El Paso City Rep. Cortney Niland ‘Downtown Arena Could Be Built On Convention Center Land’

The downtown arena that has caused so much controversy because of historical buildings that might be demolished to make way for it, could have a different home.

Word is El Paso City Council might consider using the Downtown Convention Center as a possible site for the arena. City Rep. Cortney Niland said because the City owns the entire footprint of the Convention Center, using it instead of buying land from private owners could save taxpayers $20 million. It is important for the arena to be built downtown and within 1,000 feet of the convention center because the City would be able to keep some of the state sales tax money it collects, and could mean $25 million for the City.

That money would be used for the $180 million arena.

The convention center and the Abraham Chavez Theater need major renovations, and Niland said it’s possible that plans for a Mexican-American Cultural Center and the arena could be combined.

Niland said that there will be a major announcement at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. It’s not known what that announcement will be, but we’ll keep an eye on things and keep KISS listeners up on what happens.