NEW AUSTIN COUNTY ENTERTAINMENT CENTER BEING PLANNED

  

The Bellville City Council unanimously approved a long term lease with the Austin County Fair Board to build a new entertainment center in an area already being used by a baseball field.

The Council unanimously approved the City Administrator Shawn Jackson was authorized to enter into contract negotiation for the deal, and Fair Board President Robert Winkelmann spoke on behalf of the Board on the project.

The Fair board hopes the new facility will provide a better place for concerts during the Fair and Summer Music Fest, as well as other activities.

The baseball field is centrally located, and would give visitors and performers easier access to the venue, and it would be more secure.

The venue would include a stage and two dressing rooms, open air section, covered dance area, and covered beverage area, and be destined to hold 5 to 6,000 people.

The Board had considered building a venue that would hold 8 to 10,000 people, but that was thought to be too excessive.

The hope is that the bigger facility would bring bigger named entertainers, and draw bigger crowd.