Arena News and Notes: Jumbotrons for Sale; Wichita Gets No Game

…Want to
buy a jumbotron? This is your chance. The City of
Dallas
is holding a public, online auction for surplus equipment and other items from Reunion
Arena, which is scheduled for demolition next year…
…Wichita
will not a host an NBA exhibition game — at least not for another year. The
NBA told the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission
a few months ago the New Orleans Hornets were being asked
to play two games in
Europe instead of the
scheduled game against the Orlando Magic, which was set for Oct. 16 at Koch
Arena…
…A few
years ago,
Dallas
taxpayers were asked whether to give up on the Cotton Bowl or try saving it.
The verdict: Go for it. The $57
million face lift is done, with the mayor holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony
Wednesday…
…LightWild
has completed of one of the world’s
largest architectural LED lighting grids for the O2 World Arena in
Berlin. The project
engineering division of Kansas City-based LightWild designed the
15,000-square-foot display in conjunction with the arena’s owner, Anschutz
Entertainment Group, and multiple architects…
…
Vancouver has a new
competitor for a Major League Soccer franchise in 2011, and he owns the NHL’s
Ottawa Senators. Eugene Melnyk unveiled plans this week to build a $100-million
soccer stadium near the home rink of the Senators.
Ottawa city councilors are excited
about the prospect of a 30,000-seat stadium, but they want to see Melnyk’s
detailed plan before taking a position on the project…
…
Missouri
State’s new JQH Arena is on time and on
budget. Actually $1
million under budget, university president Mike Nietzel said, so Nietzel
has authorized funding for some “Tier II” items that were on hold,
pending a review of the budget…
…Astros
owner Drayton McLane is willing to let the
Houston Texans use Minute Maid Park if Bob McNair and the city need it once
the Astros’ season is over. “I’m not sure the goal posts would fit, but we
could see,” McLane told the Houston Chronicle via phone. “You
remember that the Chicago Bears used to play at Wrigley Field and the
New York football Giants
used to play at Yankee Stadium.”…