Study: Coliseum at Alliant Energy needs $117M renovation

A new study by the Hammes Company recommends the county spend big money to replace the Dane County Coliseum with a new arena.

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi said that number will break the bank.

“We think we can do this incrementally and get the bang for the buck that we need, but the bottom line is that $120 million is way too much,” Parisi said.

Other county leaders disagree and believe the struggling Alliant Energy Center needs to be more competitive when it comes to bringing crowds to Madison.

In fact, Dane County Board chairwoman Sharon Corrigan is one leader behind a plan that would bring a public-private change to the center with hotels, restaurants and retail areas. That plan could cost up to half a billion dollars. Corrigan said county leaders have to do something with the space.

“We’ve been seeing huge deficits with this facility and it’s eaten through its reserves,” Corrigan said.

Parisi said he supports incremental improvements that would also be more consistent with return revenue. Parisi said it could take $67 million to clean up Dane County’s lakes during the next few years or he could use the money to upgrade a concert venue.

The talks are in the early stages.