Tahoe South Event Center on budget and on time - slated to open in 11 months

STATELINE, Nev. - Even with the challenges of losing 21 days of work due to the Caldor Fire, record October rain and December snow, shipping issues, and rising construction costs, the new Tahoe South Events Center is coming in on budget and on time with an anticipated completion date in January 2023.

The 143,000 square-foot events center will provide a venue for conventions, special events, and entertainment, as well as a variety of events for the local South Tahoe community, including concerts, family programming, as well as professional and amateur sporting events.

Besides just bringing in outside events to the venue located on the parking lot of Ballys Lake Tahoe and across the street from Edgewood Tahoe, the event center is going to be for the community.

"This is more about bringing people in, this is the community's center, it's your building," said Kevin Boryczki, general manager of the new venue.

During a tour of the construction site Wednesday, Boryczki said he has been talking to event planners who are very excited to book clients on the South Shore and there are already two meetings on the books.

It is expected to host up to 130 events a year with opportunities to expand visitation into shoulder seasons and mid-week periods, the goal of the project from the beginning. The anticipated economic impact to the entire community is estimated to be $40-60 million per year.

The project will feature two levels: an event floor and suites, a conference and meeting room level with 14,000 square feet of meeting space, as well as a 10,000 square foot event lawn area in the front. Seating for up to 6,000 will be available for concerts, performing arts, trade shows, and sporting events along with a seasonal micro-transit system. The main level can also host seated dinners for 1,500 people from its commercial kitchen.

The first of 12 massive trusses went up on February 4 with the next one coming February 14-16. Each truss weighs tons and they are transported one-by-one from Idaho in several pieces due to their size. They are then assembled on-site and lifted up on top of the building with the help of two cranes.

From start to finish, 800 men and women will be working on the project. Rick Kozuback, president & CEO of International Coliseums Company, and Travis Coombs of Core Construction joined Boryczki in leading Thursday's group. This is the 15th project/arena that Kozuback's company has done from Arizona to Washington.

Kozuback said they will be moving the power lines along US50 at Stateline underground, giving everyone a clear view of the lake from inside the glass-walled center as well as clearer views from the roadway.

The Lake Tahoe Visitor Authority (LTVA) will be moving its offices over to the event center when complete.

Carol Chaplin, CEO of LTVA, echoed what both Boryczki and Boryczki told the gathered group, "This is the community's building." Chaplin has led the efforts to get a convention/events center to the South Shore that will boost the shoulder season of South Lake Tahoe and Douglas County at the lake.