Hockey Plans Underway For The New James Brown Arena
Hockey plans are in the works for Augusta’s new 10,500 seat arena which will be under construction soon at the site of the old facility downtown. The Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum…
Hockey plans are in the works for Augusta's new 10,500 seat arena which will be under construction soon at the site of the old facility downtown.
The Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority voted unanimously today to extend the city's contract with Oak View Group to provide management, hospitality and partnership services for the new arena, as well as the 2,7000 seat Bell Auditorium. The Bell reopened in May after undergoing a year-long expansion and renovation project.
"We've been a long-standing partner through our management of the Augusta Entertainment Complex and are honored that the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority has entrusted Oak View Group to manage operations of the new Augusta Arena," said Peter Luukko, Co-Chairman, OVG360.
The new arena will include suites, loge boxes, a private club lounge and a connection to the Bell Auditorium. You'll have to be patient though. The new arena isn't slated to open until 2027.
The contract extension is for 10 years with a 10-year option. Oak View Group agreed to invest $10 million into the project.
"Through this contract, we will maximize the potential of our new Arena, ensure profitability for the Authority, fund capital improvements and maintenance, and ultimately, set up this Board and the Augusta Entertainment Complex as a whole, for success long after we are all gone," said Cedric Johnson, Chairman of the Augusta-Richmond Coliseum Authority.
Hockey Plans Have Fans Excited Here
This is the day hockey fans in Augusta have been waiting for. If you were an Augusta Lynx or an Augusta Riverhawks fan, you'll be front and center when the puck drops for the first time on the ice in the new arena.
The Augusta Lynx were a huge success when the team hit the ice here in 1998. Many games were sold out. The team folded, however, midway through the 2008-2009 season.
Augusta didn't go very long without hockey, though. The Augusta Riverhawks made the James Brown Arena their home in 2010. They played for 3 years here until the ice refrigeration system at the arena malfunctioned. They couldn't keep the ice surface frozen. Things fell apart when the team's owner and city officials couldn't agree on repairs or replacement of the system before the 2013-2014 season.
A group of local hockey fans and former Augusta Lynx defenseman John Whitwell have kept the interest in bringing hockey back to Augusta for years.
Fans will be ready for the puck to drop, not to mention the gloves.
