WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Work on Downtown Arena continues as building takes shape

Work on Downtown Arena continues as building takes shape

By Marisela Burgos - bio | email
Posted by Charles Gazaway - email

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - Construction for the Downtown Arena is scheduled to be completed in 340 days and with every passing day, Cardinal fans are one step closer to walking into the building and watching their team take the court.

From the outside, drivers can tell the building is coming together. Wednesday, crews started to put together the steel for the arena roof. It's work that Bill Hedge, an executive with Mortenson Construction, said should be completed by the end of March.

"A lot of work is happening behind the façade of the walls that people don't notice when you drive by," Hedge said.

Hedge showed WAVE 3 the progress they have made. Air conditioning units and plumbing in place and there are some walls on every level of the arena. Outlined by steel bars, the restrooms and concession stands are also starting to take shape as are the staircases and escalators.

The side court where teams will practice has been set aside and locker room for the UofL women's team, along with the training room are coming together. Hedge pointed that crews are already putting in some of the seat bases.

"Like I said, by the end of the month, before Christmas, a short month from now, we will have all the pour strips poured. So you can walk around every floor of the arena and the precast seats will be done," Hedge said.

Underneath the arena, the 700 spot parking garage is only missing the lines. There are lights in place, but they have not been turned on. Hedge said he is proud of the work the crews have done up to this point.

In about two weeks, the glass facing the Ohio River is supposed to be put in place. Already, more than 800,000 hours of manpower has gone into the construction of the Downtown Arena at an estimated cost of $600,000 a day.

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