark "is a wonderfully provocative idea," but the project "is not going to happen anytime soon given the facts that Kauffman Stadium was only recently remodeled and the Royals have a lease to play there 17 more years." A new ballpark is not likely for years because Jackson County (Mo.) taxpayers "still are paying off hundreds of millions of dollars worth of bonds issued to renovate Kauffman." The sales tax also is "helping to pay for Arrowhead Stadium upgrades." The royals "signed a lease to use Kauffman" into the '31 season (K.C. STAR, 11/23).
