The City of Rochester will continue to work with the company SMG to be manager of the Blue Cross Arena at the Community War Memorial.
The announcement was made by Mayor Lovely Warren on Wednesday. She says a selection team from the city chose SMG after a thorough review of all proposals. SMG has operated the arena since 2000, and their contract was set to expire at the end of September.
The contract still has to be negotiated and will require City Council approval.
Warren says she had a preliminary conversation with the management team from the Amerks and Sabres, which are the largest tenant at the arena. The mayor says both the city administration and the sports teams agreed to work with SMG and seek improvements for the arena in the future.
Sabres President Russ Brandon also issued a statement saying they are committed to making the Blue Cross Arena a “best-in-class” facility that enhances the fan experience for Amerks fans and city residents.
In June, officials had announced the state will provide $10 million for improvements at the arena including upgrades to the lobby, suites, WiFi and an expanded second-level concourse.
