A proposed new downtown arena could seat up to 8,000 fans and serve as home to Western Michigan University athletics and the Kalamazoo Wings.
A proposed new downtown arena could seat up to 8,000 fans and serve as home to Western Michigan University athletics and the Kalamazoo Wings.
The issue has been explored for five years via privately financed studies: the issues, really, have been if there is indeed enough market demand for the facility and, of so, how to pay for it. The Kalamazoo County Board has already set out a goal of not using property taxes to pay for a new downtown arena ; under consideration is an increase in the local hotel tax and a new restaurant/bar tax.
The facility would start with one advantage: Western Michigan University officials say they're very eager to sign up as tenants — but the university is not interested in managing the facility. The Kalamazoo Wings (UHL) have been mentioned as a potential tenant, but we're not quite sure they'd be interested: the K-Wings run their own facility.
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