Former LSU basketball player, four-time NBA champion and hall of famer Shaquille O'Neal will invest in the proposed new arena on the LSU campus.

"LSU and Baton Rouge deserve a world-class arena and I’m very excited to endorse Oak View Group’s plan," O'Neal said in a statement Friday. "I look forward to becoming the first investor to help bring this new venue to Baton Rouge and LSU."

O'Neal vouched for Oak View Group, the developer that is the sole finalist for the project. Oak View's CEO stepped down last month after he was indicted on bid-rigging allegations.

"I’ve worked with OVG in venues across the country (with my Big Chicken brand) and they are the best partners and great operators," O'Neal said in the statement.

O'Neal did not say how much of a stake he was planning to invest in

See Full Page