Contractors held a “topping out” ceremony Wednesday to commemorate a construction milestone in renovations at the Bell Auditorium.
The expansion is slated to be a connective wing to a new James Brown Arena, for which a sales tax appears alone on the Nov. 7 ballot. The wing was expected to house shared kitchen and other amenities.
“The Bell Auditorium expansion and renovations project includes a new grand lobby, premium experience spaces and additional restrooms and concessions,” said Brad Usry, vice chairman of Augusta-Richmond Count Coliseum Authority.
The Bell, which opened in 1940 and seats 2,700, closed for the renovations last month. It’s expected to reopen in May 2024.
“We are so proud of our construction team, local leaders and management group for working in concert to keep this renovation moving forward and we look forward to the exciting grand opening next year,” said authority Chairman Cedric Johnson.
The $17.5 million Bell renovations are funded by special purpose, local option sales tax 8, which voters approved for the arena project in 2021.
In November, voters will decide whether to approve issuing up to $433 million in bonds to build a new arena, and imposing a half-cent sales tax for approximately two decades to service the debt.
