Yesterday the mayor sent the following letter to Cedric Johnson and the members of the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority. The Insider added quotes from 2017-almost three years ago.
Dear Cedric,
Over the last few years, Augustans have asked us to build a new James Brown Arena. In May 2018, when presented with alternate locations for building a new arena, a majority of voters supported keeping the arena downtown at the current location.
“When we met in his office, the mayor said, ‘I am not going to try to strong arm you on this, but I am looking at the Regency Mall location,’” Johnson said.
Following the feedback from area voters, The Augusta Commission voted to support constructing a new arena downtown and provide financial support to proceed with constructing the new arena at the current arena site.
But somehow, Mayor Davis was able to convince four coliseum authority members that this was an incredible deal or, in his words, a “monumental decision.”
I ask you and the members of the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority (ARCCA) to join the Augusta Commission and rally behind a new arena at the current location.
As the chairman and vice chairman of the coliseum authority, Cedric Johnson and Brad Usry couldn’t agree more that new arena needs to be downtown.
It is important for the ARCCA to progress beyond impasse and bring the community together around a venue and facility that excites Augustans young and old.
“I can honestly say downtown is the best area for a new arena,” Johnson said.
Timely action is imperative to build synergy and to continue to maintain broader regional support for Augusta’s Entertainment Complex.
An online petition calling to “Keep JBA in Downtown Augusta” established on change.org has already garnered more than 4,000 signatures.
Thank you for working to achieve the best outcome for Augusta and to do what adds the maximum value to our community for the foreseeable future.
Your partner in local government,
Mayor Hardie Davis
