Drakkar America, a Norfolk consulting firm, is pitching a 22,000-seat arena for the Virginia Beach waterfront near the Convention Center and is looking for assistance from the city to help cover the $350-million price tag.
The Virginia Beach City Council will discuss the matter tonight in closed session.
The proposal from David Tollacksen is still a little short on specifics, like the amount of public assistance needed and why a 22,000-seat facility is needed. There’s been talk of an arena in the area for years, but no one’s stepped up with a solid proposal.
And it’s not clear whether the Drakkar America proposal is solid. Despite having Populous as a design partner, the Drakkar American website shows a definite lack of completed projects. It’s one thing to throw up pretty renderings of a proposed project; it’s another to show photos of a completed project. The arena would also include an adjacent entertainment district. The emphasis would be on concerts, tournaments and other events; pro hockey and basketball could be part of the mix as well.
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