In Michigan, Kyle Austin noted Michigan State on Friday unveiled a $50M renovation to the Breslin Center, "marking the first major upgrade to the nearly three-decade old" basketball facility. The "highlight of the project is a 30,000 square foot addition at the southeast corner of the arena" that houses the new Tom Izzo Basketball Hall of History, which "showcases the program's trophy collection, tributes to notable former players and more." Cavaliers Owner and Quicken Loans Founder & Chair Dan Gilbert gave a $15M gift to "fund the addition and a scholarship fund." The outside of the building is "dubbed the Gilbert Pavilion" (MLIVE.com, 10/20).
A LITTLE MORE TIME: The Pittsburgh-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority and city Urban Redevelopment Authority have given the Penguins until Friday to "buy the first parcel needed for development" of the former Civic Arena site. Officials with both authorities stated it is "part of a broader deal they are trying to negotiate to eliminate all or a significant amount" of the $15M in "development credits the team received" as part of the '07 agreement to build PPG Paints Arena. The Penguins "already have used some of the credits to buy more time to start redeveloping the land" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 10/21).
SLOWING THE PROCESS: In Seattle, Geoff Baker notes entrepreneur Chris Hansen’s lawyer has "submitted a letter to the city arguing that KeyArena renovation should be considered a 'public' and not 'private' process." That is huge because "if the renovation is deemed 'public' then the environmental study would have to examine alternative sites for the project." Such a move would "prolong" the Environmental Impact Statement and "likely delay the KeyArena renovation to the point it misses its targeted" October '20 opening (SEATTLE TIMES, 10/23).
