DOWNTOWN Arena builder prepares to set up office

YOUNGSTOWN -- Global Entertainment Corp. is establishing a downtown office on the second floor of the city-owned Wick Building to coordinate construction of the convocation center, lease the 24 loges within it and sell season hockey tickets.
City and Global officials signed a contract March 24, under which Global will build and operate the $41 million arena. Primary funding for the project is a $26.8 million federal grant. Among other funding sources are $4.8 million from the state and $6 million Global will borrow.
The new office is to begin functioning next week with a staff of three, and that would likely grow to about 30, said Jeff Chagnot, the city's economic development director, who announced the opening of the office to city council Wednesday.
Global, which is based in Phoenix, Ariz., will rent for $1 a year the same space that was occupied by the defunct arena board, whose members resigned two years ago. Global plans to install a model loge in its downtown office, Chagnot said.
The arena, scheduled to open Nov. 15, 2005, will be built between the South Avenue and Market Street bridges with 5,500 fixed seats. It will accommodate 1,500 additional seats for concerts.
Also on agenda
In other business, council:
Heard Claire Maluso, Federal Plaza director, announce a 10:30 a.m. Monday ribbon-cutting for the new Curves fitness center in the Phar-Mor Centre concourse and a 10 a.m. Wednesday ribbon-cutting for the B & amp;B ladies accessories boutique, 12 S. Phelps St.
Honored the Ursuline High School girls basketball team, coaches and administrators on their Division III state championship.
Authorized the board of control to appraise land bounded by Wood Street and Fifth, Rayen and Belmont avenues. The city is interested in building a new city courthouse on the site.
Authorized the board of control to sign an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for improvement and resurfacing of Oak Street from Lane Avenue to the Lincoln Park bridge and McCartney Road from the Lincoln Park bridge to Youngstown-Coitsville Road. The city's share of the project will be $18,734.
Authorized the board of control to sign a contract to use an $80,000 Mahoning County Recycling Division grant to dispose of tires stored at the street department.
Appropriated $11,022 to prepay SBC Ameritech for a high-speed data line from city hall to the Mahoning County Task Force and city vice squad office at 2801 Market Street. Federal funds will pay for the line.
Authorized the board of control to do studies to determine whether traffic lights should be installed at Commerce and Walnut streets and at Market Street and Avondale Avenue.
Authorized installing a yield sign at Lansdowne Boulevard and Applegate Road.
Authorized the board of control to pay $48,613 for a new water department backhoe to be bought from Akron Tractor & amp; Equipment Inc. The list price is $76,975, but the city is getting a $23,862 discount through the state purchasing program and getting trade in credit amounting to $4,500.