GREENVILLE, S.C. —
The renovation and expansion plans for the Bon Secours Wellness Arena were revealed Thursday morning.
Check out this slideshow or the video above to see what it will look like.
"We've done such a great job for 25 years, and we just want to ensure that we remain competitive, and so I think it's essential to the future success of the arena," General Manager Beth Paul said.
The master plan, unveiled by the Greenville Arena District (GAD), owner and operator of Bon Secours Wellness Arena, includes the following:
The project is expected to create 545 permanent jobs, generating $15 million annually in compensation and an estimated $63 million each year in economic impact.
"There are times, certainly, where we missed out on a show because an artist is playing outdoors, and right now, the market doesn't have that 6,500 seat boutique, which is doing very well in many other markets. They're just skipping Greenville altogether," Paul said.
The planning process included extensive community engagement, including focus groups with former residents of Little Texas, shadowing sessions with members of the disability community, surveys of thousands of guests and premium seat holders, and meetings with neighborhood representatives, city and county officials, and business leaders.
Tony Mims is a former resident of Little Texas.
"I want them to remember that this was sacred ground," he said. "This was one of the first Black communities that people were actually owning their homes."
The Greenville Arena District said the plan, developed by the architecture firms LS3P, LMN, and Gensler, emphasizes its commitment to being the Upstate’s premier hub for live events and concerts.
Paul explained why the arena decided to add another entrance to the western side of the building.
"One was to create lobby space. We don't have sufficient or lobby space at all now," she said. "Also to try to make it an easier entry and egress from the building and out of the building, and then, to reposition it away from the East North Street, I-385 intersection."
The proposed renovation also aims to generate economic activity that significantly benefits local businesses, supports infrastructure development, and enhances the region’s cultural vibrancy and quality of life.
Six core principles guided the master plan: enhancing connectivity to downtown, creating a welcoming environment, strengthening community partnerships, improving the guest experience, ensuring safety and wellness, and practicing financial stewardship while honoring the site’s history.
The rapidly evolving entertainment industry also influenced the vision. This involved addressing new artist needs for staging and production, adapting to shifting audience expectations, and responding to increased competition from venues in the Southeast and across the nation.
The next phase of the master planning process will involve further development of the designs, refinement of cost estimates, exploration of funding strategies, and ongoing engagement with stakeholders. GAD aims to finalize the plan by the end of the year, intending to begin the most critical arena improvements in 2026 or early 2027.
Meanwhile, the Greenville Gateway Project, located across the street from the arena, plans to break ground on the tallest skyscraper in South Carolina this summer.
"I think what this does is it ignites a spark because it's visible to the general population," said Bobby Donovan, a custodian of the Greenville Gateway Fund. "You're going to start to see critical mass build behind this, and it's going to be contagious."
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