Macon-Bibb breaks ground on new arena to replace Macon Coliseum

Plans include luxury suites, outdoor plazas, a multilevel parking garage and a flex hall for ice sports and trade shows.

59 minutes ago

Bre'Anna Sheffield,

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Macon-Bibb County broke ground Wednesday on a new 10,000-plus-seat arena that will replace the aging Macon Coliseum and is expected to open in late 2028.

The new arena will be located at 200 Coliseum Drive, entertaining Macon residents and visitors.

“We mark the groundbreaking as a moment in construction,” Macon-Bibb Mayor Lester Miller said. “But it’s more importantly a celebration of who we are, who we are becoming and what we’re doing for each other.”

Slated to open in late 2028, it will serve as a major economic engine, boost tourism and host hundreds of large-scale concerts, conventions and sporting events.

“This building represents our future,” he said. “It represents the future of sports and entertainment. Our families coming together, it represents a beacon for young people.”

Bibb County School District Superintendent Dr. Dan Sims believes the new arena will benefit Bibb County’s youth.

“It represents an investment into the future of Macon-Bibb County and the next generation of leaders, innovators and skill professionals who will help shape our community,” Sims said. “Having a facility of this magnitude in our community, the state-of-the-art arena, capable of holding an audience of more than 12,000 guests. It will create opportunities to dream, to lead and to achieve.”

The new arena will feature luxury suites, a flex hall for ice sports and trade shows, outdoor plazas and a multilevel parking garage to host major concerts, sporting events and community gatherings.

Macon-Bibb County previously released renderings of the project: