SAN ANGELO – "Nothing official has been presented to the court. You know as much as I do about the project." said Tom Green County Judge Steve Floyd Tuesday morning during the regular meeting of the Tom Green County Commissioners Court.
Judge Floyd made comments concerning the proposal for Tom Green County to participate in funding for the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Association's $25 million plan to renovate the San Angelo Coliseum announced during the Rodeo ten days ago.
"Legal situations need to be addressed, consultants engaged..." before the Court could take any action concerning the plan. In fact, the County is barred by state law from spending County revenue on a facility not owned by the County. Floyd called discussions about the County's role in funding renovations to the City-owned Coliseum, "Premature." Floyd said that financial consultants will need to be engaged to set forth a path for the county to finance any part of the funding mechanisms.
San Angelo Rodeo announcer Boyd Polhamus outlined the Association's plan to renovate the coliseum during the rodeo. According to the rodeo association, the annual rodeo and stock show generate $30 million in economic impact to the San Angelo area per year.
The San Angelo Coliseum was completed in 1959 and seats 5,000. The "innovative and dramatic" plan presented April 13 would expand seating greatly and include 20 luxury boxes. The renovated coliseum will feature a food court, upgraded restrooms, and additional seating for 2,800. Adding a floor seating configuration for concerts, the renovated venue capacity will exceed 10,000.
Judge Floyd said a conversation to improve the coliseum began five or six years ago with a discussion to build a new coliseum but nothing has been officially presented to the court.
The discussions have included asking the County to float a bond election which stock show officials believed would stand a better chance of passing county wide instead with city-only voters.
Judge Floyd said, "At some point in time we'll see it." Pct. 2 County Commissioner Sammy Farmer added, "$25 million is a lot of money, but it's a drop in the bucket compared to what other cities are spending." Farmer mentioned the new Dickies Arena in Fort Worth as an example and said San Angelo had to do something to keep up.
"We've been silent on this because nothing has been officially presented." Judge Floyd said. "As soon as something jells (regarding the coliseum proposal), then [discussion] will all be done in the public arena," Floyd said.
Plans for a San Angelo Coliseum renovation revealed on April 13, 2022
The current San Angelo Coliseum
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I might go inside the coliseum twice a year and even that's stretching it. I drive on these so called "Roads" in town daily though. Fix the damn roads first and foremost !!!! Why spend $25 million dollars on something only a few will see any use for what you get out of it, and even then, if you build it, you bring 5000 more people to San Angelo to walk inside it, but not before their mode of transportation to get here is beat all to hell navigating across our very own version lunar moonscape streets.......
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PermalinkHopefully you'll tell every college-age kid that calls San Angelo a dump with nothing to do about our fabled roads
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PermalinkWhile I agree with the sentiment above, our roads are in dire need of repair. Our coliseum is as antiquated as the leftover pavement on said roads. Our local government has squandered taxpayer dollars for as long as I can remember. There should be no reason why we don't have the funds to fix these issues without asking Dad(TGC) for an allowance. Brenda Gunter needs to be removed, as well as our treasurer. They've been in charge for far too long. Please impeach Brandon and Gunter! Thanks
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