FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): The proposed downtown arena may cost the city of Fort Wayne millions more than estimated.
Greater Fort Wayne Inc. has been interviewing architects and hired appraisers. The appraisers say the cost of a mid-size venue would be about $85 million, which is $22 million more than the original estimate, according to the News-Sentinel.
“I don’t think any of us thought that initial number (would be accurate). It was only a guess, and when you take look at other facilities around the country, they’ve been more money,” Sweetwater Sound founder Chuck Surack told the News-Sentinel.
“I don’t know about the total costs. Frankly, that’s why we recommended to the mayor that we need schematic drawings,” he said.
Surack formed the 19-member committee that spent about a year deliberating the project. The committee unanimously recommended an arena should be built in Fort Wayne.
“Any cost estimate today is premature and too speculative,” said city spokesman John Perlich. “All of this is one more reason why we need to take a hard look at design, programming and related development opportunities.”
To learn why the proposed downtown arena will cost more than expected, read the full story by the News-Sentinel.
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