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State leaders approve funding to renovate XL Center

The goal is to attract bigger events and add luxury box seats.

Rose Shannon

Aug 8, 2024, 8:54 PM

Updated 192 days ago

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State officials approved funding to improve Hartford's XL Center Thursday.
The state will borrow $118 million to renovate the 45-year-old arena.
The goal is to attract bigger events and add luxury box seats.
The center's managers say the funding is a good investment.
"It is, honestly, between $750 million to $1 billion to build that building today. We're looking at 15% of that," says Michael Freimuth, of Capital Region Development Authority.
Capital will contribute an additional $20 million and also assume all losses.
Renovations are expected to be finished by the summer of 2026.