Rapides Revamp On Track

The Coliseum Authority approved the first step in a lengthy process Oct. 17.

The position has been vacant since previous director Kimberly Neal resigned in February, according to the Town Talk. “We have the time where we can make a good, quality search,” authority chairman Murphy Rachal told the paper. “We have the means to pay for a quality person. We should take our time to find that person.”

The venue is scheduled to undergo a $23 million renovation project to be more competitive in the market.

Upgrades will include a new exterior, new seating, increased capacity to more than 10,000, skyboxes, new sound, lights, video, stages, dressing rooms, restrooms, heating and air.

The project could break ground next spring with a goal of completion by late 2015.