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Garrett Coliseum upgrade possible
Garrett Coliseum upgrade possible
By Mike Linn
Montgomery Advertiser
The state is proposing a massive makeover and expansion at Garrett Coliseum in the hopes of attracting national agriculture events, car and boat shows and, possibly, even a semi-professional hockey team.
State Department of Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Ron Sparks said $75,000 was spent for an architect to study the cost of updating the aging building so it can attract more popular events.
"At one point in time it was a great facility," Sparks said. "Now it's just a facility we have to patch up every so often, and I don't think that's what Alabama deserves or needs."
Montgomery city officials are behind the effort, but it's too soon to know how much -- if any -- money the city can put toward the project, said Michael Briddell, executive assistant to Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright.
"We support anything that brings added attraction to Montgomery and helps improve the quality of life of its citizens," Briddell said.
The 13,500-seat coliseum, built more than 50 years ago, lacks air conditioning, and the bathrooms and concession stands are beginning to show their age, said Billy Powell, executive vice president of the Alabama Cattlemen's Association.
Regional and national livestock and rodeo shows that would choose Montgomery are going to neighboring states with more modern facilities, he added.
"Other places are just a lot more convenient and modern and user-friendly," Powell said. "Out here, we're pretty plain Jane. We just need to get into the 21st century."
Two summers ago, city officials tried to convince the Alabama High School Athletic Association to hold the annual Alabama High School All-Star Sports Week at Garrett Coliseum. The association, which had used the Montgomery Civic Center since 1997 but couldn't because of renovations, declined to use the Garrett Coliseum because the facility didn't have air-conditioning.
Powell said Montgomery's location in the center of the southeast would attract higher profile events if the Garrett Coliseum were more modern.
Many modern rodeo venues, for example, have large video screens and are equipped to hold 1,000 horses or cattle, while Garrett Coliseum can hold about 400, he said.
Powell said there have been efforts in the past to revamp the aging coliseum, but "we've never been able to get the big bucks it would take to make it a modern, state-of-the-art facility."
Twelve years ago, gubernatorial candidate Jim Folsom Jr. had plans to revamp coliseum but was defeated in his bid for governor by Fob James.
In the 1980s, the Legislature allocated several million dollars to upgrade the restrooms and add air-conditioning, but the money was instead used to clean out asbestos in the ceiling, Powell said.
Sparks said he would present the study's findings to Gov. Bob Riley in January and discuss the possibility of shoring up funds for the facility.
"The governor and Legislature can't make a decision until I get them some good information, and that's what I'm trying to do," Sparks said.
Sparks said he wants the coliseum to be multi-purpose but not compete with the 9,000-seat Joe L. Reed Acadome at Alabama State University. He also mentioned the possibility that a revamped coliseum could attract another sports team to Montgomery, possibly a semi-professional ice hockey team.
Currently, the coliseum is home to the Montgomery Bears of the American Indoor Football Association, the state fair and a variety of agricultural events including horse shows and rodeos.
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Representin' da Dirty Gump
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