Latest news with #Rossetti
Fast Company
21-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
Your honey deuces are paying for a $800 million Arthur Ashe Stadium overhaul
This week, the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) announced that it's putting the revenue from selling U.S. Open tickets and $23 signature Honey Deuce cocktails toward a new cause: Completing an $800 million renovation of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (NTC), the sports complex that hosts the annual tennis championship. The renovation represents the single largest investment in U.S. Open history, according to a press release published by the USTA. It will encompass a full transformation of the Arthur Ashe Stadium, where championship games are played, as well as a luxe new player performance center on the NTC's campus. The work will be spearheaded by the architectural firm Rossetti, which designed Arthur Ashe stadium back in 1994 and has since returned to add a retractable roof to the building, as well as two supplementary stadiums within the complex. This update will bring the lifetime construction cost of Arthur Ashe stadium to over $1 billion. This latest round of renovations is set to be completed by the 2027 U.S. Open, with three construction phases planned to avoid conflicts with scheduled play in the intervening years. The updates are designed to dramatically increase the stadium's capacity and to create a more modern, luxurious experience for both fans and athletes. 'Every square inch' of the stadium is being revamped, from the club level to the lounge and the promenade, Danny Zausner, chief operating officer at the USTA, told reporters in an interview this week. Here's a rundown. What's new at Arthur Ashe stadium The design vision for the Arthur Ashe stadium will be apparent to guests before they even enter the venue. Based on renderings provided by the USTA, a new Grand Entrance will usher viewers into the space through a two-story, futuristic silver ring arcing above the doorways. Inside, the stadium itself will be almost entirely overhauled. Per the press release, the promenade-level concourse, where guests typically gather and mingle, will be sized up by 40%; more escalators and elevators will be added to every level; and an upward extension of the courtside-level bowl will increase its capacity from 3,000 to 5,000 attendees. Arthur Ashe Stadium's overall capacity of 24,000, which makes it the largest tennis stadium in the world, will remain the same as the design team plans to relocate seating to this bowl from other parts of the arena. New amenities will also include modernized concorses with all-new retail, food, and beverage spaces, added clubs and restaurants, and two new dedicated luxury suite levels—presumably catering to the U.S. Open's coterie of VIP guests. 'This project enables us to maintain the greatest stage in tennis—Arthur Ashe Stadium—which was constructed more than 25 years ago, and modernize it in a way that will set it up for the next 25 years,' Lew Sherr, CEO and executive director of USTA, said in the press release. 'It also provides us the opportunity to give the players that compete in that stadium an unparalleled space that will enable them to perform at their best and enjoy a higher level of luxury and comfort while they are off the court.' 'Spa-like' athlete facilities While the U.S. Open fan experience is getting a facelift, part of this major investment is also being funneled toward athlete facilities. Those upgrades will come in the form of a $250 million player performance center, located on the top two floors of an existing building to the west of the Arthur Ashe stadium. Inside, players and teams will be treated to indoor and outdoor fitness areas, 'spa-like' locker rooms and lounges, and even a cafe accessible only to athletes. The press release notes that this added investment is intended to provide the nearly 2,800 athletes and team members at the U.S. Open with 'everything they need to maximize their on-court performance.' 'There's no doubt about it—when you walk into the stadium, the entire look and feel will change,' says Zausner.
American Military News
26-04-2025
- American Military News
Illinois parade shooter sentenced to life in prison without parole
Robert Crimo III will spend the rest of his life in prison for opening fire on spectators at the 2022 Highland Park Independence Day Parade. Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti imposed the expected sentence Thursday after listening to statements from 19 survivors and loved ones of people killed in the mass shooting. He was sentenced to seven consecutive natural life sentences without the possibility of parole − one for each of the seven people he murdered — plus an additional 50 years for the four dozen spectators he injured. 'The court finds that the defendant is irretrievably depraved, permanently incorrigible, irreparably corrupt and beyond any rehabilitation,' Rossetti said. The proceeding has been temporarily halted because Crimo —who repeatedly declined to attend the two-day hearing — reportedly decided he wanted to make an appearance. The judge had already issued the seven consecutive life sentences when she abruptly called for a break. 'A mass shooting is like a bomb blast throughout a community,' said Highland Park resident Erica Weeder, who was injured in the attack alongside her husband. 'Because of this mass shooting, this act of terror, I, my children, and our entire community now know that no one is ever really safe.' The 24-year-old gunman unexpectedly pleaded guilty last month to 21 counts of first-degree murder and 48 counts of attempted murder, minutes before opening statements were set to begin in his murder trial. His decision eliminated the need for a weekslong, high-profile court battle that would almost certainly have ended in a guilty verdict. Under state law, anyone found guilty of committing two or more murders receives an automatic life sentence in prison with no possibility of parole. Before Rossetti announced her decision, Crimo's attorney said the shooter understands he will die in prison because of his actions. Killed in the shooting were Katherine Goldstein, 64; Irina McCarthy, 35, and her husband, Kevin McCarthy, 37; Stephen Straus, 88; Jacki Sundheim, 63; Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78; and Eduardo Uvaldo, 69. Several victims and their families remain in civil litigation related to the shooting, including against Crimo III, his father, gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson and the gun shops that helped Crimo III get his weapons. Several lawsuits also have been filed against the Illinois State Police for approving Crimo's Firearm Owner's Identification card application despite concerns he was a danger to public safety. Crimo's father, Robert Crimo Jr., sponsored his son's FOID card, which allowed him to purchase the high-powered rifle used in the shooting despite red flags. Crimo Jr. pleaded guilty to seven misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct for his role in helping to secure the gun permit and was sentenced to 60 days behind bars in late 2023. Several survivors spoke about the need for gun control during their impact statements, saying there was no reason for Crimo to have the AR-15-style assault rifle he used to fire 83 bullets at spectators over a 40-second period. 'My dad was living the American Dream,' said Karina Mendez, whose father Eduardo Uvaldo was among those killed. 'And died the American nightmare.' ___ © 2025 Chicago Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Epoch Times
24-04-2025
- Epoch Times
24-Year-Old Highland Park Shooter Sentenced to Life In Prison
A 24-year-old man who shot and killed a slew of people at a 2022 Fourth of July parade in a suburb north of Chicago was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on April 24. After survivors and relatives of the deceased shared emotional impact statements, Robert E. Crimo III was handed seven consecutive sentences of life in prison by Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti at the request of prosecutors. 'He's always known that he was facing life in prison,' Crimo's public defender, Gregory Ticsay, said. 'He has spared this community the lengthy trial.' Partygoers were attending an Independence Day celebration in Highland Park when Crimo opened fire, shooting 83 bullets over 40 seconds, killing seven and injuring dozens more. Families fled the parade in a panic. Highland Park is about an hour away from Chicago and is home to about 30,000 people. 'This court has absolutely no words that could adequately describe and capture the horror and pain that was inflicted on July 4th,' Rossetti said. '[He] has a complete disregard for human life and is irretrievably depraved, permanently incorrigible, irreparably corrupt and beyond any rehabilitation.' Related Stories 7/6/2022 4/21/2025 Although law enforcement officials have said Crimo confessed to the Highland Park massacre, his defense panel has said that a private lawyer hired by his family was outside the police station after the shooting and that investigators unconstitutionally prevented the lawyer's access to the defendant. However, Rossetti argued that in the video, Crimo is visibly saying he didn't want to stop the police interview to speak to a lawyer. 'I walked up the stairs, jumped on the roof and opened fire,' Crimo said at the time. Crimo has been sporadic in his court appearances, which has delayed his proceedings. In the past, he avoided attending hearings but changed his mind this week just as Rosetti was handing down his sentence. As a result, Rossetti stayed the proceedings on Thursday until Crimo could be brought to court. Crimo's victims on that day ranged from the elderly to an 8-year-old boy named Cooper Roberts, who is now paralyzed from the waist down. Those killed in the attack were Katherine Goldstein, 64; Jacquelyn Sundheim, 63; Stephen Straus, 88; Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78; Eduardo Uvaldo, 69; and married couple Kevin McCarthy, 37, and Irina McCarthy, 35. 'This was his evil plan,' Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart said. 'He intended to end the happiness that he saw around him.' The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Illinois parade shooter sentenced to life in prison without parole
WAUKEGAN, Ill. — Robert Crimo III will spend the rest of his life in prison for opening fire on spectators at the 2022 Highland Park Independence Day Parade. Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti imposed the expected sentence Thursday after listening to statements from 19 survivors and loved ones of people killed in the mass shooting. He was sentenced to seven consecutive natural life sentences without the possibility of parole − one for each of the seven people he murdered — plus an additional 50 years for the four dozen spectators he injured. 'The court finds that the defendant is irretrievably depraved, permanently incorrigible, irreparably corrupt and beyond any rehabilitation,' Rossetti said. The proceeding has been temporarily halted because Crimo —who repeatedly declined to attend the two-day hearing — reportedly decided he wanted to make an appearance. The judge had already issued the seven consecutive life sentences when she abruptly called for a break. 'A mass shooting is like a bomb blast throughout a community,' said Highland Park resident Erica Weeder, who was injured in the attack alongside her husband. 'Because of this mass shooting, this act of terror, I, my children, and our entire community now know that no one is ever really safe.' The 24-year-old gunman unexpectedly pleaded guilty last month to 21 counts of first-degree murder and 48 counts of attempted murder, minutes before opening statements were set to begin in his murder trial. His decision eliminated the need for a weekslong, high-profile court battle that would almost certainly have ended in a guilty verdict. Under state law, anyone found guilty of committing two or more murders receives an automatic life sentence in prison with no possibility of parole. Before Rossetti announced her decision, Crimo's attorney said the shooter understands he will die in prison because of his actions. Killed in the shooting were Katherine Goldstein, 64; Irina McCarthy, 35, and her husband, Kevin McCarthy, 37; Stephen Straus, 88; Jacki Sundheim, 63; Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78; and Eduardo Uvaldo, 69. Several victims and their families remain in civil litigation related to the shooting, including against Crimo III, his father, gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson and the gun shops that helped Crimo III get his weapons. Several lawsuits also have been filed against the Illinois State Police for approving Crimo's Firearm Owner's Identification card application despite concerns he was a danger to public safety. Crimo's father, Robert Crimo Jr., sponsored his son's FOID card, which allowed him to purchase the high-powered rifle used in the shooting despite red flags. Crimo Jr. pleaded guilty to seven misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct for his role in helping to secure the gun permit and was sentenced to 60 days behind bars in late 2023. Several survivors spoke about the need for gun control during their impact statements, saying there was no reason for Crimo to have the AR-15-style assault rifle he used to fire 83 bullets at spectators over a 40-second period. 'My dad was living the American Dream,' said Karina Mendez, whose father Eduardo Uvaldo was among those killed. 'And died the American nightmare.' ____
New York Times
24-04-2025
- New York Times
Gunman Who Opened Fire on a Parade Gets Seven Life Sentences
The man who opened fire from a rooftop at a Fourth of July parade in a suburb of Chicago in 2022 was sentenced on Thursday to seven consecutive life sentences, one for each of the people he killed. The man, Robert Crimo III, was also sentenced to a 50-year term in prison for attempted murder for each of the 48 people who were wounded at the parade but survived. He is not eligible for parole. In reading the sentence, Judge Victoria A. Rossetti of Lake County Circuit Court called Mr. Crimo 'irretrievably depraved,' a man who has demonstrated no remorse for his crimes. 'No sentence can ever change the events of July 4,' she said. 'Nor can it compensate for the loss of a loved one or injured.' About two dozen relatives of the victims gathered in the courtroom gallery to hear the sentence. Some of them sobbed; others leaned their heads on their relatives' shoulders for support. Mr. Crimo avoided a trial in the case by pleading guilty in March to 69 criminal counts, including first-degree murder. During the two-day sentencing hearing that began Wednesday morning, witnesses recounted the terror and chaos of the shooting, recalling how they fled with their families and saw people lying bloodied in the street. In remarks to the court, Eric Rinehart, the Lake County state's attorney, described a community that was shattered. Mr. Crimo created 'an ocean of grief, pain, heartache and loss,' he said. 'Many believe that the sentence you give cannot redress this.' Gregory Ticsay, a lawyer for Mr. Crimo, said in court on Thursday that Mr. Crimo had resigned himself to a life sentence. 'He has pleaded guilty with the understanding that he will spend the rest of his life in prison,' he said. Mr. Crimo, who is being held in the Lake County jail, refused to appear at the hearing all day Wednesday and again on Thursday. Judge Rossetti said that the sentencing would go on without him. 'He was told if he did not appear, we could proceed in his absence, including the sentencing. so we will proceed,' Judge Rossetti said on Thursday. Erica Weeder, who was wounded by shrapnel during the shooting, spoke in court on Thursday about the lasting effects that the shooting had on her psyche. Now, she said, she is bothered by fireworks, by the loud noises of construction sites, by the rumble of the L train. 'I lost some of my deep keel,' she said. 'Some of my ability to bounce back from stressful events is simply gone.' Killed in the shooting were Stephen Straus, 88; Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78; Eduardo Uvaldo, 69; Katherine Goldstein, 64; Jacquelyn Sundheim, 63; Irina McCarthy, 35, and her husband, Kevin McCarthy, 37.
