The Tucson Roadrunners have been a big success, but what about having two professional sports teams in Tucson? It could become reality sooner than you think.
Tucson is now one step closer to being the home of an arena football team. "It's a game that really gets the fans excited because it's just so fast-paced and we are very excited about the opportunity," vice chair of the Rio Nuevo District Mark Irvin said. The decision was announced by the Rio Nuevo Board, after being approached by a franchise hoping to move Southern Arizona. Arena football fans will have to wait about two months to know which team will call the Old Pueblo home, Irvin said.
After a year of negotiations, the task now is to get the Tucson Convention Center ready to go for yet another professional team. The board is moving forward with getting $400,000 in funding needed for improvements that include new flooring, drop down goal posts, special lighting, sound, extra bleachers and a small weight room. "all of this will be an investment for the TCC, everything we put in there will stay in there, Irvin confirmed.
A total of seven games will be played at the TCC once the team arrives. The games will definitely bring more business to Downtown Tucson, Irvin added. "It's all about increase the tax base Downtown, this absolutely does that," he added.
Hockey fans have nothing to worry about, since the new team's schedule will not interfere with the Tucson Roadrunners' home games, because they play in the summer. Renovations at the TCC will begin soon and will be ready before the new team arrives.
