FAQ

The Ford Center is a multi-purpose venue located in the heart of the City containing all the modern amenities the community has come to expect of such a facility. The facility will be our own stimulus package, creating jobs and spurring economic development without raising property taxes. Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions about the Ford Center:

Where is the Ford Center located?

The Ford Center is bounded by Main St., Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., and Sixth St., with its "front door" on Main St. .

Why build the facility Downtown?

The Ford Center is located in the Downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District. A portion of the taxes collected in any TIF district can only be used in that area and only for specific purposes. This means that, by law, Downtown TIF District funds cannot be used outside the District (i.e., at the current Roberts Stadium site) and cannot be used for the City’s general operating expenses (i.e., employee salaries and benefits).
To build a facility outside the Downtown TIF District, property taxes would have to be raised by about $60 million. An arena adjacent to The Centre will enhance Evansville’s attractiveness as a convention and conference destination. In addition to renting facilities, attendees spend money at local hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and businesses.
Downtown is ripe for significant economic development. The area around Roberts Stadium has seen very little, if any, economic growth over the past 50 years and there is no potential for new development in the immediate area because it is landlocked.

What will happen to Roberts Stadium?

Roberts Stadium’s close proximity to Swonder Ice Arena & SK8 Park, Hartke Pool, Wesselman Park, and other community recreational amenities is sure to spur some creative, innovative thinking with regard to future uses.

Why build this venue now?

Economists, financial advisors and construction industry representatives agree that this is precisely the time to invest in projects such as this because increased competition is driving down construction service costs, material costs have leveled off or decreased, borrowing costs are down, there are more government tax and investment incentives, and local people need the work.
Waiting to proceed would mean that any benefits such as hundreds of new jobs and tens of millions of dollars being pumped into our local economy would be delayed when our community needs exactly this kind of stimulus.

How many jobs will the Ford Center create?

According to an economic impact study commissioned by the Evansville Regional Business Committee, construction alone is estimated to create 670 jobs. Local contractors will be utilized when feasible for all phases of this project from architecture and engineering through construction.
Once the arena is completed, another 530 jobs will be created at and as a result of the Ford Center.

How did it cost to build the Ford Center?

Hunt Construction Group anticipates hard construction costs to be $90 – 95 million. Factoring in site-related costs, soft costs, and a construction reserve, total project costs are anticipated to be approximately $127 million.

How is construction of the Ford Center being funded?

Property taxes will not be increased to build the Ford Center. Funds will come from Downtown TIF District revenues, gaming receipts and the food and beverage tax. Coverage on the debt service will be about 150% (will vary slightly from year to year) which means we will have roughly $1.50 in revenue to cover every dollar of debt.
The financing plan prepared by London Witte does not take into account any possible secondary methods of financing including naming rights, suite sales, the sale of Roberts Stadium or the property on which it sits, the innkeepers’ tax or an auto rental tax; and does not take into account growth in the Downtown TIF District, though its assessed value will certainly increase.

Will City services be affected by this project?

No. TIF revenues, gaming receipts and the food and beverage tax cannot, by law, be used for City operating costs.
The financing plan does not touch the allocation of revenue for existing capital projects. For instance, gaming receipts (riverboat proceeds) are used to fund nearly $5 million in capital projects annually, and that amount was set aside before determining what is available for debt service.
Based on the conservative funding plan, we will be able to pay for an arena without increasing property taxes and still have funds left over for other development projects throughout the City.

Why didn't residents vote on this project?

State law prohibits local units of government from having a referendum for a project like this. We cannot place any issue on the ballot unless it is expressly authorized by statute.
Only controlled projects funded through a general property tax levy are subject to the petition/remonstrance process; and only controlled projects that meet a certain threshold are subject to the referenda process.
The Ford Center will not be funded through a general property tax levy, so there can be no referendum.

Will traffic flow, access and parking be problems?

No. Downtown Evansville can be accessed from the Lloyd Expressway, Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Walnut St., Lincoln Ave., Bellemeade Ave., Washington Ave., Riverside Dr., Fulton Ave., First Ave., North Main St., etc.
By contrast, all traffic must funnel into and out of the Roberts Stadium parking lot at only two points – Lloyd Expressway at Vann Ave. and Boeke Rd. at E. Franklin St. – which causes bottlenecks.
Changing most downtown one-way streets to two-way streets, modifying the traffic flow on Main St., and enabling left-hand turns onto and off of Riverside Dr. at Main St. and Walnut St. will ease traffic issues even further.

Where will Ford Center guests park?

There is also ample parking in Downtown Evansville. There are more than 1,500 spaces in City-owned parking garages on Locust St. (378), Third St. (619), and Sycamore St. (602). Parking in the City-owned garages will be $5 during events at the Ford Center. The Central Library, Integra Bank, 420 Main Building, Fifth Third Bank, and Old National also have parking garages Downtown.
There are more than 1,100 parking spaces in the lot behind the Civic Center which will be free during events at the Ford Center.
Combined with the fact that disability parking will be designated (in front of the Civic Center), finding parking and getting to and from an event at the Ford Center in Downtown Evansville should not pose any undue problems for guests.

Is Downtown Evansville safe?

Yes. Most types of violent and/or serious crimes occur less frequently Downtown than in other parts of the City. As the number of people who live and work Downtown continues to increase and the “neighborhood” atmosphere of the area continues to grow, the safety level will improve even more.
There are already regularly scheduled evening events at The Centre, The Victory Theatre, Casino Aztar, Old National Bank, and Vectren headquarters; and people by the thousands come Downtown for events such as the Freedom Festival. These events all take place without major safety issues.