The Mosaic Quarter Iceplex and Mosaic Quarter Field House, centerpieces of a 100-acre sports and entertainment development, are breaking ground at 9:00 a.m. on November 20, 2024, in Tucson, AZ. Designed by JLG Architects, the nearly 175,000-square-foot MQ Iceplex will be home ice to the University of Arizona’s Wildcat Hockey, offering three NHL regulation-sized ice rinks and venue space supporting e-sports and concerts, community and youth programs, NCAA teams, adaptive sports, and semi-professional ice sports. The 131,000-square-foot MQ Field House will host basketball and volleyball programs with eight courts and additional training facilities. The grand opening of both facilities, at the southeast corner of Interstate 10 and the Kino Parkway intersection, is anticipated for spring/summer of 2027.
JLG Architects was selected by Mosaic Quarter Development to design the new athletic campus for the community of Pima County and Tucson, Arizona. The athletic district will be centered around a natural river wash that flows through the Mosaic Quarter development, connected by pedestrian bridges to achieve a unified campus-like setting. The MQ Iceplex and MQ Field House are central to the mixed-use sport and entertainment district, supported by the addition of three new hotels, up to 10 restaurants, retail, convention space, community pavilions, and parks.
Mosaic Quarter is 100% privately funded, with plans to complete over one million square feet of facilities and amenities, including MQ Iceplex, MQ Field House, MQ Sportsplex, and MQ Pavilion. Mosaic Quarter’s athletic facilities will be vibrant hubs of sports and family fun, while MQ Pavilion will become a regional family gathering spot for outdoor entertainment. JLG is also leading master planning of the Field House site for potential construction of a smaller sportsplex field house and 9,000-seat soccer stadium. [JLG Architects]
On Saturday, the University and Penn Athletics hosted the grand opening of the Ott Center for Track and Field, marking the completion of a years-long planning and construction process that first began in 2019. Penn director of track and field and cross country Steve Dolan called the event “a celebration,” emphasizing the new role the center will play in the rich tradition of Penn track and field.
“This is a monumental moment,” Dolan said while addressing a crowd of roughly 400 attendees that included donors, administrators, and program alumni. “I was asked tonight when I came up here, ‘What does this new facility mean for track and field?’... The first word I keep telling people is: it’s a home … It’s the home of Penn track and field, the home of Philadelphia track and field.”
“My second word to bring up is vision,” Dolan continued, citing initial conversations he had with Athletic Director Alanna Wren upon coming to Penn in 2012. “[The vision] was to build off of the success of the Penn Relays and the history of track and field to establish Penn and the city of Philadelphia as a major hub for track and field on the East Coast, the United States, and the world. That was our mission. And I stand here today to tell you that this facility, among other things that have been happening, are starting to really make that dream a reality.” [The Daily Pennsylvanian]
The Watertown School Board approved a resolution to issue limited tax general obligation certificates amounting to $5 million. This funding is designated for constructing and equipping the new athletic complex, marking a significant step forward in enhancing the district's facilities.
The resolution outlines the terms and conditions for issuing these certificates. The certificates will fund the acquisition and construction of school improvements, including the new athletic complex, and cover related costs such as underwriter's discount, credit enhancement, and rating agency fees.
Tom Grimmond from Colliers, responsible for establishing the capital certificates, presented detailed information about the funding process. He explained that while the initial interest rate was 3.87%, it may fluctuate due to market conditions. He also assured the board that they would be kept informed about any changes in the interest rates and provided a comprehensive overview of the bond pricing process, which is expected to conclude in January. [KXLG]
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