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Commission Approves Funding Cushion for Classic Center Arena

An artist's rendering of the arena, which will be located behind the Classic Center near the Multimodal Center.

The Athens-Clarke County Commission approved a $4 million change order last week for the Classic Center arena—which will now have padded seats.

The padded seats—$300,000 more expensive than hard plastic ones—and the inclusion of a $400,000 canopy were the topics of much discussion among commissioners and other officials during a July 5 called meeting.

Commissioner Mariah Parker did not want to approve either expense without also including a child care facility. “We’re asking for extra money for things that are nominally aesthetic, but no commitment has been made for anything that would directly benefit folks who are frankly kinda suffering in Athens,” Parker said.

Classic Center Executive Director Paul Cramer said the canopy is not just for looks. “The canopy is not just an aesthetic piece, although I think it looks awful without it,” he said. “It will help us save energy, and a considerable amount of energy, as that is our south-facing side, so the canopy will block the sun through the glass in that area.”

As for the seats, upgrading to cushioned chairs will enhance the arena experience and help the arena draw the right kind of events, Cramer said. “We believe it will make a big difference to the end user, the guest,” he said.

Parker’s motion to approve the change order without the canopy or padded seats died for lack of a second. Their motion to exclude the seats drew the support of Commissioner Tim Denson but was voted down 5–2.

The commission then voted 6–1 to approve the change order as-is, with Parker opposed. “We absolutely need the canopy for the energy savings and the aesthetics, but also just for the comfort of guests needing shade and shelter from rain, and we need the cushioned seats,” Commissioner Russell Edwards said.

Although they were the topic of debate, cushions and canopies weren’t the main reason Classic Center and SPLOST officials requested the change order. Construction workers who are currently digging at the site between the convention center and the bus station found rock and contaminated soil that must be removed at a cost of $5 million. Despite the change order, the arena remains below its $135 million approved budget.

Taxpayers are putting in $33 million through the voter-approved SPLOST 2020 sales tax program; the rest will come from private sources. Cramer has backed down from a proposal last month to raise property taxes on local hotels by 2 mills to help pay back arena bonds, which hotel owners opposed.

Instead, Cramer now wants to create a special tax district surrounding the arena. The Classic Center is leasing ACC-owned land to developers to build a hotel, condos for seniors and a third building in the area. “We have talked to those developers, and we know that is something that is palatable to them, and we believe these three developments would not have come about without the arena going in,” Cramer said.

Another potential source of funding is a 50-cent ticket fee for arena events. The commission is scheduled to vote on the $30 million bond issue Aug. 3.

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