http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5964120/

S.A. firm may land role in big upgrade of NYC arenaBy W. Scott Bailey
San Antonio Business Journal
Updated: 8:00 p.m. ET Sept. 12, 2004PC Sports -- the same San Antonio company that represented the Spurs, rodeo officials and Bexar County in the construction of SBC Center -- could land a role in the monumental face lift of New York's famed Madison Square Garden.

That development comes in the wake of related news that the company has been tapped to be part of the program management team that will oversee construction of a new $250 million arena in downtown Kansas City that could lure the NBA back to that Midwestern community.

PC Sports, a spinoff of Project Control, which is also based in the Alamo City, has been selected to be part of K.C. Arena PM Team, as the consortium of firms is calling itself. In addition to PC Sports, the program management team includes Burns & McDonnell and HNTB.

Voters approved construction of the 20,000-seat Kansas City arena in early August. In addition to housing a National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, Kansas City leaders hope to attract an NBA franchise to the new venue. One possible candidate for relocation is the Sacramento Kings, which moved to Northern California from Kansas City in 1985.

Rich Noll, assistant city manager for Kansas City, says PC Sports will be a "strong partner in this deal."

He adds, "We're very pleased to have them aboard and we are convinced that they will prove to be a very valuable component because of their experience."

"The timing of this deal is perfect," says PC Sports President and CEO Bob Crittenden.

Sprint has signed on for naming-rights to the new arena. The company has agreed to pay more than $60 million over 25 years to have its name attached to the facility.

In San Antonio, locally based SBC agreed to pay a little more than $2 million annually over 20 years to have its name affixed to the Spurs' arena, which will soon welcome its third NBA season.

Gaining a reputation
Earlier this month, FedEx Forum opened in Memphis. That $250 million arena has been praised for its architecture and its location -- next to the popular Beale Street entertainment district.

PC Sports represented the city, Shelby County and the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies as project manager in the construction of FedEx Forum. The Grizzlies will begin play in the new arena this coming season.

PC Sports also consulted with the NBA and later the expansion Charlotte Bobcats on construction of a new $200 million downtown arena in that city. The arena is under construction in an uptown area alive with a variety of office buildings, restaurants, stores and two city transit terminals.

All of this has led to more recognition -- and opportunities -- for PC Sports. Its principals say those opportunities exist both nationally and internationally. But perhaps none would bring as much attention as participating in a major redo of the 36-year-old Madison Square Garden -- considered by many the world's most famous sports arena.

Cablevision, which owns and operates Madison Square Garden, is looking at a privately financed plan that could take as long as two years to complete and that Crittenden says could cost upwards of $375 million.

Crittenden says PC Sports has been contacted about its interest in participating in such an undertaking. He says the exposure for PC Sports would be tremendous.

Firm foothold
Crittenden says his firm Project Control worked closely with John Hilkene's consulting firm, Seagull Bay Sports, in the construction of SBC Center. It was that relationship that actually spawned what is now PC Sports.

"With the whole dynamic of (SBC Center) and all that was involved, we knew we needed help," says Crittenden. "As we began working with John, we found out that he had already done five or six of these arenas. He really knows these venues."

Hilkene's experience includes work on Gund Arena in Cleveland and MCI Center in Washington, D.C. Hilkene says he and Crittenden decided it was more advantageous to go after future sports venue work as partners rather than as competitors.

Hilkene resides in Florida, where his home lost a roof to Hurricane Charley in August. That same home sustained additional damage in early September when a second storm -- Hurricane Frances -- slammed into Florida.

Still, Hilkene and Crittenden press on. Already, PC Sports is in discussions with a large Atlanta architectural firm about the possibility of forming a partnership that would take what PC Sports has accomplished with NBA arenas and go after similar building opportunities with the NCAA.

"We think there is a market for that, and we want to pursue it," says Crittenden.

Another possibility, he confirms, is that PC Sports could go after sports venue work in Europe.

"There is a real need," he says.

------------------------------------------------------
Oops, sorry, cut it off too soon before.

Only question I have is where are we gonna play if it takes 2 years? Don't wanna see a Liberty situation with us playing at freaking Radio City.

[Edited by - MaTT4281 on 09/10/2004 20:30:36]

Only place I can think of, is Nassau Colesseum, here on LI.

As long it's privately funded, they can do whatever they want.