Listin Diario reported that a conflict of business interests is behind the delays in repairing the Palacio de los Deportes, the main sports arena of the city of Santo Domingo, located at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center. Since its inauguration in 1974, the sports dome has been the arena for local basketball championships, which this year will take place at the smaller volleyball pavilion also located in the sports complex. The Listín Diario reports that three different contractors are vying for the contract to repair the Palacio. Repairs, which have been estimated to cost upwards of RD$65 million, according to press reports, will permit the Palacio to host games of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Palacio was built in 1974 for the XII Central American and Caribbean Sports Games at a cost of RD$1.2 million. It has been repaired 11 times since then at a total cost of RD$214 million.
