RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Rapid City’s mayor is among those who support building a new arena instead of renovating the old one.
Mayor Steve Allender says remodeling Barnett Arena would be like fixing a broken window — it would solve the immediate problem, but add no long-term value.
Allender said during a presentation Thursday night that remodeling the arena would cost about $25 million and with added handicapped access, would reduce the number of seats below the current 10,500.
The mayor says building a new arena would cost between $100 million and $130 million and would seat about 13,000. City leaders want to reverse a trend of declining events and attendance.
The decision about the arena’s future will ultimately fall to the city council, and possibly to voters in a referendum.
