You are here: Home
Tax extension a nonstarter for funding new Bucks arena
Extending a local sales tax used to fund Miller Park to build a new arena for the Milwaukee Bucks is already a nonstarter, as elected officials from both ends of the political spectrum come out in opposition to the proposal. The 0.1% sales tax, collected in Ozaukee, Washington, Waukesha, Racine and Milwaukee counties, was plenty […]
Atlanta Spirit in full liquidation mode
After a multiyear legal battle to gain control of the Atlanta Hawks, the Atlanta Thrashers and Philips Arena, the Atlanta Spirit is pulling an abrupt about-face and is looking to liquidate all its holdings, with John Moores negotiating to buy the NBA franchise. We’ve already covered discussions between the Spirit and True North Sports & […]
Second phase of Crisler Arena renovations unveiled
University of Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon is a busy guy: while the school is embarking on a first round of renovations for Crisler Arena, he’s already working on the second phase of improvements. The $52-million plan, slated to be presented to the school’s Board of Regents Thursday, will include a slew of fan-friendly amenities, […]
We’re number one!
On the Internet, the numbers don’t lie: according to popular website-ranking service Quantcast, the combination of Arena Digest and Ballpark Digest is the most popular destination when it comes to sports-business coverage. According to Quantcast, the US rank of 55,816 for the Arena Digest/Ballpark Digest combo tops the Sports Business Daily Quantcast ranking of 57,310. […]
Sioux Falls arena vote could go to vote this fall
A vote on a controversial events center and arena in Sioux Falls could be presented to the electorate this fall, as Mayor Mike Huether continues his mission to build next to the current arena/events center complex, rather than downtown. Huether and a local group have been sparring over the location of the new facility: Build […]
Will legal challenges derail Quebec City arena?
With opposition politicians promising lawsuits challenging the funding scheme for a new Quebec City arena, city and provincial leaders are taking actions to nip them in the bud. The issue: the agreement between the city and Quebecor for naming rights and management. A former provincial politician and city manager, Denis De Belleval, says he’ll challenge […]
Gladiators sign Gwinnett Arena lease extension
No surprise here: the Gwinnett Gladiators, one of the most successful ECHL teams, has signed a lease extension for Gwinnett Arena that will keep the team at Gwinnett Center through 2014. “We take an enormous amount of pride that our home venue is consistently ranked as one of the premier multi-purpose facilities in the entire […]
What will CHL look like next season?
With the Quad City Mallards and Odessa Jackalopes already gone from next year’s Central Hockey League lineup, the speculation now centers on who will be back, and who might not. The Quad City Mallards may have reported decent numbers at the gate — some 2,870 fans a game — but it wasn’t enough to keep […]
NYTimes: Cities led astray by Global Entertainment
Several cities have been led astray by financial projections made by Global Entertainment in the course of funding and building new arenas — and now the cities are stuck with the unprofitable facilities, according to a long report in The New York Times. This story lays out how Global Entertainment pitched cities like Rio Rancho, […]
Atlanta-to-Winnipeg rumors gaining steam
With former Atlanta Braves great Tom Glavine admitting he’s having no luck in putting together an ownership group for the Atlanta Thrashers, the rumor mill is working overtime in placing the team in Winnipeg for 2011-2012 — but there’s no deal yet, though negotiations have started. There’s not exactly a long list of potential buyers […]
With Kohl retiring, Bucks arena issues back in news
With Milwaukee Bucks owner Herb Kohl announcing he was retiring from the U.S. Senate, the speculation started in Wisconsin about the future of the team — and more importantly, the fate of Bradley Center. Now 22 years old, it’s pretty clear Bradley Center is economically obsolete; it’s been updated over the years, but the end […]
Spirit finally faces inevitable: Thrashers may need new home
After years in court to gain control of Philips Arena and its assets, it appears as though Atlanta Spirit is finally succumbing to the inevitable conclusion: that the small but loyal fan base of the Atlanta Thrashers isn’t enough to make the team a business success, and a sale of the franchise is in the […]
