Fishers, Indiana – Official construction of the Fishers Event Center began on Friday with the help of the Indy Fuel and Fishers local officials.
Several local officials and residents gathered for a sizable groundbreaking event to commemorate the upcoming construction. The multimillion dollar building will eventually house the Indianapolis Fuel.
The new complex, according to Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, will serve as a community hub.
“It’s going to be your facility,” Fadness told the crowd. “It’s going to be our community, and I’m so proud to be here today.”
James Hallett, owner of Indy Fuel, was present during the groundbreaking. He expressed his delight at becoming a part of the city’s explosive development.
“Fishers has been on a really fast track here,” he described. “It was only 10 years ago that Fishers was a town. It’s a city that’s on the move. It’s a city that’s vibrant.”
Many Fishers residents will find the new site to be more convenient, although Hallett acknowledged that other fans will now have to travel a little further. He expressed his confidence that the team’s supporters will continue to give it their full support.
“A number of fans have said when they’re measuring out when they’re coming from the south side, it’s only really five or 10 minutes differences,” he said. “So it’s not really that big of a deal and I think our loyal fans will continue to support the Indy Fuel.”
But, the new complex, according to Mayor Fadness, would include more than just a hockey rink.
“This is really going to be the epicenter of our community, whether it’s a graduation, whether it’s Fishers or HSE playing basketball, a world-class concert, Disney on Ice, you name it,” Fadness described. “Any event could be occurring here. It’s going to be home to our community. It’s going to be home to Fishers residents.”
Local student hockey players think that it will be convenient to have graduation so close to home and are happy to see the sport developing.
“I think it’ll be awesome,” HSE student Kaden Denlow said. “I mean it’s a lot closer for families and for students driving. I think it’ll be a lot easier on everyone and it’ll be nice.”
The complex is a component of the Fishers District’s $550 million expansion plan. Fadness noted that it is evident that he and many other locals are anticipating the increased economic growth that this new facility will bring to the area.
“I just think there’s momentum and energy in this community that’s frankly palpable,” he said. “And it’s fun to be a part of.”
The project is anticipated to be completed by 2024. Idny Fuel will call the fishers event center home for the first time for the 2024-2025 season. The class of 2025 will be the first graduating high school class to celebrate there.