Toyota Arena Tri Cities could be getting an upgrade. At millertoyota.net, we’re following the potential development of a new arena to enhance the fan experience and community impact. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting prospect, along with the best deals on new and used Toyota vehicles, auto maintenance and repair, and genuine Toyota parts.
1. The Vision for Toyota Arena Tri Cities
The Tri-City Americans recently wrapped up a noteworthy 2024-25 Western Hockey League (WHL) season. With more than half their games won, they clinched a playoff berth, marking a successful first season under new majority owner Jon Sortland. Sortland is enthusiastic about the team’s future in the Tri-Cities, foreseeing an even stronger team next year, thanks to promising draft picks.
Sortland isn’t just counting on wins to boost attendance. He and the other owners began enhancing the spectator experience to recapture the attendance levels of the 1990s. Sortland told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business that a full house creates a more fun and festive atmosphere, emphasizing the importance of a captivating game experience.
1.1. The Prospect of a New Venue
Sortland shared with the Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce that a bond initiative to fund the Toyota Center’s replacement might be on the ballot as early as 2028.
However, he has yet to formally discuss this with the Kennewick Public Facilities District, which manages the facility on behalf of Kennewick. Corey Pearson, executive director of VenuWorks, which handles the Toyota Center’s day-to-day operations, noted that significant work is needed before a new venue, estimated to cost $150 million to $200 million, can proceed.
Pearson emphasized the importance of smart and sustainable planning for the future.
2. A Look Back at the Tri-City Americans
Since 1988, the Americans have been a fixture in the Tri-Cities. The team faced challenges during the initial half of their inaugural season, playing on the road while the Toyota Center was being built.
2.1. Highs and Lows in Team History
The team’s performance has varied over the years. The 2000s and 2010s saw their best seasons and playoff runs, including a three-year stint as the top U.S. team in the WHL, winning two-thirds of their games. They still hold the record for the most 40-win seasons in the league, though the most recent was nearly a decade ago.
However, there have been difficult times, including strained relations between a former owner and the community, leading to relocation threats, and four sub-500 records in the past six seasons.
2.2. Attendance Trends
Game attendance has declined, with average attendance at Americans games around 4,000, down from 4,500 a decade ago and nearly 5,000 during the team’s peak seasons, according to Sortland.
2.3. Economic Impact
Despite the attendance dip, the Toyota Center’s revenues haven’t significantly suffered. The team still accounts for half of the venue’s annual visitors, Pearson noted. VenuWorks has collaborated with the team to reclaim dates for other events and performances, which has been beneficial for the Toyota Center.
Hector Cruz, vice president of development and community engagement for Visit Tri-Cities, affirmed that the team’s economic impact on the community is substantial, emphasizing their significant role in the agency’s sports tourism marketing efforts.
3. Sortland’s Commitment to the Community
In his remarks to the Hispanic chamber and the Journal, Sortland was emphatic about keeping the Americans in the Tri-Cities, regardless of whether a new venue is built. Pearson confirmed that Sortland extended the team’s lease through 2029 upon purchasing his majority stake, and Sortland has relocated to the Tri-Cities from Seattle.
Sortland assured the chamber that the team isn’t going anywhere, promising to remain in the Tri-Cities.
3.1. Enhancing the Fan Experience
The former tech startup businessman spent much of the last season observing team operations and making adjustments to the game-day experience.
These enhancements include Sing-Along Saturdays, where fans can participate in classic songs during intermissions. The Americans also use the video board to boost fan engagement, showcasing bloopers, player interviews, and highlighting fans in the stands.
Sortland stressed that even if the team doesn’t win every game, fans can still have a great time.
3.2. Strengthening Team Engagement
The team’s sales and marketing team has been reinforced to proactively sell ticket packages and promotions.
Sortland aims to be the team’s biggest advocate in the Tri-Cities and involve the team with local nonprofits and other organizations, underscoring the importance of the team’s role in the community.
4. Addressing the Limitations of the Current Venue
While state-of-the-art in the late 1980s, the Toyota Center now lags behind other WHL venues and fan expectations, with limited box seats, narrow concourses, no center scoreboard, and an outdated press box.
4.1. Fan Perspectives
Canadian hockey fan Kevin Jordan, who manages the online WHL Arena Guide and attended an Americans game at the Toyota Center in 2022, echoed Sortland’s concerns, noting that while the AV production seemed professional, there was room for improvement.
Jordan observed that Tri-City’s AV production was handled professionally but could be significantly enhanced.
5. The Potential for an Improved Venue
Sortland discussed the Toyota Center with several Americans players, who expressed their fondness for the team but noted the cramped locker rooms and lack of a player’s lounge. His proposal to VenuWorks to fund the conversion of a room into a player’s lounge was declined due to space constraints and utility access issues.
5.1. Addressing Key Issues
Sortland explained that the limited space below the arena is a significant constraint.
An upgraded venue could solve these issues and enhance the Toyota Center for other events and performances throughout the year, he added.
5.2. Community Benefits
Pearson agreed with Sortland’s vision. With high-profile acts like Peter Frampton and Pitbull performing at the Toyota Center, VenuWorks has engaged in discussions with the city about the venue’s quality and appeal to performers.
Cruz added that while the Three Rivers Convention Center is expanding to accommodate sports tournaments, there is still a need for a large arena to host major events like collegiate sports games and tournaments.
He emphasized the need for upgraded seating and infrastructure to attract and host such events.
6. Previous Efforts to Replace the Toyota Center
Plans to replace the Toyota Center have been in discussion for years, with references in city planning documents dating back to at least 2012. A visioning document for the Three Rivers Campus, which includes the Toyota Center, Toyota Arena, and Three Rivers Convention Center, included a 12,000-seat venue on the site of the current Toyota Center. A similar facility was included in the campus master plan approved by the Kennewick City Council in 2023.
6.1. Unsuccessful Bond Measures
Pearson recalled that the city manager expressed interest in a new Toyota Center within five years back in 2009.
However, efforts to replace the building have failed. Bond measures financed by sales tax increases to expand the Three Rivers Campus, including replacing the Toyota Center, were rejected by voters in 2016 and 2017.
6.2. Addressing WHL Requirements
These bond failures raised concerns about the Americans’ future, as the Toyota Center did not meet WHL facility requirements. Ultimately, the city agreed to make upgrades, such as installing video boards and improving ice-making equipment, to address the league’s concerns.
6.3. Funding Considerations
Sortland suggested that any impact from a future bond on the local community would be minimal, as lodging tax revenue could cover the bulk of the Toyota Center’s replacement.
This is similar to the current funding arrangement for the $71.3 million convention center expansion, which is financed through a combination of bonds, local government funds, and existing city tax revenue, including lodging tax dollars. Construction is slated for completion in the fall of 2026.
6.4. The Need for a Sales Tax Increase
Pearson noted that this funding structure would not be feasible for a project as large as a new Toyota Center. A larger venue would necessitate ancillary projects, such as demolishing the current facility and adding a parking garage to accommodate larger crowds.
Pearson suggested that a two-tenths of a percent sales tax increase is the most viable option for funding a new Toyota Center. He believes the community would support this, despite past rejections related to the convention center expansion.
Pearson stated that the community has shown interest in redoing or replacing the Toyota Center.
6.5. Overcoming Obstacles
However, Pearson acknowledged that the city’s capacity to handle the project is limited, as it is already preparing for major capital projects, including a new city hall and a new fire station in the Southridge area.
Pearson concluded that the Toyota Center is not currently on the city’s priority list and that further efforts are needed.
7. The Americans’ Commitment to the Toyota Center
Sortland emphasized that the Americans will make do with the Toyota Center if necessary. He noted that the arena’s classic junior league hockey feel can be a marketable experience.
7.1. A Dedicated Fan Base
While a modern facility could attract more casual fans, the Americans already have a dedicated fan base, a fact that Jordan noted during his visit to the Tri-Cities.
Jordan praised the atmosphere, stating that despite a small Monday crowd, the fans were loud and engaged, surpassing the atmosphere at many Canadian rinks. He commended the fans for their enthusiasm.
8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Toyota Arena Tri Cities
8.1. What is the current status of the Toyota Arena Tri Cities replacement project?
The project is in the early stages of discussion, with potential bond initiatives possibly going before voters as early as 2028. Formal discussions with the Kennewick Public Facilities District are pending, and significant planning is required. The replacement of the Toyota Arena Tri Cities is still in the planning phase, requiring further discussion and planning before any concrete steps can be taken. Keep an eye on millertoyota.net for updated information.
8.2. Why is there a need to replace the Toyota Arena Tri Cities?
The Toyota Arena Tri Cities, while state-of-the-art in the 1980s, now has limitations such as few box seats, narrow concourses, lack of a center scoreboard, and an outdated press box. These shortcomings affect the fan experience and the venue’s ability to attract major events. The need to replace the Toyota Arena Tri Cities stems from its outdated facilities, which no longer meet modern standards and hinder its ability to provide an optimal experience for fans and event organizers. These limitations are the driving force behind the proposed replacement.
8.3. How much is the estimated cost for a new Toyota Arena Tri Cities?
The estimated cost for a new Toyota Arena Tri Cities ranges from $150 million to $200 million. This figure includes the construction of a modern venue with improved facilities. This substantial investment reflects the scale of the project and the ambition to create a top-tier entertainment and sports venue. Keep in mind that these numbers can fluctuate depending on the specifics of the initiatives in question.
8.4. What are the potential funding sources for the Toyota Arena Tri Cities replacement?
Potential funding sources include a combination of bonds, local government funds, existing city tax revenue (including lodging tax dollars), and potentially a sales tax increase. A two-tenths of a percent sales tax increase is considered the most feasible option. The Toyota Arena Tri Cities project could get funding from a variety of different avenues including bonds, tax revenue, and funding from the local government.
8.5. How will the new arena benefit the Tri-Cities community?
A new arena would enhance the fan experience, attract more significant events (such as collegiate sports games and tournaments), provide better facilities for the Tri-City Americans, and stimulate the local economy. The Toyota Arena Tri Cities is looking to bolster the community through fan engagement and the introduction of more teams and better facilities.
8.6. What are the main challenges in replacing the Toyota Arena Tri Cities?
The main challenges include securing funding, gaining community support for bond measures, and managing the city’s bandwidth for major capital projects. Overcoming these hurdles is crucial for the project’s success. Replacing the Toyota Arena Tri Cities will come with challenges such as securing the funding, planning the project timeline, and ensuring the city and community are on board.
8.7. What improvements would a new arena offer compared to the current Toyota Center?
A new arena would offer upgraded seats, wider concourses, a center scoreboard, modern press box, improved locker rooms, a player’s lounge, and better infrastructure to host a variety of events. The new arena will offer many new and improved amenities compared to the old one including new and improved locker rooms, better seating and an updated infrastructure.
8.8. How does the Tri-City Americans’ new owner plan to contribute to the arena project?
The Tri-City Americans’ new owner, Jon Sortland, is committed to advocating for the arena project, engaging with the community, and exploring funding options. He aims to ensure the team remains in the Tri-Cities and benefits from an upgraded venue. The team’s new owner plans to be a big advocate for the new project and will work closely with the community to try and secure funding and work out logistics.
8.9. What is VenuWorks’ role in the Toyota Arena Tri Cities replacement project?
VenuWorks, the company that manages the Toyota Center’s day-to-day operations, is involved in assessing the feasibility of the project, discussing venue quality with the city, and planning for the transition to a new facility. VenuWorks is an important part of the planning process and will help to ensure a smooth transition.
8.10. What is the timeline for the potential Toyota Arena Tri Cities replacement?
The timeline is uncertain, but a bond initiative could go before voters as early as 2028. Significant planning, funding, and approvals are needed before construction can begin. This is all very much up in the air but the hope is to have a bond initiative up for vote as early as 2028.
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