Event center design unveiled
Design plans for the Idaho Falls Event Center were unveiled Thursday.
The facility will be built south of Snake River Landing.
Since the city of Idaho Falls sits along the Snake River, architect Kevin DeKold decided it would be the focus of the design.
“One of the things we came up with is a river theme that flows though the panels. It also flows through the entrances and the corners. We can even put it into the landscaping. It could even be part of the emblem that can be part of the ticket when you go see a show,” said DeKold.
Those tickets could one day get you in to see everything from a concert to a sporting event.
“We will have a junior hockey team. We will be able to do trade shows, conventions, entertainment. We will be able to have big stars here. We will be able to have graduations, we can do high school sports,” said Cindy Ozaki, chairwoman of the Idaho Falls Auditorium District.
“We can put just about any event you can have in an indoor arena in there we can load the floor with dirt and have rodeos, monster trucks all that good stuff,” said DeKold.
Eastern Idahoans who want to go see shows are likely to travel to Boise or Salt Lake City.
“My daughter is going to be going down to Salt Lake for a concert so that would maybe be something she could do here andI wouldn’t have to worry about her traveling down there,” said Jessica Carle.
“They go to Salt Lake so we’re taking our money and building up those communities,” said Ozaki.
However, building the event center in Idaho Falls comes with a huge price tag.
Ozaki said estimates range from $25 to $35 million.
“Money is always an issue, but in the long run I think it would bring more business in,” said Carle.
There is no official groundbreaking date set. Ozaki and DeKold mentioned fall 2013, but said it would most likely happen spring of 2014.
Once the construction begins, it will take 14 to 16 months to complete.
The Idaho Falls Auditorium District is asking the public for input on the project. The Visitor’s Center in downtown Idaho Falls will take comments in person, or through email at idahofallseventscenter.com
