A new multi-purpose arena planned in Macon is moving ahead with a financing structure that will support a $350 million development intended to host large-scale entertainment and sporting events. The project is designed to accommodate upwards of 10,000 people for concerts, sporting events, and conventions, with opening targeted for roughly two years from now. The new venue will ultimately replace the existing Macon Coliseum while expanding the community’s event and convention capacity.
According to reporting from the Macon Telegraph, local officials have approved the sale of $350 million in taxable revenue bonds to fund the arena project. With the bond authorization in place, the facility is expected to break ground in July, marking the formal start of construction activity. The bond proceeds will be used to finance the new arena and related public spaces as part of a multi-phase build-out at the current coliseum site.
The development, known as Macon Arena, is planned to be delivered in phases so that the existing Macon Coliseum can remain in operation throughout construction. This phased approach is intended to minimize disruptions to scheduled events while new facilities are brought online. Over time, the new arena will take over as the primary venue, superseding the older coliseum as the region’s main destination for larger gatherings.
Project plans call for a reconfigurable seating bowl that can be adapted for a variety of event types, allowing operators to scale and adjust capacity to match different uses ranging from sports to concerts and conventions. The design also incorporates outdoor plazas and gathering spaces intended to extend activity beyond the interior bowl, providing additional areas for event overflow, pre-function space, or informal community use tied to arena programming.
A 30,000-square-foot flex hall is a central component of the program, adding further versatility to the venue. This space is conceived as a multi-use hall that can support exhibitions, banquets, smaller events, or supplement the main arena during peak demand periods. In a center-stage configuration, a concert held within the flex hall could host up to 12,298 people, offering a capacity that rivals or exceeds many standalone venues.
MFA Project Management is collaborating with Macon-Bibb County on the arena initiative, providing project management oversight as the public body advances the development. PBK Architects is serving as the designer for the new facility, shaping the arena’s layout, seating bowl, and public spaces. Construction responsibilities for the build-out of the venue will be led by Barton Malow and Sheridan Construction, who are expected to coordinate the phased work around the still-operational Macon Coliseum as the new arena comes out of the ground.
