In Phoenix, Jeff Metcalfe noted Arizona State AD Ray Anderson expects the school's new 5,000-seat arena that will "house hockey and some Olympic sports to be completed" by November '20, a year "ahead of renovations at Wells Fargo Arena." Anderson said that basketball teams and other sports that currently utilize Wells Fargo Arena "will continue to compete there during renovations." Meanwhile, ASU hockey "could begin playing in its on-campus arena, to be built adjacent to Wells Fargo Arena," in the '20-21 school year (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 6/9).
COMPETING OFFERS: In Austin, Kevin Lyttle noted developers have "made a proposal to the city" to purchase McKalla Place for $22.5M. Precourt Sports Ventures "recently proposed to the city to privately finance" a $200M MLS stadium, to be home for the Crew should the team move to Austin, on the 24-acre site. Real estate developer John Chen said, "Before city-owned property is given away, it should be part of an open and transparent process where all can discuss the impact to the city" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 6/9).
DEAL MAKERS: In Birmingham, Erin Edgemon noted UAB and the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority agreed to a deal that will see the school "provide $350,000 in marketing and naming opportunities" for a "yet-to-be constructed downtown stadium and pay $25,000 per home football game" that it plays there. Construction on the $174M downtown stadium is projected to "start by the end of the year and be open" in '21 (AL.com, 6/8).
