ARENA

Rapid City arena expansion takes step forward

RAPID CITY (AP) — The Rapid City Council has voted to explore funding options to design an expansion of the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.

July 17, 2012

Arena dream would be postponed if wellness project is approved

The proposed multi-purpose facility that was presented to the Mitchell City Council on Monday is a far cry from the 7,000-seat arena rejected by voters in 2007 and will likely mean the dream of a new athletic arena in Mitchell will be tabled for quite some time. “We can’t do both,” Mayor Lou Sebert said Tuesday. “This will be a community center for athletic teams and wellness rather than drawing a crowd.” Sebert’s comments echoed those in a proposal sent from the Focus 2020 Ad Hoc Committee to DWU, Avera Queen of Peace and the city in December and officially presented to the City Council on Monday.

By Austin Kaus , May 19, 2010

Arena efforts to continue, despite tax vote in Pierre

The effort to build a bigger arena in Mitchell suffered another setback this week when state legislators rejected an additional sales tax for cities, but local leaders say the arena effort will still go forward. A state House committee rejected legislation Thursday that would have given cities the option of adding a third percent of sales tax.

By Seth Tupper , February 13, 2010

Two years after failed arena vote, planning continues on new proposal

The second anniversary of Mitchell’s failed arena election passed quietly last week as behind-the-scenes work continued on a new proposal. “We’re tweaking plans and still trying to come up with a solution,” City Council President Jeff Smith said this week. It was Sept. 18, 2007, when city voters rejected a property-tax increase that was proposed to help fund construction of a $25 million, 7,000-seat arena along the state Highway 37 bypass in northern Mitchell.

By Seth Tupper , September 24, 2009

City, DWU, Avera officials discuss arena-wellness project, label it a 'community center'

A press release issued jointly Friday by the top officials of the city of Mitchell, Dakota Wesleyan University and Avera Queen of Peace Health Services said that “discussions have started” regarding a potential three-way partnership on a multi-use facility at DWU that could include an arena, wellness center and indoor pool.

By Staff , June 05, 2009

Candidate views differ over arena possibilities

The three men running for a Mitchell City Council seat from Ward 1 differ in their opinions about a proposed arena and wellness center project.
Incumbent Councilman Allen Lepke supports pursuing the project in partnership with the local hospital and college.
Nathan Truitt said he is not definitively for or against the project yet, but he generally supports building an arena and views the partnership with the hospital and college as “the only direction we should go.”

By Seth Tupper , May 22, 2009

Council throws support toward partnership plan for arena idea

The Mitchell City Council officially threw its support Monday evening to a potential arena/wellness center partnership with the local college and hospital rather than a stand-alone arena.
“Not even to look into a partnership between the three of us would be a mistake at this stage of the game,” said Mayor Lou Sebert.

By Seth Tupper , March 17, 2009

Council to discuss proposed arena

Discussion of an arena proposal will likely be a highlight of this evening’s Mitchell City Council meeting at City Hall.
At the council’s last meeting, March 2, the Events Center Building Committee unveiled the design of a 5,280-seat arena with an estimated construction cost of $15 million. No funding package or location has been proposed.
Tonight’s agenda includes a time for discussion of the arena design shortly after the council’s 7:30 call to order.

March 16, 2009

DWU-Avera possibilities add to city’s events center potential

Mitchell’s new arena proposal could be dead on arrival, or at least destined for some changes, if the alternative idea of building a combined arena and wellness center continues to gain favor.

By Seth Tupper , March 07, 2009

City’s latest arena proposal: A closer look

Mitchell’s proposed $15 million arena would be a long-term and “very economic” solution to the city’s insufficient event space, according to a representative of the company that designed it.
Mark Puetz, of Puetz Corporation, thinks his firm’s arena design is right for the city and will get built.

By Seth Tupper , March 05, 2009

Our View: A plan, yes; but where to place it?

Their new arena plan is smaller and considerably cheaper, but the city’s Events Center Building Committee has come up with a working idea.
We figure that’s about one third of the battle.
Now, the real debating will, once again, begin. Questions remain.
Will the City Council give the OK to begin construction?
Where will the building be placed?

March 04, 2009

Arena plan’s hurdles: location, funding

Location and funding are among the issues that will be tackled next by Mitchell city officials as they consider building a $15 million arena. The arena proposal was announced at Monday’s City Council meeting. The design chosen by the city’s Events Center Building Committee includes 5,280 seats, with enough of them retractable to provide nearly 30,000 square feet of floor space.

By Seth Tupper , March 04, 2009