A new addition to the landscape in Downtown Saginaw is on the way.

Matt Blasy, General Manager of The Dow Event Center, a SMG managed facility announce Thursday at a press conference along with Saginaw County & Great Lakes Bay Region Convention & Visitors Bureau plans are in place to develop an outdoor event venue in the 300 block of Downtown Saginaw, where the Saginaw Center once stood.

The venue, which will include a Pavilion, a main stage and a grassy area, as well as 225 parking spaces (400 block), has been designed to attract a wide range of events and draw people to Downtown Saginaw.

Blasy said "We are extremely excited about this new plan for the old Saginaw Center space.  The ability to attract events to this location will have much more of a positive impact on downtown Saginaw and the Great Lakes Bay Region."

Pavilion will be along Franklin Street facing east. This location will utilizes existing structural columns from the Saginaw Center, allows optimal sightlines and audio capabilities for the Main Stage and allows the potential to utilize adjacent Parking Lot for additional space and concert capacity.

The Pavilion will provide a safe and economical place in the community for people of all ages and scopes from around the region to gather for a wide variety of events. Not only will this benefit the ‘sense of community' feeling in Downtown Saginaw, but it will also contribute to increased economic growth in the area.

While the removal of the Hotel and Saginaw Center is a positive change for the Region, the original plan to add 500 parking spaces will have minimal economic impact, especially for the organizations investing in the demolition of the buildings.  Because the main costs involved in this project are the set-up (construction), the annual operating expenses remain very low, which is an inexpensive and sustainable solution for a community, such as Saginaw, that is looking to promote their area.

Construction will begin in early spring to build the site which includes grass, concrete, irrigation system, and lighting. The goal is to complete Pavilion construction by the fall targeting early fall outdoor events. The objective for the Pavilion and Outdoor Venue will be to create a space that people can meet collectively for various events, performances, festivals, markets, etc. while enhancing the experience in Downtown Saginaw.

Click on the photo to the right for a look at the planned structure.

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