More ABA arena construction?

[Sam Hill]

ABA owners plan arena (http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/sports/2005/02/11abaownersplanar.html) (Delaware online)


"The effort is part of an ABA initiative to build midsize arenas in markets where it has teams. The league has funds to assist its owners in the financing of new facilities, commissioner Joe Newman said, but Coles said that he and Carr are prepared to pay for the entire project themselves. They expect it to cost up to $30 million."

I can guarantee you the league does not have funds to assist its owners in the financing unless it's to pay for the tissue in the rest rooms.

And yet another reporter simply parrots what Joe Newman spews without even a modicum of fact-checking. But I'm sure if pressed on how the league can possibly have money to help teams build arenas, he'd yell and say they're mean-spirited. Like he does with all reporters who don't just nod and say "thank you" when they interview him.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Yet another scam within a scam:

It looks like it'll happen," Coles said. "Everybody's excited about the idea. Once we find the land to build it, we can make it happen. This is something everybody is hoping for."

Once you find the land? Who are you kidding? If you are legit and if Wilmington is anything like the urban areas of Indiana, then the local government will provide you with plenty of free land for arena construction. If Wilmington is like Gary (and the last time I checked--IT IS), then local government will even bull-doze over occupied property to make a project like this happen.

Another early prediction:
You will see as much arena construction from Mr. Coles as the world saw from Mr. Owens down in Pensacola, Florida.

[Sam Hill]

There is not, nor has there ever been, an ABA owner with enough wherewithal to finance a $30 million arena by themselves.

Truth be told, there haven't been a lot of 5,000-seat, $30 million arenas built lately, and if the ABA is trying to start a trend, I don't like their chances.