KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – What kind of gamechanger will Kalamazoo’s new $300-million Event Center be for downtown Kalamazoo.
Right now it’s just piles of dirt next to the new Kalamazoo County Courthouse, but Discover Kalamazoo Director Jane Ghosh painted a picture of the future for City Commissioners this week.
She sats yhe versatility of the center means it will be hosting as many as 250 events each year, some that now send traffic to other venues in the county, such as Kalamazoo Wings and Western Michigan University Hockey games.
Ghosh says there are also conventions, concerts, and other sporting events they can’t attract now because they don’t have the indoor facilities available.
“I am very optimistic that maybe one day we can host one of the regional ice hockey tournaments for the NCAA.”
She says it will be a boost to downtown businesses as well because of their dispersed parking situation.
“They will walk by bars, restaurants and retail shops on their way to the events, and they will walk by bars and restaurants on their way home from the events, so just by virtue of that we will increase the economic impact.”
By the time the new venue is ready to open, most of the work converting downtown streets to two-way, and redoing the streetscaping should be done.
The Kalamazoo Transit hub will be just a couple blocks from the Event Center for anyone in the metro area who wants to avoid parking altogether.
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