Sports
Macon Mayor Is Pushing For A New Arena
The present building in Macon is 58 years old and outdated
Macon Officials Explore New Arena Proposal
The mayor of Macon, Georgia has signaled support for building a new arena in a city of roughly 157,000 residents. Macon ranks as the fourth-largest city in the state, and local leadership believes updated sports and entertainment infrastructure is necessary to remain competitive.
The push centers on replacing the Macon Coliseum, a 58-year-old facility that currently houses the Macon Mayhem, a minor-league hockey team in the Southern Professional Hockey League. The SPHL operates independently, with no direct affiliation to the National Hockey League. While the Coliseum has served the city for decades, officials describe the building as outdated and no longer meeting modern event standards.
Early Planning, No Price Tag Yet
Mayor Lester Miller and the Bibb County Commission have hired Barton Malow Builders to begin early-stage planning for a potential new arena. The project remains in its exploratory phase.
“So basically over the next several months we’ll get some architectural drawings,” Miller said. “We’ll get some rough figures sometime around January, and by the springtime we’ll have the final numbers to bring before commission to vote on.”
At this stage, there is no official cost estimate, no financing plan, and no proposed site publicly identified. What exists is a concept and a belief that a new building could elevate Macon’s standing in Georgia’s event marketplace.
Staying Competitive in a Crowded Market
Mayor Miller framed the proposal as a necessity rather than a luxury. He pointed to other Georgia cities that have recently invested in new arenas.
“We have to stay ahead of the game,” Miller said. “By game, I mean the competition amongst all the other places in Georgia that people have an opportunity to go to. Savannah has a new arena, Augusta has one, Athens has one. Macon-Bibb County has to stay competitive.”
The argument follows a familiar pattern. Cities fear being bypassed for concerts, conventions, and touring events if their facilities fall behind. A new arena, proponents argue, keeps Macon on the list when promoters plan regional stops.
Tourism Promises and Economic Claims
Miller has emphasized tourism as a primary benefit. He argues that visitors drawn to events would spend money locally, generating revenue that could support public services.
According to the mayor, those dollars would “directly benefit citizens through services, better schools, jobs, and lower taxes.”
That claim raises questions. While arenas can generate activity, minor-league sports historically do not create large numbers of high-paying jobs. Most arena employment consists of part-time, per-event work with limited wages and no long-term security.
The Reality of Minor-League Economics
The Macon Mayhem draw a loyal local audience, but they are not a regional tourism driver. Few fans travel significant distances to attend SPHL games. That reality complicates projections built on visitor spending.
Construction jobs would be temporary. Arena staffing would largely be per diem. The long-term economic return remains uncertain, particularly without a major-league tenant or guaranteed slate of high-profile events.
A Notion, Not a Decision
For now, the Macon arena proposal remains an idea rather than a commitment. No cost, no funding source, and no public vote.
What exists is a familiar civic debate. Build to compete, or risk falling behind. Whether taxpayers will ultimately be asked to fund that ambition remains the unanswered question.
Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191
Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com
2025 Will Not Be Forgotten
They tell us to move on. 2025 is over. Close the book and turn the page. History, however, rarely listens to that advice.
When historians look back decades from now, 2025 will stand out for one uncomfortable reason. Gambling scandals cut across professional and collegiate sports. Major League Baseball, the NCAA, and the NBA all faced serious questions about integrity. The year exposed how deeply betting had embedded itself into sports. It also showed how little resistance existed from those who profit the most.
The games continued. The partnerships continued. The arrests did too.
Major League Baseball Faces a Direct Hit
MLB took one of the hardest blows. Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz became central figures in a federal investigation that shook the league.
In July, MLB placed both pitchers on paid administrative leave while investigators examined suspicious betting activity. In November, federal authorities arrested both players. Prosecutors allege the two began conspiring with sports bettors as early as 2023. According to the indictments, the pitchers shared advance information about specific pitches they planned to throw during games.
Bettors allegedly used that information to place prop bets totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. The trial is scheduled for May 4, 2026. The case marked one of the most serious gambling-related scandals MLB has faced in decades.
NBA Scandals Extend Beyond the Court
The NBA did not escape the storm. Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was placed on indefinite leave after federal authorities launched an investigation into an illegal sports betting operation.
In October, agents arrested Rozier on charges that include conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors allege he played a role in a betting scheme tied to manipulated outcomes.
That same month delivered another shock. FBI agents arrested Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups in connection with a separate illegal gambling investigation. The NBA placed Billups on indefinite leave as the case proceeds. A sitting head coach facing federal charges sent tremors through the league.
College Basketball Pays the Price
At the collegiate level, the consequences were swift and severe. In November, the NCAA suspended multiple players for gambling violations. Six men’s basketball players received permanent bans from competition.
Unlike professional leagues, college athletes do not have unions or guaranteed contracts. Their careers ended instantly. The message was clear. The rules exist. The penalties remain harsh.
Gambling Grows While Oversight Lags
Despite all of this, the business of sports betting never slowed. Team owners maintained partnerships with gambling companies. Sports cable networks continued promoting betting lines and prop wagers during broadcasts.
The contradiction became impossible to ignore. Gambling was labeled a growing problem. At the same time, it remained a primary revenue stream.
2025 exposed the fault line. Integrity matters, but profits matter more. That is the legacy historians will not forget.
Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191
Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com
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