Centennial Authority Chair Tom McCormick yesterday said that architects from Ratio and HOK have met with the authority to "discuss a multimillion dollar renovation" to the 16-year-old PNC Arena. He said that the goal of the project, "which is still in its early stages, is to upgrade the entrances and to 'energize' the arena area." McCormick said that the authority "will meet on Dec. 3 to make a decision about the plans and, if approved, will then begin to pursue cost estimates" (Joe Giglio, NEWS & OBSERVER, 10/28).
BULL BY THE HORNS: In Las Vegas, Alan Snel reported a day after the PBR "held its final event at Thomas & Mack Center, a bucket of PBR World Finals dirt from that arena on the UNLV campus was ceremoniously dumped Monday afternoon in front of the new Las Vegas arena being built on the Strip." PBR "is moving its season-ending World Finals from Thomas & Mack" to the $375M, 20,000-seat arena being developed by MGM and AEG. PBR CEO Sean Gleason said that 20,000 tickets "have already been sold for the 2016 event at the new arena." Thomas & Mack's attendance "was 66,600 for the World Finals, held from last Wednesday to Sunday" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 10/27).
GOT IT PEGGED: In Winnipeg, Bartley Kives reported repairs at Investors Group Field originally announced in March now "will begin after the Grey Cup -- at a total cost of no less" than C$35.3M. Premier Greg Selinger’s cabinet "has approved a loan guarantee that will allow Investors Group Field owner Triple B Stadium -- a shell company representing the city, province, University of Manitoba and Winnipeg Football Club -- to begin making" repairs to the facility, which hosted its first event in May '13. The work on the 200-level concourse "will begin after the Grey Cup and take place over the winter." Triple B Stadium "is not waiting for the resolution of its legal dispute with Stuart Olson and Wan" (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 10/27).
