The San Francisco 49ers issued a request to sports facility architects earlier this month asking for their qualifications to design a new NFL stadium in the Bay Area. The deadline for submissions is today.
The 49ers intend to hire a firm to provide programming and design services for a new facility to replace 46-year-old Monster Park. The team plans to issue a proposal for architectural design services at a later date, according to the document obtained by SportsBusiness Journal.
The team plans to narrow the field to three finalists, conduct interviews and select an architect to complete the predesign work, which would include confirming the stadium’s guaranteed maximum price.
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The 49ers hope firms will line up for a chance
to design the replacement for Monster Park. |
The 49ers are hiring a general contractor separately for preconstruction services and plan to combine a designer and a construction firm to deliver a design-build project.
Ellerbe Becket, HKS, HNTB, HOK Sport, Rossetti, RTKL and 360 Architecture received the programming/design RFQs, industry sources said.
PEPSI, PLEASE: Pepsi has signed a two-year deal with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks to become exclusive provider of soda products at Arrowhead Pond and promote Ducks games and other events at the facility, a team official said.
Coca-Cola had had the contract since the Pond opened in 1993.
Bob Wagner, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for the Ducks and the building, said First Class Pizza and Rubio’s fish tacos had also completed multiyear deals to sell their products at the arena. Children’s Hospital of Orange County signed a sponsorship that revolves around players visiting sick kids and allowing ill children to ride the Zamboni at Ducks games, among other in-arena experiences.
STAY HERE: Joe Skendarian, former general manager for Sportservice, the former concessionaire at American Airlines Center in Dallas, is now Center Operating Co.’s vice president for business development and compliance, a new position that the in-house arena management firm created.
Skendarian made the switch after Levy Restaurants signed a 25-year contract to take over the concessions and premium dining earlier this month. His job is to oversee Levy’s operations and initiate new VIP programs and upgrades for suite and club-seat holders and reassure them that eating and entertaining at the four-year-old arena continues to be a unique experience, said Brad Mayne, Center Operating Co.’s president and CEO.
Victory Park, a $1 billion retail, residential and entertainment development under construction near the arena, has three restaurants scheduled to open in the summer and fall.
Center Operating Co., whose arena has been the only place to eat and drink in the neighborhood, is preparing to meet the challenge.
“We need somebody to be paying attention to return business in the building rather than having people going to the competition,” Mayne said.
Levy’s GM in Dallas is Jack Cruise, previously at Toyota Center in Houston.
Hicks Holdings, owned by Dallas Stars owner and American Airlines Center co-owner Tom Hicks, also holds a financial stake in Victory Park.
Don Muret can be reached at dmuret@sportsbusinessjournal.com.
