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New LSU arena in the works

Feb 27, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Georgia Bulldogs bench reacts to a play that ended the game as LSU Tigers wins at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Georgia Bulldogs bench reacts to a play that ended the game as LSU Tigers wins at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

After decades playing at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, it seems like Louisiana State University is planning to open up a new LSU arena.

Per an ordinance included on the Wednesday agenda for the Baton Rouge Metro Council, there is a “proposed Tiger Athletic Foundation Project to build an LSU Arena, and thereby restricting certain uses by City-Parish owned buildings, including the Raising Cane’s River Center.”


Documents provided by the council said the Tiger Athletic Foundation is soliciting proposals from developers for the proposed project. This developer would create a “best-in-class arena” for use by Louisiana State University and A&M College arena sports, activities, music, entertainment and more on land available at the LSU campus.

“The TAF Project will be structured as a public-private partnership with the Developer undertaking the cost of Development which is estimated to exceed $300 million,” said the documents. These also said the project is intended to benefit the Baton Rouge area.

“It sounds like the new way to go is it’s not just going to be a basketball arena. It’s going to be an entertainment type of arena,” LSU women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey told NOLA.com.

Information about the River Center Arena was also included in the documents. This arena has a 10,400 capacity, including approximately 8,900 permanent and 1,500 removable floor seats. Conventions, Sports & Leisure International completed a planning study regarding the arena to inform a master plan for it.

“The purpose of the CSL analysis is to assist River Center Complex management, City-Parish, Visit Baton Rouge, and other stakeholders in evaluating key operational, market, program, financial, and economic impact aspects associated with the River Center Complex and potential improvements to its event space and supporting hotel and destination product,” it said.

In order to be competitive and attract more entertainment to the area, a renovation of the arena has been proposed.

According to WWL, the PMAC is over 50 years old, and River Center is over 45 years old.