BANGOR, Maine — Two firms hired by the city to examine the feasibility of a new arena to replace the aging auditorium will have their recommendations reviewed by the city’s arena implementation committee at a meeting tonight at City Hall.
Representatives from ERA/AECOM and Sink Combs Dethlefs Architects have recommended that the city build a 5,000-seat, U-shaped arena adjacent to the existing auditorium, tear down that 50-year-old facility, rebuild conference space on the foundation and then rehabilitate the civic center. The project is set up to be done in phases, with a new arena estimated at $51 million and the other three pieces at roughly $18 million.
In addition, there are several other suggestions for add-ons to the project and their cost, including a sky bridge over Main Street connecting to the Hollywood Slots parking garage and improvements to existing parking at Bass Park.
The city’s Special Committee on Arena Implementation will meet at 5 p.m. in the City Council chambers at City Hall to discuss the consultants’ report and preliminarily identify parts of the project to pursue for development. The meeting is open to the public.