Groundbreaking at Lake Tahoe's new Special Events Center at Stateline

STATELINE, Nev. - It's been 23 years in the making, and today was the first physical step to bringing the new Tahoe South Event Center to existence. The fence is up around the parking lot at MontBleu Resort, and the first shovels of dirt were moved during a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday.

"This is another step in the redesign of the South Shore," said Lake Tahoe Visitor's Authority CEO Carol Chaplin. "This is diversifying the economy and continuing the renaissance of rebirth and regrowth."

The building site is near the corner of US50 and Lake Parkway on 13.3 acres that were donated to the Tahoe Douglas Visitor's Authority (TDVA) by Edgewood Properties for the new building, a value of about $10 million.

The building footprint is approximately 88,000 square feet and the total floor area is approximately 138,500 square feet.

Stage Events - 6,000 seats for celebrations, concerts, pageants, graduations, meetings, lectures, and theatrical productions.

Floor Events - 2,000 seats of 158 ten-foot booths for trade shows, exhibitions, and banquets.

Sporting Events - 4,200 seats for basketball, figure skating, boxing, tennis, gymnastics, and other indoor sports.

Entertainment Events - 4,200 seats for ice shows (like Disney on Ice), motocross, family shows, and WWE.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and Douglas County Supervisors approved the project, and funding mechanisms are already in place through room tax and room surcharge. The long journey to Thursday's groundbreaking has included numerous public discussion, and at time arguments, the formation of a redevelopment district, and a senate bill for the $5/night surcharge that goes to the event center construction.

The estimated price tag is $100 million.

There are 2,200 hotel rooms in the casino corridor with many more available across the state line in South Lake Tahoe where those attending events at the center can stay. To get people to the center from outside the walking area will be a new free micro-transit system that will be seasonal to start and planned year-round service in five years.

"This is an exciting day," said MontBleu V.P and General Manager Tim Tretton who is also the TDVA chair. "This will change our economics dynamics through the shoulder season."

Use of the center is planned for the slow months, or shoulder season, and bringing more off-season jobs to the community.

The first phase of the project is expected to be completed by November 15, 2020. It includes site clearing and demolition; surveying and staking; earthwork excavation and relocation; water line, sewer line and utility services trenching and installation; site paving; service roads, and surface parking.

Since the American Century Championship is taking place across the street from the new center, former quarterback Doug Flutie and NHL on NBC sportscaster Kathryn Tappen joined the groundbreaking. They played a quick putting game with various balls and non-traditional clubs.