Tahoe Blue Event Center officially opens, full schedule of events slated

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - It was years in the making, but as the ribbon was cut at the Tahoe Blue Event Center on Monday, smiles quickly replaced all signs of the long, at times hard, journey that was taken to open the doors.

As invited guests were touring the new venue located in Stateline, final touches were being finished in the 4,200 - 6,000 seat arena and 10,000 square feet of meeting spaces, well-appointed seating around fireplaces in front on picture windows with views of the lake, Mt. Tallac, and Heavenly Mountain Resort.

In 1997, the Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority (TDVA) Act was passed in Nevada, paving the way to create a convention center. While the Heavenly Village and redevelopment transformed the California side of the state line, it was apparent soon after that the Nevada side would have to step things up with their own economic development.

With an annual hotel occupancy rate of about 50 percent, there were a lot of empty rooms, especially midweek and during the shoulder season. By 2015, gaming revenues were down in Stateline, and 7,000 jobs were lost with the growing Indian gaming businesses thriving in areas closer to the areas the Lake Tahoe tourists came from.

"It was textbook blight," said Lew Feldman, a champion of the project from the beginning who started off Monday's celebration with a reminder of where things were, and the new possibilities the Tahoe Blue Event Center brings.

Partnerships were created to bring the South Shore Vision Plan to fruition, an economic development goal while also meeting all environmental needs. A $5 per room night tax was created through SB465 and added to hotels and vacation home rentals in the Tahoe Township area of Douglas County.

It was through this room tax that the $105 million undertaking for the Nevada project was made possible.

"It took partnerships to get here," said Feldman of all the agencies and groups involved. "As partners, we can make things happen."

Mike Bradford, owner of the Lakeside Inn and part of TDVA in the beginning was on hand to celebrate, as was John McLaughlin, president/CEO of Edgewood Properties and current TDVA board chair. It took a five-acre land donation from Edgewood to get the Event Center project started on the parking lot of Montbleu (and now Bally's).

There were many challenges since the ground broke including the Caldor Fire, COVID, snow, supply chain issues, more snow....and snow. However the occupancy permit was issued on September 1, and the event center was home to a wedding on September 2.

Rick Kozuback, president/CEO of International Coliseums Company (ICC) told the gathered crowd it was a journey to start, and a journey to build.

"Enjoy the building, it's yours!" said Kozuback.

Carol Chaplin, president/CEO of Visit Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority, was part of the journey from the beginning. She told of the challenges involved in having a bigger vision than many are ready for. What has been completed is not only a building but opportunities.

"This benefits us all," said Chaplin.

She said the Tahoe Blue Event Center will have a $60 million impact on Northern Nevada and California. Part of the approved permit does not allow the center to have large events during the summer, and its focus is midweek and shoulder season. The jobs it creates will help locals who already experience reduced hours during those times.

A recognition was also presented by Molly Rose Lewis of Senator Jacky Rosen's office, congratulating Chaplin and the partners of the accomplishment.

Features:
There are 17 suites in the new event center, with 16 already purchased.
The floor in the center of the arena can have water cover it and be frozen, ready for hockey in 72 hours.
There are 4,200 seats for hockey and other sporting events.
The area expands to 6,000 seats when bleacher seats are pulled out and the sports center fills with seats.
Flexible spaces - Rooms and the arena can be made as big or small as an event calls for.
Professional hockey calls the event center home in October 2024.
There are two star dressing rooms and four locker rooms.
Lake Link was initiated as part of the permitting process for the center. It started months before required.

The Tahoe Blue Event Center will be host to 125+ events throughout the year including concerts, sporting events, family shows, conferences, banquets, meetings, trade shows, consumer shows, and more.

Everything starts this weekend with Comic Con, and for the next six weeks, there are the Business Council of Douglas County, Pit Bull, WWE Supershow, MECC 2023 convention, Rumors of Fleetwood Mac, Billy Strings, DMA West convention, Adam Sandler, Envision Tahoe Venture Summit, the Tahoe Chamber Go Local Expo and the Soroptimist of South Lake Tahoe Golden Gala.

For more information on the center, shows and tickets, visit https://www.tahoeblueeventcenter.com/.

In the ribbon-cutting photos above:

Left - Right - Rick Hontz, OVG360 Regional Vice President; Lew Feldman, TDVA Board Representative / Feldman Thiel LLP; Carol Chaplin, President & CEO Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority; John McLaughlin, TDVA Board Chair / President & CEO Edgewood; Rick Kozuback, President & CEO of ICC; Matt Levitt, Tahoe Blue Vodka Founder and CEO; Molly Rose Lewis, Regional Representative for U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen; and Kevin Boryczki, OVG360 General Manager at the Tahoe Blue Event Center.