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Greenville loses one arena bid <BR> but will try again

By Bill Oliver

Greenville, TX –

Greenville and Hunt County lost a major events center to the City of Allen. While Global Entertainment announced Wednesday the construction of a 7,500 seat facility in Allen, Greenville is being considered for another center.

Steve Bielewicz, president of Global Entertainment, told Chamber officials that his company is still interested in Greenville and that the city could still be in the running for another events center. Bielewicz and a task force from the Greenville Chamber/CVB are expected to meet again in mid-July.

The Greenville Chamber only recently took over the effort to attract the events center from an ad hoc group which began exploring the idea more than one year ago. Chamber president Sally Bird said "While Greenville was very much aware that time was of the essence." Bird added they "were unable to produce a development package in a timely manner. Global is a corporation dedicated to getting these centers up and running, and we were not able to meet their schedule." Bird also said "proximity to the Dallas/Fort Worth area was a major reason an events center made sense for Hunt County, but Allen had monetary incentives to offer Global Entertainment that Greenville did not."

Global Entertainment is allowed to consider Greenville for a second center because the agreement with the city of Allen specifies exclusive rights only within a 25 mile radius. Allen is about 40 miles from Greenville.

Global Entertainment had been in discussions with Greenville about locating a professional hockey team in the Hunt County seat. But an agreement was announced Wednesday with the city of Allen to build a $50 million entertainment complex at Highway 75 and Stacy Road. Click above to listen as Brad Kellar reports.