In S.F., Kimberly Veklerov reported the Warriors will receive a 67% rent increase of $1M to "continue playing at publicly owned Oracle Arena under a contract expected to get its final approval next week." The new, two-year agreement brings the Warriors' rent to $2.5M beginning next season and "includes additional exit fees," up to $2.5M, should the team "not exercise one-year extensions of the lease." The contract "requires the team to stay in Oakland for at least two more seasons" while its arena in S.F.’s Mission Bay is built (S.F. CHRONICLE, 5/4).
TALE OF TWO FACILITIES: A Mortenson Construction official said that troubles at U.S. Bank Stadium -- "including zinc metal panels that are coming loose -- should not cause concern" about the new Bucks arena. Mortenson Senior VP Derek Cunz said, "U.S. Bank Stadium features a custom-designed exterior enclosure that is fundamentally different from what is designed and specified for the Milwaukee Bucks arena." Mortenson is the construction manager for the $524M Bucks arena and was also the general contractor on the $1.1B U.S. Bank Stadium (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 5/4).
THE CEILING IS THE ROOF: In Atlanta, Tim Tucker notes Mercedes-Benz Stadium yesterday "reached an important construction milestone." Stadium project exec Bill Darden said, "The last piece of structural steel just went up." However, Tucker notes "considerable work remains to be done on the retractable roof" (AJC.com, 5/4).
