Raleigh Sports and Entertainment District
Raleigh, NC
Representing the developer in the rezoning and development of 80 acres around the Lenovo Center indoor stadium, to create a new sports and entertainment district in North Carolina's growing Capitol. The rezoning allows for a new live music venue, up to 4,200 apartments, and up to 3.1 million square feet of hotel, retail, office, and food and beverage amenities. The project also allows for building heights up to 40 stories and outdoor tailgate experiences that will provide new ways for college football, basketball, and pro hockey fans to experience the space between the existing North Carolina State University Carter-Finley Stadium and the Lenovo Center. Our attorneys advised on securing entitlements, zoning, and site plan efforts, as well as serving as local counsel on leases, development agreements, regulatory work, and related agreements.
The Entertainment and Sports Arena
Washington, DC
Represented Events DC (the official Washington Convention and Sports Authority) in connection with the development and construction of the Entertainment and Sports Arena, a multipurpose venue capable of hosting sporting, music, esports, and other events. The facility also serves as the home court for a WNBA franchise and the training center for an NBA franchise. Negotiated both the development and funding agreements between Events DC and the NBA franchise that governed both the development and use of the new facility. Scope of work also included negotiating the agreements with the design and construction teams as well as a completion guarantee agreement for the entire project.
Fuse Stadium District
Gastonia, NC
Represented the City of Gastonia in a redevelopment project in the FUSE district of downtown. The project was structured as a public-private partnership (P3) focused on redeveloping underutilized parcels that had previously held a factory, warehouses, and mills, along with multiple property acquisitions on the part of the City. Advised on negotiating the economic development agreement with the developer/team owner to develop the parcels surrounding the ballpark, including conveyance of city-owned parcels to the private partners for future development, drafting and negotiating the use and operating agreement for the ballpark and team office space lease agreements, and negotiation of a new operating agreement and lease for the city’s FUSE stadium with the new minor league baseball team owner which was necessary after an unexpected bankruptcy filing by the prior operator and tenant.
Audi Field
Washington, DC
Represented a local government in connection with the development of a new Major League Soccer stadium. Negotiated both the acquisition of the footprint and the necessary easements that "unlocked" the site. Also advised on negotiating a development and funding agreement between the Government of the District of Columbia and the Major League Soccer franchise as well as the ground lease between those parties.
Nationals Park
Washington, DC
Served as the lead counsel to the Government of the District of Columbia and the District of Columbia Sports and Entertainment Commission (DCSEC) for the development a new $611 million ballpark for a Major League Baseball franchise. Served as land use counsel, and negotiated the acquisition of the majority of the footprint not otherwise acquired through eminent domain. Also negotiated the design and construction agreements, and the completion guarantee agreement with the development entities. Also negotiated the construction administration agreement between DCSEC and the MLB franchise which governed the rights of the parties during the development of the ballpark, as well as various use agreements.
Kannapolis Redevelopment
Kannapolis, NC
Represented the City of Kannapolis in a major redevelopment of its downtown district including the addition of a minor league baseball stadium and mixed-use properties. Assisted in structuring the public private partnership (P3), drafting the original MOU, master development agreement, and parking garage agreement (including advising on appropriate ordinance revisions), as well as advising on statutory authorities related to public bidding laws. Assisted with the disposition of publicly owned buildings and facilities to accommodate the redevelopment and provided all necessary environmental regulatory advice related to the brownfields process. Bond attorneys advised on the $52 million bond financing for the stadium project. Also assisted with financing documents, including separating out lots for the financing, and reassignment and modification of the master development agreement.