Austin Sports & Entertainment has unveiled a plan for a new Austin arena as part of a larger complex that features other amenities, including a 40,000-seat stadium.
As part of a partnership with Rodeo Austin, Austin Sports & Entertainment is seeking to work with the City of Austin and Travis County on a proposal for the complex, dubbed the East Austin District. One of the main features in the complex is a new 15,000-seat Austin arena, which would be adjacent to an open-air stadium that can host several types of events, including soccer.
No firm price tag has been released, but the arena would become a new home for Rodeo Austin, with the complex serving as a replacement for the Travis County Exposition Center. The overall concept for the East Austin District has local officials intrigued by its possibilities, with one even citing the plan for a large indoor venue as a compelling feature because of its ability to fill a void in the area. More from The Austin American-Statesman:
Austin City Council Member Ora Houston, whose District 1 includes the Expo Center, said she is fully on board.
“When I saw the visual picture of what they wanted, I was so excited,” she said. “The opportunities for sports, music, area youth, health entities could be a generational kind of thing. This would repurpose, renew and refresh an area that needs it.”
Houston said the venues could fill the void for major concerts after the Erwin Center is torn down. University of Texas officials are contemplating building a smaller arena.
“When that goes away, we won’t have any large indoor venue,” she said. “Circuit of the Americas is huge, but it’s outdoors.”
In addition to the new arena and stadium, the East Austin District would come with several other features. Its other amenities would include medical facilities, offices, convention space, retail, courtyard areas, and retail. Bjarke Ingels Group worked in partnership with Austin-based STG Design to generate the design plans.
Rendering courtesy Austin Sports & Entertainment.
