The former head of Madison Square Garden will oversee the building of a three-story observation deck at the new One World Trade Center.

1 World Trade Center, under construction (Agence France-Presse/Getty Images)
1 World Trade Center, under construction (Agence France-Presse/Getty Images)
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The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced Wednesday it has awarded the contract to New York-based Legends Hospitality. Former MSG president and CEO Dave Checketts heads the company.

"This is much more than a terrific business opportunity for Legends," Checketts told the Port Authority board Wednesday. "We see it as a matter of trust, of strength, of perseverance and of rebirth."

Among the venues Legends has developed are Yankee Stadium and Cowboys Stadium.

The observation area will be on the tower's 100th through 102nd floors and will feature interactive displays, a theater, a gift shop and tours. The area will be enclosed and won't feature any outdoor areas. Port Authority executive director Pat Foye said having an outdoor observation area was studied but was deemed not feasible.

Legends is committing $62.5 million in capital to the project, Foye said. He estimated just under 4 million people will visit the site each year and that it will generate about $875 million over the course of Legends' 15-year lease. Admission will be charged to the observation area, but Foye declined to say how much it would cost.

The observation deck is scheduled to open in early 2015.

 

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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