In Ames, Dylan Montz notes Iowa State next week will "seek final approval from the Iowa Board of Regents" to begin construction on a $90M, 110,000-square foot sports performance center -- as well as a "new lighted plaza on the north side of Jack Trice Stadium." ISU in April was given permission from the BOR to "continue planning the project while developing a sound financial model -- original costs were estimated to be" between $65-80M. The project is "expected to break ground" in June and "take two years to complete." ISU AD Jamie Pollard said that more than $40M has been "raised through private support with additional funding expected to be raised once the project is granted final approval" (AMES TRIBUNE, 11/9).
REFUND APPROVED: The Penguins will be reimbursed $1.39M for "upgrades they have made to an internal television system, a sound board, projectors and other equipment at PPG Paints Arena." Pittsburgh-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority board members "unanimously approved" the reimbursements at their meeting Thursday. The money "will come from an arena capital reserve fund financed primarily through parking surcharges and set up as part of the team's lease" with the Sports & Exhibition Authority, which "owns the arena" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 11/9).
ROYAL REDEVELOPMENT: The Kings were set to take a "key step Thursday toward finally fulfilling their promise to redevelop the largely unused Sleep Train Arena site," as the team filed an application with the city to "rezone the massive 183-acre site for a variety of potential uses -- one of which could be a zoo." The Kings’ application "does not offer details about what may go on the site, but includes zoning for the possibility of 1.2 million square feet of commercial and retail, as well as employment or office sites, and notably, up to 2,000 housing units" (SACBEE.com, 11/8).
