Enmarket Arena construction remains on time, on budget

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Savannah Mayor Johnson, like so many others, was excited to announce the name of Savannah’s hockey team and to see all the progress that’s been made at the Enmarket Arena.

Mayor Van Johnson says the largest public works project in Savannah’s history is near completion.

“We’re emerging from this pandemic with a brand new hockey team that will call Savannah home and will open up job opportunities for people working at the arena, people working for the team and opportunities for our young people, a new generation of young people to learn about hockey, learn about sports and I think this opens opportunities for basketball and other sports,” said Mayor Johnson.

City staff say the arena will have 9,500 seats. Crews began building the arena’s jumbotron and installing those seats just weeks ago. There are hundreds of Savannahians working to put this arena together.

“We wanted to make sure that people who lived in Savannah had the opportunity to work on the arena,” said Mayor Johnson. “And people who lived in Savannah have the opportunity to work in the arena.”

The mayor says construction on the arena has been on time and on budget.

This project is about 20 years in the making.

This arena has the potential to bring thousands of jobs to the area.

Mayor Johnson says the opportunities are there and they want to make sure Savannahians get them first.

“We wanted to make sure people who live in Savannah had the opportunity to work on the arena. We’re having a job here this weekend for people who are interested in working in the market arena which is Savannah’s newest arena. So the opportunities are there there is work available everywhere,” said Mayor Johnson.

“From being a citizen to being the 16 year alderman for the district and now as Mayor from concept to actually being completed and now tenants coming in,” said Mayor Johnson. “I’m humbled. I’m gratified not only to the many mayors and city council members, city managers and city staff but to the citizens who wanted to make this new arena reality.”

The mayor says this is an opportunity to connect Savannah’s Westside to downtown. He also says they’re hoping to have a redeveloped waterwork space for a community market on the grounds. The arena is scheduled to open January 2022 at partial capacity.

Copyright 2021 WTOC. All rights reserved.