See updated plans for $300M arena, which are up for approval by city of Kalamazoo

KALAMAZOO, MI -- New plans give a clearer picture of what the new Kalamazoo Event Center could look like.

Catalyst Development Co. is planning a $300 million arena, spanning four city blocks in downtown Kalamazoo on the southeast corner of North Westnedge Avenue and West Kalamazoo Avenue.

A site plan review by the city for the 426,000-square-foot arena is set for Wednesday, Oct. 23, documents say. The work also includes 448,000 square feet of parking deck, bringing total square footage to nearly 1 million.

Citizens are invited to review the plans. People can send feedback to the city before the site plan review, in which city staff will examine the plans and either approve them or ask the developer to go back and make changes.

Site plans get very granular, showing specifics on everything from the grading of land to watersheds to the placement of utilities.

The new downtown arena is envisioned as the future home for Western Michigan University hockey, men’s basketball and women’s basketball, K Wings hockey, as well as a place for concerts and other events.

Kalamazoo arena plans — An overhead plan shows spaces for the arena, a practice area, parking decks and other features. A review of the plan is set for Oct. 23, 2024.(Courtesy | City of Kalamazoo site plan review)

Capping the creek, increased parking

The plans show some changes when compared to the original renderings released by developers in March 2023.

Two blocks of Arcadia Creek that are currently visible from above will be covered by a path and landscaping, except for one section that will remain open to the creek below, plans show.

The original plans included a section labeled “housing” in the southwest corner of the four-block space, though developers did not provide further details at that time. That piece wasn’t included on future renderings and is not included in the development’s site plan.

The latest plan shows a nine-story parking deck in place of where housing was originally proposed. City of Kalamazoo Communications Manager Mike Smith confirmed there is no housing included in the arena plan.

The proposed arena now takes up the entirety of the four blocks, with a nine-story parking deck on the south end of the development along Water Street.

The arena will have 29 double doors and 19 single doors in 30 locations, plans show. It will also feature a large Western Michigan University Bronco logo, shown as the classic horse head design in the site plans.

Bill Johnston, chairman of Greenleaf Companies and Catalyst Development — the company building the arena — spoke about the project when plans were first announced in early 2023. In January, Johnston said the hope is to break ground this November, and it could take up to four years to build, which would put the completion date in 2028.

Johnston graduated from WMU with a bachelor’s degree in 1970 and a master’s degree in 1974. He is married to billionaire Stryker Corp. heir Ronda Stryker.

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