With both the venue and the Florida Everblades (ECHL) under new ownership, several Hertz Arena upgrades are currently taking shape.
A major change took place recently for the Everblades and Hertz Arena–the team’s home in Estero–as both were sold to the Hoffmann Family of Companies, led by Naples businessman David Hoffmann. Leading up to the 2019-20 ECHL season, the arena is undergoing several improvements.
Renovations to suites are underway, while a new exterior marquee was installed this week, and plans are in place for the installation of a new center-hung videoboard. Updates on the projects were provided this week, with Everblades and arena president Craig Brush indicating that the suite improvements are on track to be completed in time for a concert next month. More from Naples Daily News:
Brush said the luxury suites should be finished by the time the rock band Disturbed has its concert on Sept. 19.
The Hertz No. 1 Club, which is located on the concourse and previously was known as the Cypress Club, is being renovated, and so will Breakaway’s Sports Pub “to the Hoffmann Standard,” as Hoffmann put it. “We have 29 buildings in town and every one we bought we’ve renovated. That’s kind of what we do. This is kind of in our wheelhouse.”
Hoffmann emphasized that it’s the entirety of his team and Brush’s that is helping the project move along quickly.
“It sounds like a corny thing to say, but we have exceptional people in Southwest Florida,” he said. “It’s not all just me.”
Last week, the ECHL announced that its board of governors approved the transfer of controlling interest in the Everblades’ membership, which went from a group led by Peter Karmanos to a group led by Hoffmann. The Everblades are scheduled to play their 2019-20 home opener on October 19.
RELATED STORIES: ECHL Approves Transfer of Controlling Interest in Florida Everblades; Agreement in Place for Florida Everblades, Hertz Arena Sale
