Coralville eyeing possible 7,000-seat arena for Iowa River Landing

CORALVILLE - City officials are moving forward with a plan that could bring a new 7,000-seat arena with an attached 'sports performance” center to the Iowa River Landing area near where First Avenue meets Interstate 80.

'We're still in the early stages of this,” said city administrator Kelly Hayworth.

The project will rely on a pre-application the city plans to submit to the state's Economic Development Authority, which could provide the city with $10 to $13 million in revenue for the project through a reinvestment program.

'The program provides for up to $100 million in new state hotel/motel and sales tax revenues to be 'reinvested” within approved districts,” according to the state's Economic Development Authority website. To receive the money, the city must create or use an existing Enterprise Zone or Urban Renewal Area The city would look to work with a private developer to fund the project. They would also help secure funding through philanthropy, Hayworth said.

'This facility has to open debt free,” he said.

Josh Schamberger, president of the Iowa City Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the arena would serve primarily as an athletic and concert venue.

'We'd look to get acts similar to what you're seeing in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines,” Schamberger said.

As a comparison, a 7,000-seat arena would be a little smaller than the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, which has a maximum capacity of 9,000.

Schamberger said he hopes the facility would also attract state tournaments and other athletic events. It could also serve as a permanent home to an area hockey team, according to Hayworth.

An attached sports performance center could also offer development tools for athletes, including indoor golf or baseball training among other ideas, Hayworth said.