sterlingice
05-12-2004, 06:45 PM
For anyone who hasn't been to the deathtrap formerly known as Kemper, KC has needed an arena for quite a while. Ok, Kemper's not that bad, but it's the basketball equivalent of some of those 60s and 70s baseball stadiums. At least when Kaufman and Arrowhead were made, they were state of the art and still are very good.
There are some very cool rumors floating around today. For instance, almost all the major architectural firms in the US who make sports complexes are in KC and they are considering working together on this at or below cost to make a snazzy new showpiece for prospective cities looking for designers. Another is that Sprint is going to try and make this an electronic showpiece for any prospective client and it will be outfitted with electronics out the wazoo.
The group who pitched in $50M is going to look for an NBA or NHL team to lure here by 2007/2008. They are targeting the NHL because of the low cost, but I think this would be a lot better NBA town because of the huge college basketball interests in Kansas and Missouri. It won't mean much to me because I'll likely be gone but I'd be all for an NHL team.
Anyways, here's some art and stories:
<!-- <a href="" target="_new"> --> http://www.kansascity.com/images/kansascity/kansascity/8649/74812421915.jpg
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Nearly half the new arena financing will come from Anschutz Entertainment Group, Sprint Corp. and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The rest is to be raised from tax credits, hotel and car rental license fees and user fees.
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr><td width="15" rowspan="2">
</td><td class="v1">
</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Mayor unveils downtown arena plan
http://www.kansascity.com/images/common/spacer.gif
By LYNN HORSLEY and JEFFREY SPIVAK
http://www.kansascity.com/images/common/spacer.gif
The Kansas City Star
http://www.kansascity.com/images/common/spacer.gif
<!-- begin body-content --> Mayor Kay Barnes today unveiled plans for a $225 million to $250 million downtown arena, saying nearly half the financing will come from Anschutz Entertainment Group, Sprint Corp., and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
The remainder of the money for the arena — to be named the Sprint Center — would come from the public sector, through tax credits, hotel and car rental license fees and user fees.
The travel-related fees require Kansas City voter approval, and the City Council will be asked this week to place a proposal on the Aug. 3 ballot.
Plans call for the arena to open in 2007.
“Today's announcement is another major step forward in the revitalization of downtown Kansas City,” Barnes said. “I am thrilled that so many prestigious partners have come together with the city of Kansas City to make the new arena a reality.”
The 18,000 to 20,000-seat arena would be located between 13th and 15th streets and between Oak Street and Grand Boulevard. It is envisioned to house the new offices of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. The NABC is expected to provide $10 million in financing.
The bulk of the private financing _ $50 million _ is expected to come from AEG, whose principal owner is Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz.
AEG, which is based in Los Angeles and owns or has management interest in several major league sports teams, has indicated it will commit the money if the initial phase projections are confirmed. AEG also would assist Kansas City in attracting an anchor tenant for the arena, and Sprint Corp. has signed a letter of intent for the naming rights.
</td></tr></tbody> </table>
There are some very cool rumors floating around today. For instance, almost all the major architectural firms in the US who make sports complexes are in KC and they are considering working together on this at or below cost to make a snazzy new showpiece for prospective cities looking for designers. Another is that Sprint is going to try and make this an electronic showpiece for any prospective client and it will be outfitted with electronics out the wazoo.
The group who pitched in $50M is going to look for an NBA or NHL team to lure here by 2007/2008. They are targeting the NHL because of the low cost, but I think this would be a lot better NBA town because of the huge college basketball interests in Kansas and Missouri. It won't mean much to me because I'll likely be gone but I'd be all for an NHL team.
Anyways, here's some art and stories:
<!-- <a href="" target="_new"> --> http://www.kansascity.com/images/kansascity/kansascity/8649/74812421915.jpg
<!--
-->
Nearly half the new arena financing will come from Anschutz Entertainment Group, Sprint Corp. and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The rest is to be raised from tax credits, hotel and car rental license fees and user fees.
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr><td width="15" rowspan="2">
</td><td class="v1">
</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Mayor unveils downtown arena plan
http://www.kansascity.com/images/common/spacer.gif
By LYNN HORSLEY and JEFFREY SPIVAK
http://www.kansascity.com/images/common/spacer.gif
The Kansas City Star
http://www.kansascity.com/images/common/spacer.gif
<!-- begin body-content --> Mayor Kay Barnes today unveiled plans for a $225 million to $250 million downtown arena, saying nearly half the financing will come from Anschutz Entertainment Group, Sprint Corp., and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
The remainder of the money for the arena — to be named the Sprint Center — would come from the public sector, through tax credits, hotel and car rental license fees and user fees.
The travel-related fees require Kansas City voter approval, and the City Council will be asked this week to place a proposal on the Aug. 3 ballot.
Plans call for the arena to open in 2007.
“Today's announcement is another major step forward in the revitalization of downtown Kansas City,” Barnes said. “I am thrilled that so many prestigious partners have come together with the city of Kansas City to make the new arena a reality.”
The 18,000 to 20,000-seat arena would be located between 13th and 15th streets and between Oak Street and Grand Boulevard. It is envisioned to house the new offices of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. The NABC is expected to provide $10 million in financing.
The bulk of the private financing _ $50 million _ is expected to come from AEG, whose principal owner is Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz.
AEG, which is based in Los Angeles and owns or has management interest in several major league sports teams, has indicated it will commit the money if the initial phase projections are confirmed. AEG also would assist Kansas City in attracting an anchor tenant for the arena, and Sprint Corp. has signed a letter of intent for the naming rights.
</td></tr></tbody> </table>