"Field of Schemes" Take On Recent Arena News

Neil deMause over at Field of Schemes (the pre-eminent arena and stadium website) has a great update on recent developments for Baltimore's plan to "build a new arena, a hotel on top of it, and an expanded Baltimore Convention Center".

Holy Crap!

Finally something to talk about: Willard Hackerman offers to build arena! Also, nice "Before and After" interactive photo on today's Baltimore Sun homepage.

Rumor: NHL's Capitals To Play Preseason Game at Arena

The Capital's look to increase their presence in Baltimore by playing a preseason game here next fall. It is assumed that game would be played at the 1st Mariner Arena. BaltimoreSportsReport.com picked up the story from a Nestor Aparicio's Facebook posting.

Move It Down & To The Right A Little

I go away for a few days and, wow, someone ("city officials") wants to move the location of the new Baltimore Arena.

For those of you just tuning in, a new arena is set to be built on the site of the existing one, once there's is money to pay for it. Obviously, choosing a different site would allow the First Mariner Arena to operate while the new one is under construction. Also mentioned is that an arena that is physically connected to the convention center would allow for bigger conventions.

City councilman William H. Cole, IV says in the November 11th Baltimore Sun, "…city officials shouldn't pin their hopes on luring a major league basketball or hockey team…because neither sport appears poised to expand." Thank you, councilman!

The next day the Maryland Daily Record reported more specific plans: tear down the Sheraton at 300 S. Charles Street, its parking garage and part of the older, eastern half of the convention center and build it there.

Dan Rodricks discussed the topic with Don Fry of the Greater Baltimore Committee, Sun architecture critic Ed Gunts, and architect Klaus Phillipsen of ArchPlan Inc., Philipsen Architects on his WYPR Midday show this past Monday. Listen to it here.

Mariners' Future In Doubt

Baltimore's indoor football team might be finished, this just after winning the league championship. Rich Scherr reports in the September 4th Baltimore Sun, that the "entire front office resigned" and "league officials … have yet to secure ownership." It is reported that Dwayne Wells was charged with embezzling over $100,000 from his employer to pay for part ownership in Baltimore's AIFA team.

Mildly Interesting Arena News

The Baltimore Business Journal reports that the Baltimore city government is considering a plan to merger arena, arts, convention and tourism agencies to save money.

Arena: Best of It's Size

Sam Sessa's Midnight Sun blog posting of Billboard magazine's top rating.

In Case You Haven't Heard…

Bruce Springsteen played the 1st Mariner Arena, Friday, November 20th. (I know this posting is more than a week late but I've been sick -- still am actually. Let's hope it was/is H1N1.) Here is a round-up of reviews:

• Baltimore City Paper's Geoffrey Himes. 
  
• Baltimore Magazine's John Lewis blog, All The Pieces Matter.
• Baltimore Sun's Sam Sessa. And his Midnight Sun blog entry.
• WNST's Drew Forrester.
• Baltimore Brew's Tom Waldron.
• And mine, "Awesome."

… And from Las Vegas

The mayor of Las Vegas brought up his city's quest for a NBA franchise (and new arena) last week.

"A Cautionary Tale…"

News from Field of Schemes that Wichita won't be getting any part of the NCAA men's basketball tournament for some time. Wichita is kind of screwed by building the Intrust Bank Arena that seats "around 15,000 for basketball." I love the quote, from Paul Suellentrop's article in The Wichita Eagle, from NCAA men's basketball associate director David Worlock, "It's ultra-competitive, especially in the Midwest." Good thing there aren't a lot of arenas in the East. Oh, wait…

Meanwhile, In Brooklyn…

Developer Bruce C. Ratner "unveiled the latest design for the 18,000-seat arena". The new design is from architectural firm, SHoP, and replaces the one that replaces the original Frank Gehry plan. Charles V. Bagli reports that Ratner will "try to raise about $700 million in tax-exempt financing." And if you haven't heard, a lot of people don't want an arena in Brooklyn.

In Other News, Water is Wet

New Baltimore Arena decision delayed.

Potential Arena Developer In Financial Pinch

This story is a few days old: The Baltimore Business Journal (subscription required - Ed.) reports that one of the new arena developers, Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse Inc. "has defaulted on nearly $6 million in loans it borrowed to finance its construction projects and is facing lawsuits from Baltimore-area contractors seeking to collect wages from work on Struever's developments." The article quotes and optimistic Bill Stuever and that the company plans to "work through (their) financial problems."

New Arena Construction Could Be Three Years Away

Or more. Or, as unlikely as it may be, less.  The Maryland Daily Record reports that "the city's Board of Estimates approved a $100,000 contract extension with SMG, the operator of 1st Mariner Arena, with the option for two year-long renewals, meaning that the arena will continue to operate until at least June 30, 2010, and maybe until June 2012."

New Arena Bids Are In!

The Baltimore Development Corp. issued a press release yesterday announcing it has reviewed the submitted proposals for the new Baltimore arena and "invited four finalists for interviews."

More from the Baltimore Business Journal and the Baltimore Sun. 

More comments, and hopefully, some links to artist's renderings later.

Baltimore's Arena Football Team Doesn't Cancel Season

On December 12th, the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) announced it was not canceling the upcoming season. This follows the news that the better-known, 22 year-old (!) Arena Football League (AFL) decided they will cancel their 2009 season. Read about it at ProFootballTalk.com, PennLive.com or The Los Angeles Business Journal.

The Baltimore Mariners return to the 1st Mariner Arena Sunday, March 15, 2009.

Lecture Today!

"New Arena, Old Location!", part of the Baltimore Architecture Foundation's Fall Forums, will be held today from 12 Noon to 1 PM. The location is the Berman Auditorium at the Johns Hopkins Downtown Center, located at Charles and Fayette Streets. Bring your lunch.

Reminder: Lecture This Week!

A reminder from the Baltimore Architecture Foundation: the next installment of their Fall Forum series, "New Arena, Old Location!" (hosted by Kimberly A. Clark) is this Wednesday from 12 Noon to 1 PM. It is being held at the Berman Auditorium of the Johns Hopkins Downtown Center located at Charles and Fayette Streets.

Economic Crisis Threatens New Arena

Is it time to take odds on when (or if) a new Baltimore arena gets built?

The Baltimore Sun's Childs Walker reports today on how the current economic crisis is having an impact on the business of major league sports in this country. This past Friday's Baltimore Business Journal had a story (subscription req'd) about how potential arena developers have funding concerns.

In other news, chocolate milk is brown, things get cold in the refrigerator and my cat's breath smells like cat food.

Lecture Tonight!

Baltimore Architecture Week starts today and runs through Sunday, Oct. 26th (shouldn't it be Baltimore Architecture Week and a Half?) Tonight's lecture, "West Side and Arena Metamorphosis" features Klaus Philipsen and Matthew Fitzsimmons discussing the future arena site and its relationship with the West Side Strategic Plan. 6 PM at The Johns Hopkins University Downtown Center (10 N. Charles St.). Free.