Ice Arena Plans Expansion Project

David Leathers goes over the preliminary blueprints for the proposed plan to expand the Northwest Arena to add a Kids Zone play area; create gift shop and office spaces for the National Comedy Center; to add a concession stand to sell basics like snacks and water; and to enhance the third floor conference room. The project is being proposed to cost around $5 million. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

In order to generate more revenue and to increase more year-round use, Northwest Arena officials are planning an expansion.

On Tuesday, Kristy Zabrodsky and David Leathers, co-presidents for the Northwest Arena Board, spoke about the preliminary plans for the expansion at the arena, which is located at 319 W. Third St, with the city Planning Commission. The plan is to construct a new addition to hold a Kids Zone play area; create gift shop and office spaces for the National Comedy Center; to add a concession stand to sell snacks and water; and to enhance the third floor conference room. The project is being proposed to cost around $5 million.

Zabrodsky said the project is being headed by Northwest Arena officials to produce more revenue so the facility isn’t reliant on funding from the Gebbie Foundation each year. She said when the arena was built in 2001, the Gebbie Foundation funded $20 million for its construction. Also, the Gebbie Foundation granted money toward the debt service and has been making an operations grant each year to the facility.

Zabrodsky said they want to do the expansion project to eliminate the Gebbie Foundation grant so the funding can go toward other worthwhile projects in downtown Jamestown. She said by drawing more people to the arena, they will create more revenue so the facility can be self-sustaining.

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