NORFOLK, Va. — We are looking back into the 13News Now archives.
The year was 1971, when Norfolk’s Scope Arena held its grand opening. More than 10,000 people attended an opening night celebration known as the Spirit of America show.
We also dug up video from a decade later, when city leaders celebrated the arena’s 10-year anniversary with the public.
Today, leaders in Norfolk have a similar goal, but this time it’s for something bigger and better. They’re looking to usher in a new era of entertainment, not just for Norfolk, but for the entire region.
To do that, they’ll need a new arena.
That’s where House Bill 1102 and Senate Bill 787 comes in: both General Assembly bills are aimed at bringing a new arena to the Hampton Roads area.
HB 1102 is a regional approach to funding and constructing an arena, while SB 787 focuses primarily on the City of Norfolk.
Only time will tell if a more modern venue for bigger acts will bring in bigger crowds than the nearly 50-year-old Scope arena.