The two most complex challenges in the development and on-time completion of professional sports facilities are (1) obtaining the myriad of approvals and permits from local, state and federal agencies and (2) defending against a broad range of legal objections that project opponents often pursue in court. These challenges are becoming more complicated as sports facilities are likely to be part of larger mixed-use developments with companion residential, commercial, hotel, entertainment and convention uses.
Meyers Nave Principals Tim Cremin and Shaye Diveley presented a virtual conference session addressing these challenges during the Convention, Sports and Entertainment Facilities Conference, a leading nation-wide conference for public agencies, developers and consultants working to bring these facilities to fruition. Tim and Shaye used case studies from Meyers Nave’s NBA and MLB sports facility project experience to share examples of approval processes and litigation strategies to help demonstrate practical approaches for ensuring success. Their presentation covered:
- Land use approvals, environmental review, community benefit agreements, public financing, and community outreach
- Transportation (parking, public transit, traffic control), noise, and financing
- Special legislation to facilitate and streamline sports facility project approvals and environmental review and expedite court challenges to these projects
- Strategies for negotiating approvals and agreements with public agencies and the community
- Litigation defense strategies that will help keep completion deadlines on track
Meyers Nave’s extensive experience with professional sports arenas and associated mixed-use development projects includes the City of Sacramento’s downtown NBA arena, the Oakland A’s proposed new waterfront MLB stadium and mixed-use project in the City of Oakland, a proposed mixed-use and transit-oriented development on the site of the Angels MLB stadium in the City of Anaheim, the Los Angeles Clippers NBA arena, and transit development adjacent to the NHL arena in San Jose.