BluHawk developer Price Brothers wants a new hockey arena to become a regional draw for youth hockey.
"Overland Park did a wonderful job with the soccer program [Overland Park Soccer Complex] and it's our group's goal to do the same with hockey," said Price Brothers president Doug Price.
The plan for the new $75 million arena calls for two to three sheets of ice, and seating for 6,000 people with an additional 1,200 in suite seating.
Price says his company is working with Loretta Sports and the Kansas City Youth Hockey Organization, but they also want a more experienced hockey presence in the form of a U.S. Hockey [Minor] League team.
That puts Bluhawk against neighboring Wyandotte County.
Kansas City, Kansas is wanting the same junior-league team to come there instead, and like Bluhawk, KCK hopes to also secure STAR Bond financing to pay for it.
That financing has met controversy with lawmakers at the capital in Topeka.
The house voted not to override Governor Brownback's veto regarding American Royal STAR bonds in the governor's attempts to lure the derby to Kansas.
Brownback signaled he would be willing to discuss STAR bond reform legislation in the future, leaving open the possibility for changes that would affect both Wyandotte & Johnson county projects like BluHawk.
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Brian Abel can be reached at brian.abel@kshb.com.
