Tucson Convention Center Improvements Round 2
In the November 2018 Board meeting, the Rio Nuevo Board approved a $2.2M replacement of the arena’s ice plant and floor to replace the currently antiquated system.
At the March 2019 Rio Nuevo meeting, the Board voted to proceed with a 350-spot parking garage east of the Tucson Convention Center. The district will pay $292,000 for a garage design and help in creating a request for proposal to solicit bids to build it. Construction could begin in 2020, with work planned around the schedules of the Tucson Sugar Skulls and Tucson Roadrunners, the football and hockey teams that share the Convention Center Arena.
At the August 2019 Rio Nuevo special meeting the Board unanimously approved a list of priorities for a $65 million renovation plan for the Tucson Convention Center. The package of improvements, upgrades and additions throughout the Convention Center campus includes work on the main convention complex, the Tucson Arena, the Leo Rich Theater, the Tucson Music Hall and Eckbo plaza and fountain.
The board also voted to proceed with a $126 million financing plan that will earmark about $70 million for the renovations and any contingency costs that could emerge, and refinance nearly $48 million in debt for the Rio Nuevo district. The funds will also establish an $8 million debt service reserve.
The list of improvements includes the following and can be downloaded: TCC Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Budget and TCC CIP Map.
Current commitments – $8.5 million
- Ice Plant – Full replacement of Arena Ice Floor and Ice Plant, $3.2 million
- Lot A Garage – 300-space parking garage in parking Lot A, $5.2 million
- Parking Expansion – 45 additional spaces on site, $45,000
Convention Center priorities – $14.7 million
- TCC – Renovation of Convention spaces and existing meeting rooms, $7.6 million
- Arena – Lighting upgrades, $220,000
- Site – Streetscape and Connections – Required UDC compliance for accessibility and screening, $2.5 million
- Eckbo Historic Landscape Restoration – Upper Plaza to complete Church Streetscape upgrades, $1.9 million
- Technology Enhancements – High speed data infrastructure throughout, $2.5 million
Meeting room expansion – $9.2 million
- Convention Center Meeting Room Addition – West Entrance and 18,000 square feet of Meeting Rooms adjacent to Ball Room and South Ex Hall, $9.2 million
Entertainment priorities – $26.9 million
- Lot C Garage – 500 stalls in Parking Lot C, $11.4 million
- Music Hall Renovation – Renovation including restrooms, lobby, production lighting/sound, and new seating, $6.6 million
- Music Hall Upgrades – Outdoor event patio and interior VIP area, $780,000
- Leo Rich Renovation – Renovation including restrooms, lobby, production lighting/sound, and new seating, $2 million
- Eckbo Historic Landscape Restoration – Central Plaza and North Walkway, $6.1 million