Venue News: Cobb County Releases Proposed Financing for Braves Stadium; Cleveland Browns Unveil Renovation Plans

Compiled by Karen Hogan, Associate Editor, Sports Video Group

Cobb County has released more details on proposed financing for a new stadium to host the Braves, after the team announced it will leave Atlanta after the 2016 season. It's a 30-year deal that will have Cobb County paying around 45% of construction costs, or $300 million. The memorandum of understanding (available below) shows that the Braves will pay $280 million up front, with an additional $92 million over the life of the operating agreement. Cobb County will pledge $14 million up front in transportation improvements and $10 million from the Cumberland Community Improvement District, a self-taxing commercial district overseen by local business leaders

They've boosted their reputation and improved their record. Now the Browns want to upgrade their stadium. Days away from playing their biggest game in years, the NFL team unveiled plans Wednesday to modernize FirstEnergy Stadium with a two-year, $120 million renovation project. Browns CEO Joe Banner said the club will present its proposal, which includes the installation of new, high-definition video scoreboards, escalators and a reduction of 3,000 seats, to the city's planning commission on Thursday. The Browns also will meet with Mayor Frank Jackson and city officials about approval and funding for the project

The Golden State Warriors unveiled the latest version of the arena they want to build on San Francisco's waterfront. They say the new structure is slimmed down, but the opposition continues to heat up. Team owners are calling the latest Warriors arena plan, version 3.0. The design show a sports and entertainment facility along piers 30-32 that has less bulk and more open space than originally planned. Among the tweaks, the arena has gone from 771,000 square feet to 695,000. And the total open space has increased from 50% of the site to 60%

Tweeting and uploading photos at Allstate Arena is about to get much easier. The village of Rosemont, Illinois, is expected to approve a new contract with Los Angeles-based wireless network provider Boingo Wireless Inc. to install a free WiFi network and distributed antenna system at the venue. The deal will mark the debut of public Wi-Fi at the 33-year-old facility and greatly expand its capacity for smartphone usage, such as posting photos on social media. WiFi service at the arena, the home venue for DePaul University men's basketball, the Chicago Wolves and the Chicago Sky, will be supported by advertising revenue

A construction company has revived a proposal to build an 18,000-seat sports arena near Virginia Beach's oceanfront.

The Virginian-Pilot reports W.M. Jordan Co. has submitted a proposal with city partners to construct the arena next to the Virginia Beach convention center. Previous arena discussions were tied to attempts to bring a professional sports team to the city. Construction company President and CEO John Lawson says the current proposal has no such stipulation. Financial details about the proposal weren't released.

LINK:	http://sportsvideo.org/main/blog/2013/11/venue-news-cobb-county-releas...
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