New MU venue may be renamed Mizzou Arena

The change from Paige Sports Arena might be approved on Friday.

By Kelly Wiese ~ The Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Fans, students and alumni were furious when the University of Missouri announced its new $75 million basketball arena was being named for a 22-year-old Wal-Mart heiress who attended another college.

Just a few games into the first season at Paige Sports Arena, they've been vindicated. And on Friday, there could be a new name -- Mizzou Arena.

The university's Board of Curators will vote Friday on the change, said Remy Wagner, the assistant to the board's secretary. Billionaires Bill and Nancy Laurie, who received the naming rights after giving Missouri $25 million to help build the arena, gave them back to the school on Tuesday.

In March, they had named the building Paige Sports Arena, for their daughter, Elizabeth Paige Laurie.

Paige Laurie didn't attended Missouri; she is a graduate of the University of Southern California, and was accused on national television last week of paying a friend to do her school work for her.

"It's imperative that we get together and come to some conclusion on this and get this behind us," Curator Don Walsworth said Wednesday.

Even before the accusations of cheating, the name the Lauries picked for the arena sparked snickers on campus and howls of outrage from some alumni.

Scott Kampmeyer, a 1995 graduate and president of the Los Angeles-Orange County alumni chapter, said Missouri graduates in California were embarrassed and angry at the name originally, and are glad now that it will change.

"They could've found someone who's done more for the university and athletic department than some girl who never even went to Mizzou," he said. "It gives you an image of a spoiled little rich girl whose daddy bought her a basketball arena."

The Lauries did not return messages Wednesday left at their Columbia home and at the offices of Paige Sports Entertainment, the company through which they own the NHL's St. Louis Blues, or with the Blues. Nancy Laurie is the daughter of the late Bud Walton, co-founder of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Paige Laurie has denied repeated requests for interviews since the announcement in March she would become the arena's namesake. There is no telephone listing for either Elizabeth or Paige Laurie in California.

Kampmeyer said after the cheating allegations surfaced, some alumni contacted him, angry and planning to drop their memberships. He said the Lauries' giving up the naming rights should ease tensions.

"When they decided to relinquish the naming rights, I think that was a relief," Kampmeyer said. "It's kind of a tough time to be a Missouri sports fan now. Their decision helps heal a little bit of the wounds we're feeling lately."

Cheryl Stephens, president of the St. Louis alumni chapter, said she was glad the Lauries gave up the naming rights.

"The situation's so unfortunate. I hope that whatever name they do come up with ends up being more reflective of Mizzou," she said.

Another naming suggestion was gaining steam in Columbia, the college town 114 miles west of St. Louis.

"I think the right thing to do at this point is to name if after the person everybody is thinking about right now. That's (former coach) Norm Stewart," Rep. Chuck Graham of Columbia said Wednesday. "He is Mr. Missouri basketball. I think it would be a great new beginning for this arena."

This is the second major naming scandal at the university in recent years. An economics professorship endowed by Enron Corp. founder Ken Lay continues to carry his name, although he has been accused of defrauding investors.

University officials have indicated that if Lay is convicted, they would prefer to remove Lay's name, which would probably require that his $1.1 million donation be returned. The Lay chair in economics has never been filled.

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