In Detroit, Katrease Stafford noted the Detroit City Council approved $34.5M in public funding for Little Caesars Arena and Pistons move, "despite passionate pleas from some residents to reconsider or scrap the deal." The approval comes "more than six months after negotiations began between the city and the Pistons and hours after a late Monday night decision by a federal judge to deny an emergency injunction that sought to block the funding" (FREEP.com, 6/20).
BRICK BY BRICK: In Colorado, Kelly Lyell noted workers on Monday began "laying the first of the 4,725 brick pavers that were sold to help raise funds" for the new Colorado State football stadium on the north plaza of the $220M facility. It is one of the "final pieces of construction remaining at the new on-campus stadium that will host its first game Aug. 26." The "larger 8-inch-by-8-inch bricks, which sold for $250-$300 apiece, will spell out the word 'RAMS,' with the smaller 4-by-8 bricks, which sold for $125 apiece, serving as the background." They will "surround the sculpture of two Rams butting heads, the 'Rocky Mountain Rumble,' that was put in place Friday" (Ft. Collins COLORADOAN, 6/20).
IN THE NICK OF TIME: In Norfolk, Harry Minium notes developers of a planned Virginia Beach Arena told the City Council this spring that they "planned to close" on $150M in construction loans for the 18,000-seat facility in June. Although that closing has now been delayed until July, officials said that they are "on target to start construction this fall." The city’s "deadline for the loans to be finalized" is Sept. 7. Officials said that they will "make the deadline with time to spare" (Norfolk VIRGINIAN-PILOT, 6/21).
WELCOME HOME: AEG has announced a new investment in the esports franchise Immortals, "making L.A. Live its official home." ESPN.com's Imad Khan noted L.A. Live will "host all of Immortals' home games." This "isn't AEG's first forary into esports." Last September, AEG partnered with ESL, "giving the organization access to AEG's network of more than 120 clubs, theaters, arenas and stadiums." AEG is the "latest in Immortals' expansive investor catalogue," which includes Lionsgate, Grizzlies co-Owner Steve Kaplan and Redpoint Ventures (ESPN.com, 6/20).
