HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council got its first full look at the Sports Arena project 
during today’s agenda session. And, for the most part, they came away impressed.
The Council was presented a full look at all levels of the arena as well as work schedule and projected costs. As brought to you first on Eagle Radio and hutchpost.com, the project will cost $28.9 million dollars and will be broken down into three sections.
The north portion of the project, which consists of the three new gymnasiums, weight room and the training facilities, will cost $7 million 21 thousand. The south addition, which includes meeting rooms, new restrooms, offices, new concession stands and the ticket office, carries a price tag $4.3 million. Renovation of the middle portion of the arena, which is the current structure, will cost an estimated $10.2 million and will include reconfigured seating, a second table on the floor for the media, new scoreboard and sound system, along with a major renovation of entire structures mechanical systems.
Other soft costs and contingency fees make up the rest of the total. The contractors are still trying to find some money for the parking lot which they would like to resurface instead of just placing a protective coating on. That would cost an additional $472,000. The project will be bid in two phases with the first phase bid in January. That will include excavation work, foundations, precast panels, structural steel and all mechanical work. The second phase will be bid in February and will include masonry, roofing, glass, metal panels, door frames and hardware, and equipment.
The Council will get another report on the arena during its Nov. 3 meeting.