OSG High: So, About That Broken $60-Million Stadium...

((HT: WFAA-TV))

The Allen Independent School District (ISD) met last night in a closed-door meeting to figure out how in the blue hell they're going to get their three-year-old, mega-stadium figured out and fixed in time for the 2015 high school athletics season.

Two engineering firms are assisting the ISD in the analysis, but the construction company that was involved in making Eagle Stadium was not around for the meeting last night.

The stadium has been closed because of structural flaws and the inability for the stadium to support proper weight distributions of fans and the stadium itself.

Allen ISD is less than pleased that, it looks like, someone cut corners to get the barn up in time. And the ISD are waiting for the appraisal of the damage before giving the construction company their marching orders from this moment forward.

Jobin Panicker is outside the building

Brian Burke Went All Brian Burke On The Calgary Chamber

((HT: CBC/The Score))

Calgary Flames President Brian Burke thinks that there's one building in the National Hockey League worse than his own at present- the Nassau Coliseum. And when you think that only a building that leaks and has rats is better than yours, you're trying to make a point.

With their Alberta neighbors in Edmonton having their own new barn being built, Burke had an opportunity to say his peace in a lunch with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.

Some of the key conversation:

"We need a new arena in Calgary. There is absolutely no reason we should watch a new building going up in Edmonton, and we should play in a 1988 arena here.

"Lower bowls in a newer arena are nine thousand seats minimum. Ours is what, six? So we are not generating revenues like other NHL buildings are," Burke said. "The weight load that the roof will bear is tiny, so a lot of the big stage acts don’t come here. So it’s not just what a hockey team gets, what it adds to a hockey team, it’s what it does to a downtown core."

Well, okay, sure...

This video, put out by a firm called Populous earlier this year gave folks hope- only with a central logo on an ice surface and not even mentioning publicly the idea of a new arena.

Calgary Flames President Ken King denied any talks were ongoing about a new barn. The City Council has even gone public saying there's no new money for a building even if there were talks going on.

Braves Getting Lessons From Yankees On New Ballpark

((HT: 11Alive.com))

The Atlanta Braves front office is trying to figure out how best to build (and properly monetize, naturally...) their new ballpark- whether it's Turner Field II is currently unknown...

Our friends at WXIA-TV got to take their behind-the-scenes tour with them to figure out what is needed, how much is needed, and what to cut out as they build...

So, expect less seats for premium effect, not a whole lot of parking, even less public transportation access, and a lot of headaches for the fans as they commute to one of the more-highly trafficked areas in the entire town...

Enjoy...

Rogers Arena A "Go" In Edmonton

((HT: 630CHED))

After holding the city of Edmonton hostage in front of his Seattle teaser a few years ago, Oilers owner Daryl Katz got his wish- C$480-million in public funding to make Rogers Place a go by the 2016 season.

Katz, Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson, City Manager Simon Farbrother and other muckety mucks went public (highlights below) came forward to say how happy they all were that nothing stands in the way of building a new barn for the hockey team.

In an interesting side-bar, the price tag includes a C$2-million contribution from MacEwan University. Their contribution helps increase the number of seats in the adjoining "community rink." They'll get a new home out of the deal, too, and won't have to travel the 20 miles to West Edmonton- where they currently play.

Here's a short look at the presser


And here's where they came from with the Seattle dance...
((HT: TSN))

DEVELOPING: Sao Paolo Stadium Collapse Kills 2

((HT: Sky News))

The stadium scheduled to be the centerpiece of the Rio/Brazil World Cup has collapsed- causing significant damage, setback, and killing two... the numbers, initially called three fatalities...

The Itaquerao stadium was claimed to be "94 percent" completed before the accident.

Some local media said the accident occurred when a crane collapsed on top of a metal structure inside the stadium.

Here's the breaker...


"The safety of workers is the top priority for FIFA, the LOC, the federal government. We know the safety of all workers has always been paramount for all the construction companies contracted to build the 12 FIFA World Cup stadiums," FIFA said in a statement.

More when we know more...

Here's a longer breaker from Brazilian news with aerials...