NEWS RELEASE
August 23, 2018
For Immediate Release
City Asks Public to Help Shape New Savannah Arena
SAVANNAH, GA (August 23, 2018) — The City of Savannah is asking the public to help “shape” the new Savannah Arena. The arena project is now in the design phase. The City and design contractor Perkins + Will will use the public feedback as they create the new entertainment facility.
The City is soliciting input in two ways: a public meeting and an online survey. The public meeting will take place Wednesday, September 12 at 6 p.m. in the Savannah Civic Center 3rd floor ballroom. The five-question survey asks the public to rank what they feel are the most important interior and exterior features of the new arena. The survey can be found on the City’s website at www.savannahga.gov/arena. The deadline to complete the survey is September 13.
The City held a news conference today at City Hall to get the word out. Pete Shonka, the Executive Director Arena Development spoke to reporters along with Mayor Eddie DeLoach, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Bell and District One Alderman Van Johnson.
“I am excited to be in this phase of the project, where we are getting ready to put pencil to paper,” said Shonka. “We want people who are going to be using this arena to tell us what is important to them. Do they want more restaurants and bars or do they prefer a more family-friendly site with play areas for children? This is the type of information we need to shape this project.”
Alderman Johnson said, “This arena is a generational project for Savannah. It’s bigger than the building, it’s bigger than parking, it’s bigger than public space. This arena represents the opportunity to reconnect the Westside community to the downtown core. This is the people’s project, therefore it needs the people’s input.”
After the public meeting and once the survey closes the City will present the feedback to Perkins + Will. On October 30, 2018 another public meeting will be held at the Civic Center to present design concepts for the public to weigh in on.
The City hopes to have the Savannah Arena under construction in mid-2019 with preliminary site clearing beginning as early as this winter.