Greensboro Coliseum director Matt Brown laid his cards on the table last night before the City Council, saying $2 million in state money would be the start of something really big — the ACC Hall of Champions. The council believed him and released the money, meaning phase one can now begin. Brown assured the council that future funding the 35,000 square-foot hall would come from the state, but it’s hard to imagine he won’t come to the city for assistance at some point, especially if the project stalls.
Council members Trudy Wade, Zack Matheny and Robbie Perkins took it for granted that Brown and the coliseum commission would oversee construction of the new $12 million swimming center, considering the fact that the coliseum area is the logical location for the center, despite concerns from fellow members Diane Bellamy-Small and Goldie Wells that the city’s Parks and Recreation department would not have an adequate role.
Perkins was critical of parks and rec, saying he’s watched them “torpedo this project for 10 years now” and that if the city wants to get the project underway in a timely manner, “you need to have a driver to do it.” And, in Perkins’ opinion, Matt Brown was the driver.
In the end, the council passed Wade’s motion that the coliseum commission — with representatives from parks and rec and the city manager’s office —- be placed in charge of the swim center’s construction with the help of a council-appointed advisory board.
Big plans for the coliseum area. It will be interesting to see what’s delivered and what’s not.
