Evansville’s Arena

The design for the proposed downtown arena in Evansville, Ill., was revealed Aug. 19 by architects working on the project.

Jim Swords of the Populous design firm presented the plan for a 278,000 square-foot limestone, glass and metal building during a public meeting, according to the city’s Courier Press.

Details featured 11,000 seats that can be configured to accommodate a variety of events including concerts and sporting events. About 1,000 seats would be in suites and loge boxes and there will multiple concession stands and a public bar among the amenities.

The arena would replace by 2011 the aging, 12, 252-capacity Roberts Stadium managed by SMG, which would reportedly cost $90 million to renovate.

Building the new, LEED-certified arena is estimated to cost between $117 million and $127 million and the city plans to use tax increment funding, casino revenue and food and beverage tax revenue to finance it, the paper said.