Accenture kicks off Arena District facilitation, will deliver business case and due diligence by December

Accenture representatives opened the Arena District development facilitation at the April 17 Arena District Steering Committee meeting. Trey Weatherly of Accenture summarized the kickoff and framed the facilitator’s role in evaluating the project’s feasibility and helping maximize returns so the community can meet bond repayment obligations.

Weatherly described a decision-making framework in which the committee will review major items — master plans and access designs — before forwarding recommendations to the county commission for final action following a work‑session/agenda/meeting cycle that typically spans 30 to 45 days from submission to final decision. Mayor Kelly Girtz and Ilka McConnell were identified as primary contacts to streamline communications between Accenture and the committee.

Accenture outlined an immediate schedule: a 30‑day business case analysis to review studies such as transportation, parking and hotel analyses; examination of utilities and capacity; market feasibility work by Atlantic Capital Properties; and stakeholder meetings with the Planning Department, the Classic Center team and University of Georgia representatives. The team also plans a site integration workshop around early August. Accenture’s current estimate is to complete the work in about six months, with findings due in early December.

The committee emphasized coordination with local stakeholders and the Planning Department to keep the project grounded in the Athens community. No decisions finalizing projects or funds were recorded at this meeting; Accenture is expected to present due‑diligence findings at the next committee meeting.