A lot of progress has been made since we last took a tour of the new $130 million arena. Earlier this year, infrastructure work was still being done and trusses were just starting to get placed for the roof.
Today, the roof is on and the ice-making equipment is being installed. Locker rooms, offices and luxury boxes are taking shape and many of the 600,000-plus bricks have been installed on the venue’s facade.
According to project officials, the arena is about 60 percent complete and, with a completion scheduled for Nov. 17, there’s still plenty do. Better Jacksonville Plan project manager Dave Schneider said he’s confident the arena will delivered on time. Despite looking like there’s way too much to do to meet the Nov. 17 deadline, Schneider said everything will come together quickly during the last 4-6 weeks.
When finished, the arena will seat up to 16,000 with 1,000 club seats, 28 suites, four party suits and a party deck.
The City is planning a June 26 ceremony in which the arena will be officially dedicated and Mayor John Delaney will personally implode the old Coliseum.