The Other Arena Proposal

There was news earlier this week about a potential Ice Arena in downtown Champaign that got the nod in a recent story over another location. Today the News-Gazette has a story about that proposal that the developer is trying to keep alive. He points out a previous feasibility study:

Developer sticking with hockey goal

Despite a feasibility study recommending downtown Champaign be where a potential Division I Illini hockey team play its games, Fox Development Corp. is still holding out hope for its proposed site on St. Mary’s Road.

“We still believe that we have a lower-cost option, both in terms of construction costs and already having drainage and utilities on site,” Fox Development CEO Andrea Ruedi told The News-Gazette on Friday.

Fox’s plan included a 5,000-seat hockey arena attached to a community sports facility with another two ice rinks, along with an expansion of the conference center at the I Hotel.

FDC completed its own feasibility study in November, which favored its site over the downtown location proposed by developer Hans Grotelueschen, but never heard back from the stakeholders involved, Ruedi said.

Full article here. Previous post on the downtown Ice Arena study here.