Venue News: Villanova Pursues Arena Upgrades; Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium Design Under Fire

Villanova is actively engaged in a fundraising drive for renovations to the Pavilion, adding everything from a video screen to more bathrooms, concession stands, souvenir stands, and premium suites, writes the Associated Press. But the key questions of when the project would start, how long the process would take, what the final project would include – and the total bill – are all still undecided. Villanova Athletic Director Vince Nicastrosaid there are no ”significant” plans to add to the Pavilion’s 6,500-seat capacity. The Wildcats could look down the road to Philadelphia rival Saint Joseph’s as an example. Former SJU student and current benefactor Michael J. Hagan contributed $10 million to the Alumni Fieldhouse renovation project and the gym was renamed the Michael J. Hagan `85 Arena in his honor…

…It was supposed to represent a dynamic future vision for Tokyo, flaring up out of the city’s Meiji Jingu park in sinuous white arcs, writes The Guardian. But Zaha Hadid’s design for the 2020 Olympic stadium has been subjected to a two-year tirade of criticism, alterations, and budget cuts – and it’s now facing its fiercest public attack yet. After viewing the revised stadium designs, which were scaled down by a quarter in July following a 40% reduction in budget, one of the country’s most eminent architects, 83-year-old Arata Isozaki, has launched a blistering assault against the project, declaring it to be a “monumental mistake” and warning it will be a “disgrace to future generations”. It is the latest chapter in a saga that has seen the design subject to widespread opposition, led by a number of Japan’s leading architects…

…The Sacramento Kings released a new artist rendering Friday of the downtown sports and entertainment complex that shows a new 16-story tower that will be used for retail and as a hotel, writes KCRA. Kings officials submitted a preliminary application Friday to the city’s planning commission to ensure the venues will be included on the Dec. 11 meeting agenda. Adding additional infrastructure, including a hotel and shopping, was part of the arena’s Environmental Impact Report…

…The Milwaukee Bucks have a bit of a ticking clock as the team’s new owners attempt to secure a new arena for the franchise before a 2017 deadline. According to the Racine Journal Times, the team is in serious negotiations to take control of a two-block area which includes the team’s former home, the Milwaukee Arena—now known as the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. The area, which also includes the Milwaukee Theater and land east of the old arena that houses Major Goolsby’s and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, would be razed to make room for an 18,000-seat arena and a new practice facility for the team. The Bucks currently train at the Cousins Center in St. Francis, where the offices for the key basketball officials is located…

…Missouri Governor Jay Nixon’s plan to explore all options to keep the Rams in St. Louis may be the hot topic surrounding the franchise, but Head Coach Jeff Fisher doesn’t seem overly concerned about talk of a new stadium or a potential move to another city. According to KMOV, the Rams players are saying they don’t concern themselves with what’s happening off the field, but middle linebacker James Laurinaitis said he wants whatever is best for the city of St. Louis…

…The University of Cincinnati is looking for architects and engineers to plan and design a $70 million overhaul of Fifth Third Arena, writes the Cincinnati Business Courier. UC put out a request for qualifications on Friday and indicated the design work will have two phases. The first will require the firms to come up with a more solid cost estimate. The documents indicate the university could abort the project after phase one but also indicate an aggressive construction schedule if UC goes ahead with the plan. UC would want the renovations started by April 2016 and finished by November 2017, so UC’s teams would play elsewhere during the 2016-17 season…

…Northern Illinois’s Huskie Stadium and its athletic facilities will see overhauls to the tune of an estimated $138 million as part of Athletics Director Sean Frazier’s Facilities Master Plan, according to Northern Star Online. Plans revealed in a recent news conference showed Huskie Stadium will have a horseshoe shape after end zone seating is added to the south side of the stadium. Seating will increase to 30,000-35,000; it is currently about 24,000. Frazier also said naming rights for the stadium may be available. Frazier said the facilities overhauls will cost an estimated $138 million, which will be privately funded. No timeline for the overhaul was presented at the news conference. Additions to NIU’s athletic complex include a baseball stadium, a tennis facility and an Olympic sports facility.