Downtown arena on schedule

DOWNTOWN TOLEDO - The Downtown arena remains on schedule to open in October with a number of events, according to Joe Napoli of Toledo Arena Sports Inc.

"We're confident the community will be very pleased with the final results," he said.

The Toledo Walleye hockey team will play the first sports event in the new facility, but Napoli said SMG has several surprises to open the facility.

The Ringling Brothers/Barnum & Bailey Circus is already booked for Nov. 11 through 15. SMG is the global manager of arenas and convention centers that will operate the new 8,000-seat arena along with Fifth Third Field. Napoli said his team is working closely with SMG to bring a variety of events to the new arena.

"There will be more demand for event marketing when the economy starts to improve. Promoters are already looking at this market for more entertainment events," Napoli said.

"The arena will be another great community gathering place."

Napoli said they expect to attract more than 1 million visitors to Toledo each year because of the new arena, Fifth Third Field and SeaGate Convention Centre. The final cost of the arena will be determined by the county and Lathrop Company, the local construction management firm. They are working on a final maximum cost for the project and will come to terms before it’s completed, Napoli said.

It is expected to cost $75 million to $80 million. There has been a high level of competition for all construction bids for it and they have been keeping local trade workers busy, he reported.

(The Toledo Free Press is a FOXToledo.com media affiliate)