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Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena Demolition Set to Begin

Goodbyes were said to Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena on Monday, as a closing ceremony was held ahead of its upcoming demolition.

Originally opening in 1958, Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena had served a variety of purposes over the years–including as a home for University of Wisconsin–Green Bay basketball, and several hockey teams. It will soon be demolished, as the process of bringing the facility down will start on Wednesday. The closing and subsequent demolishing of the arena is part of a plan that also includes tearing down the adjacent Shopko Hall, clearing the way for a new expo center.

Ahead of the demolition, an open house and closing ceremony on Monday gave many their chance to say goodbye to the facility. More from Fox 11 News:

“To know that it’s coming to an end and the building is coming down it’s a bit sad,” said Terry Charles from PMI Entertainment Group. “But at the same time the people who’ve been in this community for a long time and those who manage this complex know that it’s time. “

The final event at the arena was a Bret Michaels concert earlier this month. The final event at Shopko Hall was last weekend’s Titletown Train Show.

During construction of the new building, events which have been traditionally held at the arena and Shopko Hall will have to find alternate venues.

Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena was largely supplanted as a sports venue when the Resch Center opened in 2002. Resch Center is currently home to UW-Green Bay men’s basketball, hockey’s Green Bay Gamblers (USHL), and the Indoor Football League’s Green Bay Blizzard.

RELATED STORIES: Board to Fund Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena ReplacementBrown County Veterans Memorial Arena Studied

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