Coliseum Exploratory Group Presents Findings

Is this the beginning to the end of Howard Wood Field? 

Supporters of a new multi-million dollar coliseum are pitching two different options to the city and school board today. 

The plans are different, but have one thing in common, both will more than likely need tax dollars. 

According to the Coliseum Exploratory Report, Plan A would demolish the aging Howard Wood Field and turn it into a 13 acre parking lot. 

A new $110 million dollar Coliseum would then be built south next to the Convention Center.
It would be large enough to host high school football games, seat between 15 and 18 thousand or 20-thousand for concerts. And according to the Exploratory Group would serve the Sioux Falls region for generations. 

"Shouldn't we step back and think four a moment what this community will need 20 - 30 years from now, rather than creating what we currently have, said Dana Dykhouse 

But if the school district rejects Plan A, then it could consider Plan B, which calls for keeping Howard Wood Field and going through with previously approved $6 million dollars of improvements to the track and grandstands. 

But then the city would have to look at building a smaller events center somewhere else. Either plan though would require funding and that would more than likely come from taxpayers and private donors. 

"We looked at six similar midwestern facilities that have been constructed and what we found, they were all publicly funded 86 % publicly and 14% private," said Dykhouse. 

Both plans A and B would leave the Sioux Falls Arena alone for minor league hockey, basketball and arena football.