Universities planning to build new sports facilities are being hit with construction costs twice as high as a decade ago.
The University of Oregon, USC in Los Angeles, and the University of Central Florida are some of the schools that are facing sticker shock from long planned arenas that are now under construction.
"A building boom in China and rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Katrina have multiplied the cost of raw materials...[meanwhile,] college athletic departments build bigger and fancier arenas for their basketball teams. The trends have collided to produce eye-popping price increases."
"For example, HOK Sport designed a modern-looking, 8,000-seat arena at the University of Tulsa (Okla.) that cost $28 million in 1998. Less than 10 years later, the HOK-designed arena at Central Florida in Orlando that opens next year and is similar to Tulsa's will cost $80 million."
FULL STORY: Building costs drive up price tag for splashy arenas

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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