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."

Some Baltimore History

According to historian Wayne Schaumburg, "If you've been to the Baltimore Arena, you've stood where The Great Baltimore Fire started."

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."

Happy New Year, The Blog Is Back!

December 2008 brought a nasty flu (which rolled into a nasty chest cold) and some holiday downtime. Let's all get caught up, shall we?

• Baltimore Grows has a great overview of the new arena proposals. 
• Architect Frank Gehry laid off "Almost all the people who were working on the Brooklyn (arena) project", Atlantic Yards. It is looks like the Nets might stay in New Jersey for a while longer.
• Architectural firm RTKL closed down its sports division.
• Baltimore Examiner opinion piece from December 21, 2008.
• The First Mariner Arena tries to stop the decline in food and beverage concessions.
• Baltimore Sun opinion piece from December 29. 2008
• Soccerticketsonline.com considers the First Mariner Arena to be the ninth most historic U.S. soccer site.
• Billboard names the First Mariner Arena "the 13th best venue in the world, based on ticket sales."

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.