SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) - A paid consultant to Savannah's City Council says building a new arena outside the downtown historic district could spur new economic growth and development.
The study presented to city officials by Barrett Sports Group on Wednesday estimated it would cost $140 million to build an arena capable of seating up to 9,300 people for concerts and sporting events.
The proposed site lies outside Savannah's tourism-fueled historic district. Consultant Dan Barrett said the new arena could become "a catalyst for development," with construction expected to generate $86 million in economic impacts over two years and ongoing operations projected to have a $14 million annual impact.
The Savannah Morning News reports (http://bit.ly/1qgn6Di ) consultants recommend tearing down the existing arena at the downtown Savannah Civic Center, while keeping the attached Johnny Mercer Theatre.
__
Information from: Savannah Morning News, http://www.savannahnow.com
(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
