Facilities
Rays in process of evaluating ballpark sites, still eye ‘29 opening
Rays CEO Ken Babby on Monday said that the team is “progressing in evaluating ‘a handful’ of sites for a new ballpark across ‘the Tampa Bay region’ and remains confident -- with the right public/private partnership -- of having it ready for the 2029 season,” according to Marc Topkin of the TAMPA BAY...
Why savvy sports investors are focused on Italy — and what can go wrong
Despite a wave of coming exits, private capital in sports has a competition problem. Investment barriers are falling, more sports-focused funds are being raised, valuations are surging and allocators are seeking the safety of recurring cash flows amidst broader volatility.
Facility Notes
In Tampa, Colleen Wright noted St. Petersburg officials are considering making Al Lang Stadium “even bigger.” Representatives from design firm ASD | SKY’s Tampa office gave some City Council members a presentation Thursday that “included a concept to build a three-story addition at Al Lang for locke...
Mexico’s prep for 2026 World Cup continues with stadium work almost complete
Mexico City is “finalizing preparations” for the 2026 World Cup, with Estadio Azteca having “undergone about” $80M in renovations, according to Eduard Cauich of the L.A. TIMES. Organizers are “preparing to open the renovated stadium on March 28″ when Mexico faces Portugal in a friendly that will “ma...
Milan-Cortina hockey arenas remain a concern as NHL Board of Governors preps for meeting
The NHL Board of Governors meetings will be held this week as concerns about the hockey arenas for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics remain a “scorching-hot topic,” according to Eric Engels of SPORTSNET.ca. One participating team’s management group member said of the arena housing remaining incomplete...
Progress continues on Wings new arena, with design phase complete
New designs for Dallas’ Memorial Auditorium were “shared with City Council members Friday,” as “progress is being made” ahead of the Wings expected move to the arena in the coming years, according to Aria Jones of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. The design stage is “complete” and architecture and engineeri...
Influence 125: Earl Santee, HOK Sport/Populous
Influence 125 highlights the most influential sports business figures of the past quarter-century. See the list.
Tottenham signals renewed push for stadium naming-rights deal
Tottenham Hotspur’s Lewis family owners have “given a clear signal that they plan to end the club’s long wait to find a lucrative naming rights sponsor” for their $1.3B (all figures U.S.) stadium, according to Matt Law of the London TELEGRAPH. Failure to land a naming rights deal for the Spurs stadi...
A’s Las Vegas ballpark still on track for 2028 opening
The A’s Las Vegas ballpark project “remains on track for its early 2028 completion date” as the team on Thursday showed the Las Vegas Stadium Authority a “detailed presentation” of how the venue will begin to come together over time, according to Mick Akers of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. The “majo...
Private, public funding for Nationwide Arena renovations not yet finalized
Columbus and Franklin County officials say that “no decisions have been finalized” on a $400M plan to renovate Nationwide Arena “using a mix of public and private funding,” according to Jordan Laird of the COLUMBUS DISPATCH. City and county leaders did say that they “want to support renovations and ...
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Quote of the Day
They have certainly done permanent damage to the relationship between the conference and Notre Dame.-- Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua, on how the ACC damaged its relationship with the school for all of the anti-Irish politicking the conference publicly leaned into in the lead up to the final CFP rankings.
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