FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2009
Contact:
Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission: Jessica Fagan – 614.995.7552; jfagan@culture.ohio.gov
Lucas County: BJ Fischer – 419.241.1244; BFischer@flsmarketing.com
Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission Approves
$7.7 Million for Lucas County Arena
Columbus, Ohio –The Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission approved $7.7 million in a special meeting today for the Lucas County Multi-Purpose Arena.
Located just one block from Fifth Third Field, the new 8,000-seat Lucas County Multi-Purpose Arena in downtown Toledo will be home to the Toledo Walleye, an East Coast Hockey League Team, and the Toledo Bullfrogs, an arenafootball2 team. Concerts and other entertainment events also will be presented at the arena, which will connect to the existing SeaGate Convention Center. Lucas County anticipates the facility will be the first LEED-certified sports arena in the country. The first arena event will be held the weekend of October 10–11, and its first hockey game is scheduled for October 16, 2009. The $7.7 million in state capital funds have been part of the county’s overall funding model for the project, pending Commission approval.
“I believe that the new arena will be an important addition to our county and to the State of Ohio. We’re proud to be able to build what we expect to be the first LEED-certified arena in the United States, and we thank the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission for their support,” commented Lucas County Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak.
Commissioner Pete Gerken remarked, "The Lucas County Commissioners are excited to have the State of Ohio as a partner on the Lucas County Arena project. We're committed to making this project an important and vital part of downtown Toledo and the lives of people in Lucas County."
"We appreciate the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission's support and look forward to the profound impact the Lucas County Arena will have on downtown Toledo,” stated Commissioner Ben Konop. “We are nearly finished with a building that will bring jobs, commerce, and excitement to the area. This is an important economic and social project not only for downtown Toledo, but also for Lucas County and northwest Ohio."
The Commission approval, coupled with the signing of legal agreements, allows Lucas County to be reimbursed on a pro rata basis with funds appropriated in Am. Sub. H.B. 675 of the 124th General Assembly, Am. Sub. H.B. 16 of the 126th General Assembly, and Am. Sub. H.B. 562 of the 127th General Assembly. Lucas County General Assembly members who voted in favor of the bills include Senators Teresa Fedor and Mark Wagoner; Representatives Edna Brown, Randy Gardner, Matt Szollosi, and Peter Ujvagi; former Senator Linda Furney; and former Representatives Jack Ford, Lynn Olman, and Jeanine Perry.
The Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission is a state agency that supports economic development, expands educational opportunities, and enhances the quality of life for Ohioans by improving the state’s cultural facilities. Since 1988, the Commission has disbursed more than $400 million in capital funds appropriated by the Legislature and Governor for facility improvement projects at nonprofit theaters, museums, historical sites and publicly owned professional sports venues. The Commission partners with nonprofit groups and local governments on more than 300 projects in 72 of Ohio’s 88 counties. For more information on the Commission, visit www.culture.ohio.gov.
