As this magazine goes to press, the South Carolina Department of Transportation is about to complete the rerouting of 1,800 feet of University Boulevard, which will now connect with Highway 501 at Coastal's boundary with Horry-Georgetown Technical College. The move gives Coastal a larger lump of acreage fronting 501 to accommodate the proposed 160,000 square-foot arena. With the completion of the road realignment a $1.3 million project funded by the City of Conway with state road money construction can begin on the site in early 2007. The project was also given a major boost late in September 2006 with the announcement that Your Residential Technology Team Inc., or YRT2, a Charlotte-based technology company, signed a letter-of-intent agreement to purchase the official naming rights for the facility. The 10-year, $3.5 million agreement gives YRT2 prominent signage at the facility and in advertising. An official name for the center will be announced at a later date. Plans to build the $48 million arena at Coastal originated in 2004 with the formation of Coastal Carolina Arena LLC, a private development group formed by John Gandy, David DeSpain and others. The project has had to clear a number of legal and financial hurdles in order to proceed. Last year Horry County Council voted to issue a $5 million special source revenue bond to help cover construction costs. The City of Conway passed a resolution to establish a tourism infrastructure district for the arena and will support the project through the collection of an admissions tax. Coastal will be the primary tenant at the facility, which will serve as the home for the CCU men and women's basketball programs and the site for commencement ceremonies and other large university events. The 7,000-seat facility will also host an indoor football team, a minor league hockey squad, concerts and ice shows. In addition to the main arena, the complex will include a conference facility, basketball practice area, athletic department offices and an adjacent ice rink.

Proposed arena interior with basketball court. Arena Fact File $48 million project 230,000 square feet Main Arena 7,000 fixed seats 8,500 concert capacity Two basketball courts Locker room Team training facilities 20 corporate luxury suites 300 club seats 300 found seats VIP Club Suite (exclusive) State-of-the-art sound/video Fixed concessions, points-of-sale 150+ proposed events annually Basketball Practice Facility Two basketball courts Locker rooms Training rooms CCU athletic department offices Separate Ice Rink (Uses: local and regional ice hockey leagues, clinics, public ice skating and professional minor-league hockey tenant practice facility) Regulation size ice sheet Dressing rooms Pro shop Cafeteria-style restaurant Seating for 400+