RICHMOND, Va. — Lawmakers in Richmond are trying to make it easier for Hampton Roads cities to come together to build a new arena for the region.
House Bill 1102 passed by a 59-to-38 vote on Monday. It would create the Hampton Roads Regional Arena Authority, and would grant it certain powers relating to the construction and financing of an arena and facility.
Norfolk is hoping to build a new arena, and a separate bill that would provide financing for it has passed in the Senate.
"Both bills are written with roughly the same language and regardless of how they progress through the General Assembly, even if it's the Norfolk-specific bill, the city is very open to discussing a regional collaboration of the arena," Norfolk City Manager Chip Filer previously told 13News Now.
"If we end up taking a regional approach with the other cities, we would want some input from them as well as about where the location should be."
Old Dominion University recently released the findings for its regional economic forecast, where economists report that all seven cities of Hampton Roads would benefit from collaboration versus individual welfare.
