Plans are taking shape to hold a groundbreaking ceremony for an upcoming Savannah arena, as the event is slated for September.
Officials in the Georgia city are planning the construction of a new arena. Estimated at a price tag of $165 million, the venue is envisioned as an anchor of the larger Canal District development project planned for an area west of downtown Savannah.
City officials are currently planning two days of events at the arena site in September, beginning with a groundbreaking ceremony on September 13, followed by a community gathering the next day. More from the Savannah Morning News:
The groundbreaking will be held on Sept. 13 with a community gathering at the site planned for Sept. 14. More details will be made available soon.
The cost of the arena construction will be finalized when the design and budget work is done. Early estimates put the cost at $165 million. Design from the project architect is about 25% complete. Funding for the project will be mainly from the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.
Assistant City Manager Bret Bell told aldermen that the project is moving forward with plans for the new arena ongoing while work on the development of the larger canal district is happening simultaneously.
The new arena has been pitched as a more modern event space in comparison to Savannah’s aging Civic Center, as well as a key feature in a broader development project that could better connect the area surrounding the venue to downtown Savannah. It has been slated for a late 2021 opening.
Rendering courtesy Perkins+Will.
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