(Photo rendering of proposed new Bon Secours Wellness Arena entrance courtesy of Greenville Arena District Board, LS3P, LMN, and Gensler.)

Greenville’s Bon Secours Wellness Arena has hosted more than 3,000 events and brought in 12 million guests since it opened in 1998. While there have been some cosmetic changes over the decades, the arena still looks much as it did on opening day nearly 27 years ago.

That may be changing, as the Greenville Arena District (GAD) unveiled a plan for a major renovation that would completely change the look of the arena, while adding a 6,500-seat amphitheater to the downtown footprint.

The new master plan, developed by the architecture firms LS3P, LMN, and Gensler, and $150 million to $170 million estimated for arena construction, was presented at a Greenville Arena District meeting on Thursday, April 17.

 Among the proposed changes to the 12-acre site:

·        A newly designed exterior that would face west, where the current VIP entrance is located on Church Street, changing from the present entrance at the corner of North Academy and East North streets.

·        An expanded concourse, with enlarged restrooms and additional concession offerings. The larger concourse would provide additional entrances and new premium seat offerings.

·        A 6,500-seat amphitheater that would also feature green spaces and mixed-use restaurant and retail spaces. Having an amphitheater in downtown Greenville could add around 30 events to the entertainment calendar each year, said Beth Paul, the arena’s general manager. The amphitheater is projected to create 545 permanent jobs, generating $15 million annually in compensation, and an estimated $63 million each year in economic impact.

“Our charge to the design team was to give us a road map for the plan to best position the arena for future success and relevance,” Paul said.

If approved, the project would take between two and 2½ years to complete, with minimal disruptions to the events calendar, Paul said.

“Our goal is to remain open throughout the entire construction project, with no long-term or significant shutdowns,” she said.

The renovations would not add to the current 15,500-seat capacity of the venue, Paul said.

During the design process for the proposal, arena officials met with stakeholders and families from the Little Texas community, which was located where the arena now sits, to get input, said Greenville Arena District Board Chair Neetu Patel.

"This is our opportunity to build on the legacy of those who came before us-from the families of Little Texas to the visionaries who constructed Memorial Auditorium and the business and community leaders who created this arena 25 years ago," Patel said. "The master plan we are presenting today is about updating a building and protecting a vital community asset for the next 25 years and beyond."

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.