Bangor approves $65M arena
Residents in Bangor yesterday voted 3-to-1 to build a new $65 million arena and convention center in the Queen City.
The tally was still unofficial as of Thursday morning, but the city clerk's office reported that 4,107 voted in favor of the project, while 1,363 voted no, the Bangor Daily News reported. The current proposal -- a modification of a design presented to the city last fall by architect Don Dethlefs and Cianbro Corp. -- includes 5,800 fixed seats with a maximum capacity of 8,050, as well as an attached 16,000-square-foot convention center. The city's share of proceeds from Hollywood Slots and a portion of funds from the downtown tax increment financing district will pay for the project. The arena would replace Bangor's aging auditorium and civic center, creating 400 permanent jobs and generating $26 million for the local economy, supporters said. Opponents of the project objected to the high price tag and thought the city should instead use the money to renovate existing facilities, according to the paper.
Pittsfield-based Cianbro will build the center. City leaders could meet as early as next week to discuss the next steps, which include hiring a private management company to run the facility.
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