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April 3, 2009
Groundbreaking ceremony for BREC.
April 2, 2009
New project renderings added to "Building Plans" section of website. See them here.
March 16, 2009
Bemidji City Council awards six bids held over for the BREC. Approved a contract with CSL to assist with securing facilities management services for event center. Approved $15,000 contribution toward cost of virtual tour of BREC to be funded with BREC contingency dollars.
March 2, 2009
Bemidji City Council awards numerous contracts to the low bidders as recommended by Kraus Anderson.
February 17, 2009
Bemidji City Council awards contracts for structural precast, architectural precast, and subgrade consolidation to low bidders. Authorized preparations of and advertising for an RFP for management services of event center
January 26, 2009
Bemidji City Council approves and signs BREC Lease with BSU and MnScu
January 12, 2009
Bemidji City Council approves plans and specifications and authorized bidding of BREC
November 17, 2008
Bemidji City Council approves Ground Lease between BEDA and City.
October 20, 2008
Bemidji City Council awards Event Center construction
management contract to Kraus-Anderson.
September 2, 2008
Bemidji City Council approves resolution to move forward with grant
application process to accept $20 million in State bonding
funds for events center.
August 25, 2008
Illustrations and plans for updated event center design released.
August 4, 2008
City Council adopts resolution to accept the one-half percent
sales tax extension for the purpose of building the
regional events center.
July 2008
RDG Planning and Design hold workshops for planning
the downtown and South Lake Bemidji developments.
June 9, 2008
City Council authorizes design development stage of the project.
April 22, 2008
Illustrations and plans for updated event center design released.
April 9, 2008
Governor Pawlenty visits Bemidji for a ceremonial signing of
bonding bill and to congratulate the community on its vision
and teamwork.
April 7, 2008
Governor Pawlenty signs 2008 bonding bill which includes $20
million for Bemidji Regional Events Center.
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Ground Breaking Ceremony, April 3, 2009
Construction begins, as city officials, legislators, construction team members, and representatives of Bemidji Leads! break ground for the new Bemidji Regional Event Center. The center is estimated to have a $13 million annual impact on the economy of north-central Minnesota.
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 Development Plan (.jpeg)
June 15, 2009
Best
Case / Worst Case Analysis
(.pdf)
October 15, 2008
Event
Center Development Costs
(.pdf)
October 15, 2008
SE
Lake Bemidji Dev. Summary
(.pdf)
October 15, 2008
Frequently
Asked Questions 2
(.pdf)
October 15, 2008
Latest
Plans and Illustrations
August 25, 2008
Project
Overview (.pdf)
Frequently
Asked Questions (.pdf)
Event
Center Presentation
(PowerPoint)
by City
Manager, John Chattin (6/9/08)
South
Shore Financial
Overview (.pdf)
by City Finance Director, Ron Eischens
CSL
Feasibility Update
(.pdf)
Conventions,
Sports & Leisure (4/11/08)
CSL
Feasibilty Report
(.pdf)
Conventions,
Sports & Leisure (12/13/06)
Pioneer
Editorial (.pdf)
August 1, 2008
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Over the long-term, the economic benefits of the events
center and redevelopment of the south shore will be
significant.
Direct
and indirect spending impacts are estimated at $7.5
million to $13.1 million annually.
Construction
of the facility will employ an average of 150 to 200
workers over a two-year period.
Long-term
employment of between 126 and 219 full and part-time
workers will contribute an estimated $3.3 million to
$5.8 million annually in additional personal income.
Additional
sales tax revenues should be from $326,000 to $599,000
annually.
A
new arena will secure the future of the Bemidji State
University hockey program, which contributes an
estimated $4.1 million annually to the local economy.
Completion
of the Paul Bunyan Trail, stretching from Brainerd to
Bemidji, will be another attractive amenity to draw
tourists and visitors to northern Minnesota.
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The Events Center will be a multi-purpose building with
the following components:
A
4000-seat arena with 25 event suites, club seating and lounge to not
only accommodate Bemidji State University's Division I hockey programs,
but also provide an attractive venue for trade shows, concerts,
convocations and other events.
A
lakeside conference facility with an adjacent privately funded hotel.
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The
City of Bemidji has
purchased 130 acres of Lake Bemidji's south shore to
include the event site and is entertaining inquiries to
develop an adjacent privately funded hotel. The
site also includes property for residential development.
Bemidji
State University has agreed to host its Division I hockey
games at the event center and has $1.5 million in commitments on the
pre-sale of 25 event suites, as well as a commitment for an expanded
WCHA game schedule in the new arena.
The
Department of Natural Resources
and the city are working together to extend the Paul
Bunyan Trail through the south shore site and expand
public access to a swimming beach, conservation area and
parkland, a significant investment in public amenities.
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 In January, 2006, Governor Pawlenty announced his support for the center,
and the Minnesota Legislature authorized $3 million in planning funds as
part of the 2006 session.
In November, 2006, residents of the city of Bemidji voted to support
extending the one-half a percent sales tax to support the construction of the
event center. The city will be seeking legislative authorization to extend the
existing sales tax in the upcoming Legislative session.
In
January, 2008, Bemidji State University signed a
memorandum of understanding, outlining their commitment
to Beaver Hockey in the new regional events center.
The City of Bemidji
received two key items from the Minnesota Legislature and
Governor Pawlenty as part of the 2008 session:
* Authorization to extend the
existing one-half a percent sales tax for the
construction of the event center.
* State bonding for $20 million
of the total project cost of the event center.
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