The Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum could get some improvements such as new seats, lights, and ice floor in the next few years.
The city has requested to make investments to allow KCAC to continue to operate effectively and efficiently for several more years until long-term decisions are made about its future, according to the release. City leaders said they're issuing a Request for Qualifications, or RFQ, for an architecture and engineering team to design and make the recommendations.
A feasibility study in 2016 resulted in the recommendation of either complete renovation or building an entirely new Coliseum alongside an upgraded Auditorium after finding the facility was outdated in many ways.
“I would love to be able to build a new Coliseum for the more than 250,000 people who attend events at KCAC every year,” Mayor Madeline Rogero said.
However, Rogero said she didn't think a project of that scale could be funded in the short term since police and fire departments are in need of a new headquarters.
"So I’m recommending that we make some crucial upgrades in the next two years to address longstanding needs," Rogero said. "We want to provide a good experience for everyone who comes to see music and shows and the Ice Bears. This will keep KCAC viable without eliminating future possibilities for the facility.”
KCAC, which is owned by the city and managed under contract by SMG, opened its doors in 1961. It hosts hundreds of events each year including the Knoxville Ice Bears professional hockey games. The release states event bookings were up about 50 percent in the last two years.
It currently holds 6,500 people in the Coliseum and 3,500 in the Auditorium.
According to the release, the Request for Qualifications seeks a multi-discipline design team that will be tasked with designing and providing recommendations to the city on a list of proposed improvements including base facility systems like the ice floor, air handling units and electrical infrastructure.
The proposed list of improvements also includes items to enhance visitor experience like new lighting, seats, carpet at the Auditorium and improved restrooms at the Coliseum.
Below is the proposed KCAC Improvements for 2018-2020:
- Coliseum
Ice Floor
Dashers/Box Seats/Ice Pit/Ice Cover/Media Platform
Air Handler Units/Ventilation
LED Sports Lighting
Scoreboard
LED lighting for seats and halls
Ceiling scrape, prime, paint
Asbestos survey
Exterior seepage
Restroom upgrades/replace lines
Locker Room upgrades and walk-off mats
Electrical upgrades
- Auditorium
New Stagehouse Rigging Bridge
Fire Panel upgrade
Replace roof smoke vents
Carpet for the house seating aisles
Replace seats
New stage floor
LED House Lighting with improved controls
Update catwalk
Electric Orchestra Pit lift
- Garages
Garage Cameras
Garage A controlled access Gate
Garage Repairs Phase II (Walter P Moore assessment)