Perini Bests Competition for $180-Mil Arena Contract

A ground-breaking date can't be pinned down as yet, Ken Schacherbauer, Perini vice president and project manager, tells GlobeSt.com. Infrastructure work is projected to kick off in March or April.

Schacherbauer says it's only two days into the contract so many questions have yet to be answered, including which building techniques will be employed to push the project to delivery in time for the first face-off. He estimates that peak construction will have 1,500 craftsmen at work to meet what could prove to be a tight schedule.

It's also critical to bring the project in at $180 million, a cap that Glendale has set for its contribution. Anything in excess must come from the pocket of Coyotes' owner Steve Ellman, who also is responsible for developing upward of 800,000 sf of mixed-use space within six months of the arena's delivery. "Our preconstruction contract guarantees a maximum price," says Schacherbauer. "Our goal is to be at $180 million."

Perini is wearing two hats: construction manager and general contractor on the project designed by HOK's Kansas City sports group. The building company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Perini Corp., is a veteran builder of sports complexes. In addition to Arizona's Bank One Ballpark and America West Arena, it also delivered the San Jose Arena in California; Thomas and Mack Arena in Nevada; Nashville Arena; and Palace of Auburn Hills in Michigan.

In November 2001, the City of Glendale approved final development agreements with the Ellman Cos. and the NHL Coyotes to construct the state-of-the-art arena on a 223-acre, mixed-use project near Loop 101 and Glendale Avenue. Schacherbauer estimates the 17,500-seat arena will take up about 10 acres. The mixed-use project ultimately will bring six million sf in retail, entertainment, dining, office, hotel and residential components–and possibly a new stadium for the Arizona Cardinals.