UD President: ‘We are not going to build a new arena’

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

The University of Dayton will not build a new arena at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, or anywhere for that matter, the school’s president says.

When the fairgrounds purchase was announced in December, UD officials denied rumors that a new arena would be built on the property and President Eric Spina again knocked down the rumor today in an interview with the Dayton Daily News.

University of Dayton Arena.. TY GREENLEES / STAFF

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“We’re not going to build a new arena,” Spina said. “I mean, if someone gives me half a billion dollars there’s probably a lot of other things we could do with it anyway. So, no, we love our arena.”

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The fairgrounds, which UD bought with partner Premier Health, are too small for a new arena, officials said in December.

UD and Premier still haven't determined what they'll use the land for and Spina said they wouldn't make that decision before they talk to people on and off campus about it more. UD and Premier Health are expected to close on the fairgrounds sale this month but they will not acquire the land until October.

“We’re going to be thoughtful, we’re going to listen carefully and we’re going to do the right thing,” Spina said.

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