Newspaper: Independence signs deal for $50 million arena

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- Independence has reached an agreement with Phoenix-based Global Entertainment Corp. for a Central Hockey League team that would begin play in fall 2009 in a new $50 million arena, according to a newspaper report.

The Independence City Council on Monday night will see the documents on the agreement between the city and Global Entertainment, The Kansas City Star reported Saturday. Final approval of the deal could come July 16, according to city manager Robert Heacock.

Council members already have voiced support for the project.

The addition of a CHL franchise could give Kansas City a hockey presence on two fronts. Speculation about a major-league venue arose the past two days when the NHL's Nashville Predators' owner Craig Leipold announced he might sell the team to California venture capitalist William Del Biaggio III.

Del Biaggio has a contract with Anschutz Entertainment Group to operate a team at Kansas City's Sprint Center, set to open this fall. A possible holdup, however, is the Predators' lease in Nashville that runs through 2028.

Bielewicz said Global would welcome an NHL team playing at Sprint Center.

"It would give people a taste then of hockey, then they can go watch the young guys working hard trying to get to the NHL," Bielewicz said.

He said Global officials would come July 11 to Kansas City to get to know people and meet with the media.

Construction of the Independence arena would take two years.

Heacock said Friday it would have 5,800 seats with 26 suites. The 35 or so games a year would anchor the facility, but it would be host to about an additional 100 events annually.

"We market entertainment, whatever it is," Bielewicz said.