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and lighting updates, new viewing platform and lounge, new entrances for accessibility, and enclosing
entrances for energy savings and security control.
In 2016, another $20 million in Limited Obligation Bond Anticipation Notes was approved for various
Coliseum improvements, including roof replacements, renovations to the Convention & Visitors Bureau, a
new $4 million pool at the GAC, $2 million in technology improvements, and $1.2 million for improvements
to the North Lobby and parking facilities. Funding will also be used as the future of the City’s sports tourism
industry was given a boost in 2015 when Greensboro was selected to be the host for the new NBA Charlotte
Hornets Development League team, the
Greensboro Swarm
. The Coliseum Complex Pavilion will become
home court for the newly created d-league team with an estimated $5 million in renovations. The project
encompasses a complete transformation of the existing 30,000 sq. ft. pavilion structure into a classic 2,300
seat basketball Fieldhouse, including construction of a new standing seam metal roof, new exterior glass
storefront, new exterior architectural facade finishes, and approximately 10,000 square feet of additional team
support space for locker rooms, showers, etc. Renovations are expected to be finished by October, 2016. The
Swarm will play all of its 24 home games starting in November with playoffs in April, 2017. The venue is
also designed to accommodate other Coliseum events.
The
ACC Hall of Champions
opened in 2011 and honors the league’s schools, athletes and coaches with
displays of artifacts and interactive games to celebrate the storied history of the ACC conference. The facility
is open three days per week to the general public and also hosts special group tours. Funding of the $2.3
million project was provided by the State of North Carolina for tourism and economic development activities.
The ACC Hall of Champions strengthens the bond between Greensboro and the ACC enhancing
Greensboro’s efforts to secure future tournament dates.
The Coliseum Arena hosted the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament for three seasons from 2013 to 2015 and
will again host in 2020. It has also hosted the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament since 2000 and will
continue to do so through 2022. The Greensboro Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau estimates an
economic impact of more than $27 million for the
ACC tournaments
. The Coliseum also hosted the 2016
USA Masters Games, as well as the 2015 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, an event that made a highly
successful North Carolina debut in 2011.
The White Oak Amphitheatre is located on the southern end of the Greensboro Coliseum Complex campus.
The Amphitheatre features a seating capacity of 7,688, including more than 2,000 reserved seats and general
admission lawn seating for more than 5,600 patrons. This facility hosts a diverse selection of community
events, music, arts and crafts and festival type events. The venue will also support entertainment at the annual
Central Carolina Fair. The name White Oak was selected in honor of the City of Greensboro’s “official” tree
and a selection of white oaks surround the venue’s seating area. The traditional amphitheatre season is a six-
month schedule of events running from May through October.
To further boost economic activity, Greensboro was selected from among thirty-two applications to host the
annual
National Folk Festival
from 2015 to 2017. The free, three-day outdoor event is expected to attract up
to 175,000 visitors by the third year, generating an economic impact
between $15 to $30 million per year, based on the experience of other
previous city hosts. The 2016 event drew more than 138,000 attendees,
an increase of 35% from 2015. The second year event also utilized the
newly opened LeBauer Park as one of eight venues across downtown
Greensboro, located in the vicinity of the planned Steven B. Tanger
Center for the Performing Arts. The talent included forty acts doing 122
total performances, with 300 musicians, dancers, storytellers, and crafts
people. The festival is paid for by sponsorships and fees paid by craft and
food vendors.
Among the vendors sponsoring the festival are local craft brewers, an industry that has been gaining traction
locally in recent years. Several new
Greensboro breweries
have opened, including Gibb’s Hundred Brewing