T-Mobile Center: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{future arena}} |
|||
{{Infobox_Stadium | |
{{Infobox_Stadium | |
||
stadium_name = Sprint Center | |
stadium_name = Sprint Center | |
||
Revision as of 03:33, 6 March 2007
| File:SprintCenterlogo.jpg File:Sprint-center.jpg | |
 | |
| Location | 13th Street and Grand Blvd. Kansas City, Missouri |
|---|---|
| Owner | City of Kansas City (MO) |
| Operator | Anschutz Entertainment Group |
| Capacity | 18,500 (expected) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | June 24, 2005 |
| Opened | October 2007 (expected) |
| Construction cost | $276 million |
| Architect | HOK Sport + Venue + Event, Ellerbe Becket, Raphael Architects, 360 Architecture |
| Tenants | |
| Kansas City Brigade (AFL) (2008) unofficial[1] | |
The Sprint Center is a large, multi-use indoor arena being built in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. The building is located at 13th Street and Grand Blvd. [2], on the east side of the Power and Light District, which is also currently under construction.
The Sprint Center is scheduled to be completed in October 2007 and is estimated to seat 18,500 people and have 72 suites. The Sprint Center will effectively replace Kemper Arena, which was built in 1974.
It was announced that the Sprint Center will host the 2008 Big 12 Conference men's basketball tournament, in addition to the First and Second Rounds of the 2009 NCAA Men's Tournament and the regional rounds of the 2010 NCAA Women's Tournament. The city has also entered into discussions with the NHL and the NBA regarding possible expansion or relocation of a professional hockey and/or basketball franchise to the arena.
Details
Ground was broken for the arena on June 24, 2005, and construction is well underway. The final design, by the architectural firm of HOK Sport + Venue + Event, was selected in August 2005.
The Big 12 Conference men's basketball tournament will take place at the Sprint Center in 2008, marking the tournament's return to Kansas City after three years in Dallas and Oklahoma City. Women's basketball will take place at the nearby Municipal Auditorium.
The arena will also house the headquarters of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
The outside of the arena is entirely glass. Inside it will have state of the art technology with a 360 degree LCD video screen. This facility should allow Kansas City to draw most concerts touring the United States. There has been speculation of an NBA and NHL team relocating to Kansas City's Sprint Center upon completion, but as of yet no definitive plans have been announced. The city was given a franchise in 1974, the Kansas City Scouts, but the Scouts moved in 1976 to Colorado, and eventually to New Jersey. It was one of the shortest lifespans for a franchise in NHL history. [1] [2].
Arena tenants
Arena Football
Although no agreement has been signed as such, the Kansas City Brigade (of the Arena Football League) is widely expected to move there in 2008.
National Hockey League
On January 3, 2007, Mario Lemieux and other executives of the Pittsburgh Penguins visited Kansas City to meet with Sprint Center representatives so they can make their pitch on possibly moving the Penguins there. [3]
On January 4, 2007, Exploring the possibility of relocating the Pittsburgh Penguins, owner Mario Lemieux received a serious offer from officials in Kansas City on Thursday. Tim Leiweke, president of Anschutz Entertainment Group, operator of the Sprint Center, has offered the Penguins a chance to play rent free and be equal managing partners in the new arena if Lemieux moves the club to the Missouri city. Pittsburgh Penguin owner Mario Lemieux could move the club to Kansas City next season. [4]
On March 5, 2007, the Penguins declared an impasse in negotiations for a new arena in Pittsburgh, adding that they will aggressively pursue all relocation options. The Penguins blame local government officials, arguing they agreed to pay $120 million over 30 years to help build a $290 million arena and cover construction cost overruns, yet still have not reached a deal. [5]
National Basketball Association
On January 10, 2007, three additional teams were reported to have taken an interest in relocating: the Los Angeles Clippers (NBA), and two as-yet-unnamed franchises. [6]
External links
- Sprint Center official website
- Original design input site
- Sprint Center construction webcam #1
- Sprint Center construction webcam #2
References
- Kansas City offers Penguins free rent, ownership stake - January 4, 2007 - Source: ESPN.com
- Penguins to aggressively explore relocation - March 5, 2007 - Source: ESPN.com
- Kansas City offers Penguins free rent - Source CBC
- ^ Covitz, Randy. Penguins owner says team will ‘explore relocation options’ Kansas City Star, 21 December 2006.
- ^ Conte, Andrew. Kansas City woos Penguins Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 15 December 2006.