MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Dane County leaders held a town hall meeting Tuesday to gather public input on proposed renovations to the Alliant Energy Center and Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The goal of the improvements is to bring more concerts, events and economic activity to the area.
Dane County leaders say proposed upgrades could boost local economy and fill entertainment gap(wmtv)Community members weigh in
Lifelong Dane County resident Scott Watson said he supports the proposed renovations to the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
“It’s really a no-brainer for the county to move forward with this project,” Watson said.
He says that over the years, he has seen a decline in local entertainment options.
“I think it’s very important,” explained Watson. “I’ve been coming here since I was two or three years old, and I still come to the place here.”
Dane County leaders say proposed upgrades could boost local economy and fill entertainment gap(wmtv)
Watson believes that the renovation would create great oportunities for the people in Dane County.
“We got a local investor, local contractors, hopefully local workers and everything else. And it’s not going to cost the taxpayers any money,” said Watson. “If anything, hopefully when everything’s said and done, we’ll bring in the revenue so we won’t see our taxes going up all the time.”
He agreed with officials, saying the development would boost the local economy. He says his dad oversaw the initial construction, and his family members in the trades have already worked on remodeling.
“I felt that my part, as a business representative and for my family, is to try to help move this along and hopefully get the right information to the residents to pass this, to get it going and re-vibrate the whole neighborhood,” said Watson.
Dane County leaders say proposed upgrades could boost local economy and fill entertainment gap(wmtv)Economic and quality-of-life benefits
Dane County Executive Melissa Agard said the renovations would benefit current and future generations.
“Our children, ourselves, and future generations deserve to be able to smile and remember and feel what those events felt like when we were there so many years ago,” Agard said.
She added that visitors to the area expect activities to be available whether they live or are traveling to the area.
“People want to be here, but the people that want to be here want things to do when they’re here,” Agard said.
She says events at the AEC will inspire people to visit Dane County and Madison, spending more money when they are in the community.
Coliseum history inspires future
Executive Agard also pointed to the venue’s history as motivation for the project.
“I remember dancing in the stands of the Veterans Memorial Coliseum to Tina Turner and to Billy Idol,” Agard said.
She says many people in Dane County travel outside the state for entertainment events now that the Coliseum lacks resources to bring in larger acts.
Dane County leaders say proposed upgrades could boost local economy and fill entertainment gap(wmtv)
Watson echoed the statement, saying more artists and events will want to come to the area if the venue is modernized.
“My daughter wanted to go to a concert in Chicago. I said, no way. I think if we would have had what we have now being proposed, they would have been here,” Watson said.
People in the community agree that the Coliseum used to be a place where they could have those memories.
“It’s been somewhere where we can come as a family and it was affordable too back then. And hopefully with all this, it’s still going to be affordable for families to come and enjoy,” explained Watson.
The county plans to leverage private capital for the project and has selected FPC Live as its partner. Contract negotiations with FPC Live are ongoing.
AEC master plan and next steps
The Alliant Energy Center is continuing work on its own master plan to improve the campus, from road access to the events held inside.
“This campus will then be a 365-day-a-year activation. There will be something out here every day,” Executive Director Kevin Scheibler said.
The Alliant Energy Center is looking to expand its exhibition hall, make stormwater and traffic improvements, and increase mixed-use redevelopment areas.
Dane County leaders say proposed upgrades could boost local economy and fill entertainment gap(wmtv)
Agard says the Coliseum investment will spark movement on the rest of the projects.
“It’s about strengthening the entire campus so that it can continue to provide services to our residents and people who are visiting us here in Dane County,” explained Agard.
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