Committee hears update: SNHU Arena Phase 1 about 41% complete, video wall delayed

The Committee on Baseball and Civic Center of the Manchester Board Mayor & Aldermen heard an update on phase 1 of capital improvements at SNHU Arena Tuesday, where presenter Tim Becker said the project is about 41% complete and that $1.4 million of the $3,646,000 bond has been spent to date.

Becker told the committee the remaining balance is “just over 2,000,000,” and that “a large portion of that, in excess of 1,000,000 is attributable to the video board.” He said the video components are delayed by overseas shipping and expected “sometime in June,” adding the shipment faces possible tariff exposure because the components are coming from China.

The update matters because the improvements are intended to support a heavier event schedule and new capabilities at the arena, from enhanced commencements for local schools to larger touring concerts and national broadcasts. Becker said the upgrades should “give us so much more flexibility” for event staging and began to list completed and pending work.

Becker reported the project comprises 27 line items. Completed work includes roof refurbishment (100% done), eight suite renovations, and a new functioning kitchen. He said the project has realized several cost savings: a skid steer came in under budget with a reported $23,728 savings; portable concession stands came in under a $41,000 allocation; two-way radios budgeted at $150,000 arrived at $129,923; and a walk-in freezer budgeted at $114,620 installed for $104,000.

Ongoing or scheduled items Becker identified include air-handler refurbishments (about 33% complete), concrete repairs and parking lot work planned for spring, ice-plant repairs at roughly 66% complete, and chillers and refrigeration leak detectors slated for later in the summer. He said boiler-controls work was canceled after projected energy savings fell from roughly 10% to about 5%, which did not justify the $111,000 expense.

Becker also described nontechnical items: the AV control room materials have been ordered and much of the marquee and cabling are on site, but the central video wall remains delayed. On security, some new cameras were purchased, fiber is being pulled, and a security gate replacement is in place; he estimated about 30% completion of the security system work.

Alderman Vincent praised the savings, saying, “There's a lot of savings that you made. So great job on that.” He asked whether any projects were running over budget; Becker identified the video wall as the only major remaining budget risk, noting contingency in the bond and that tariffs “haven't hit us yet.” Vincent also asked whether spring paving would affect event dates; Becker said paving would be scheduled around events and “We won't let anything... that's our lifeblood.”

Alderman Oswald asked about bull-riding events that had prompted constituent calls; Becker replied that those events typically sell out and are nationally televised, and said the arena has handled prior unexpected production issues by relying on experienced staff.

The committee was told promoters are aware of the improvements and that the upgrades are already helping to attract and stage national acts; Becker listed recently announced or upcoming shows and said this year is shaping up to be financially strong for the arena.

Members asked for updated documentation; Becker said an official spreadsheet is held in the Department of Public Works and offered to share a simplified version of the update. The committee indicated it expects another update in a few months.

Votes at a glance

Motion to adjourn — Moved by Alderman Vincent; second by Alderman Fajardo. Recorded response: “All in favor.” No roll-call tally was provided in the transcript; the chair declared the motion carried.