The USTA has tapped contractor Seating Solutions to build an 8,000-seat temporary number two stadium for this year’s U.S. Open. Louis Armstrong Stadium was torn down after last year’s event, and its replacement is scheduled to open in time for the ‘18 event. USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Managing Dir Danny Zausner said the temporary stadium will be built off site in pieces and transported. It will be equipped with lights for night time play, a broadcast booth and concessions. The stadium will be in a parking lot, between the construction site for the new venue and the exit ramp from the subway (Daniel Kaplan, Staff Writer).
MAKING ROOM FOR THE NEW GUYS: In Detroit, Joe Guillen notes construction changes to make room for the Pistons at Little Caesars Arena "already are under way, even though the city, NBA leadership and others have yet to sign off on final agreements needed to make the team's move from the Palace of Auburn Hills to downtown official." Various changes to the arena -- from "new NBA locker rooms to the addition of doorways higher than 7 feet tall to fit professional basketball players -- are expected to cost" more than $40M. Ultimately, the cost will be defrayed with $34.5M in "public money from refinancing and extending bonds the Detroit Downtown Development Authority issued" in '14 to "help pay for the new Red Wings arena" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/17).
DOLLAR GENERAL: In K.C., Lynn Horsley notes local construction company Foutch Brothers has the "go-ahead to secure final financing for its ambitious repurposing of Kemper Arena as a destination amateur sports complex." The K.C. Council by a 9-1 vote Thursday "allowed the city manager to execute a real estate sale of the facility to Foutch for $1." That allows Foutch to pursue about $8.3M in "historic tax credits and other financing for the project, estimated to cost" up to $30M (K.C. STAR, 2/17).
