Following a press conference hosted by Alabama Agriculture Commissioner John McMillan and attended by Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange, leaders of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and the Southeastern Livestock Exposition are optimistic about the future of the Garrett Coliseum.
“This new agreement should be positive both for our rodeo to be held next March as well as all the cattle and horse shows that call the Garrett Coliseum home. The facility will remain open and the door is wide open for renovation efforts to improve the grounds,” says Dr. Billy Powell, Executive Director of the Southeastern Livestock Exposition. Powell serves as Vice President of the Garrett Coliseum Redevelopment Corporation.
The new agreement, signed by the Garrett Coliseum Redevelopment Corporation and the Alabama National Fair, will allow the Fair’s staff to manage the facility so that events like the SLE Rodeo and the Alabama National Fair as well as other shows and meetings held throughout the year can still happen. In addition, the budget for the facility will have an additional $50,000 appropriation from Montgomery County and $75,000 from the City of Montgomery to be paired with $246,000 in state funds for operation of the facility.
“The fact that the Coliseum will remain open for business is good news. Plus, the bonding authority now held by the Redevelopment Corporation means there’s real potential for raising monies for renovation efforts that we all agree are needed,” says Camp Powers, President of the Southeastern Livestock Exposition.
The Garrett Coliseum Redevelopment Corporation was created during this year’s legislative session by a bill sponsored by State Rep. Joe Hubbard and State Sen. Dick Brewbaker which expanded the Agriculture Center Board. The new entity responsible for the Coliseum includes the Governor, State Finance Director, Commissioner of Agriculture, Mayor of Montgomery, President of the Montgomery City Council, County Commission Chair, plus four others who currently sit on the Agriculture Center Board.
Below are pictures from the press conference:
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