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AUGUSTA, Ga. () – At its Tuesday meeting, the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority voted to approve an important agreement that impacts the future of the Augusta Entertainment Complex.
It’s an inter-governmental agreement between the authority and the city of Augusta.
The bonds to fund the new James Brown Arena would go straight to the city, which would in-turn give them to the authority.
“To kind of have a check and balance, and making sure that the funds are handled the way that they are supposed to be handled,” Chairman Cedric Johnson said. “Without that agreement, the city would not give us those funds, and if we don’t get those funds, then we can’t build a new arena. So that’s why it’s so important.”
Authority leaders also said Bell Auditorium renovations are right on track.
“We’re still on budget and on schedule for an April 29th, 2024 completion date,” said Owner’s Rep. HB Brantley.
“We’re very happy with the progress, we’re very excited too,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be first-class, we’re very proud of the design and the way it’s going to turn out.”
And the question still looms about the possibility of hockey coming to the new arena.
“We’re still working on that,” Johnson said. “We’re living up to the commitment that Brad and I made that we’re going to do our due diligence, and if it makes financial sense to the authority and the citizens of Augusta, then we’ll have hockey.”
Johnson hopes a city committee will visit the proposed agreement within the next week, and if approved, it may go to the full board of commissioners on February 6th.
