Casino-funded arena set for August opening

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Thursday, Jan. 20, 2000 | 11:34 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TUNICA, Miss. -- A new $20 million arena, paid for almost entirely by casino dollars, is set to open in August.

The Paul Battle Jr. Arena & Exposition Center, owned by Tunica County, is already completely paid for, Tunica County Administrator Ken Murphree told the Commercial Appeal newspaper in Memphis, Tenn. The project has been in the works about two years.

The arena was built to host events larger than local casinos could host. Local residents had also pushed for an arena that could hold equestrian events, such as horse shows and rodeos.

The 100,000-square-foot arena will be able to seat up to 8,000. Its first event is Farm Progress' 2000 MidSouth Ag Expo, slated for Aug. 22-24.