New IUP Arena, Hotel, & Convention Center

[moxham123]

Ground Broken For IUP Arena, Hotel, & Convention Center

A brand new $60 million 5,000 seat arena hotel, and convention center. The co-founder of You Tube (a former IUP student) put up $1 million of the money along with some other people and the university and state of PA.

INDIANA (KDKA) Indiana University of Pennsylvania broke ground today on a major development project that's expected to benefit the entire region.

The Kovalchick Convention Center and Athletic Complex will be a state of the art center built on Wayne Avenue near IUP. It will include conference facilities, a 5,000-seat arena and a new hotel.

"This is a very historic occasion," said Dr. Tony Atwater, president of IUP. "It will spur a renaissance for the entire Indiana Region. I'm so proud of KCAC being launched and what it will mean for the citizens of western Pennsylvania."

The center is named for the Kovalchick Family. Indiana businessman Joe Kovalchick donated $2 million as well as family land to help make the project happen.

"It's very pleasurable to see it and I'm very honored," said Joe Kovalchick. "I'm glad to be a part of it and glad I can memorialize my family's name on the building. Everything looks good to me."

Also at today's ground breaking was YouTube creator and IUP alumnus Chad Hurley. Hurley announced he would be donating $1 million to name the 5,000-seat arena at the complex after IUP Track and Field Coach Ed Fry. Fry recruited Hurley out of high school and coached him at IUP.

"I'm not only happy for IUP and the university, but also for the community," said Hurley. "I'm also happy I could honor Ed Fry like this. He's given over 40 years of his life to the university. I think it's only fitting in his final year to name the arena after him."

Fry expressed his happiness that Hurley went on to find success with YouTube and is now using that success to give back to his alma mater.

"I'm very proud," said Fry. "I was always proud of him. He tried as hard as he could when he was here."

Fry recalled a day when Hurley told him he was going to be successful someday.

"Before he left he said, 'You'll see, I'm gonna do something.' And I guess he did," said Hurley.

The Kovalchick Center is expected to be complete in 2011. It's projected to bring more than $12 million dollars a year to the local economy.

[Banned]

Hey, maybe we will start getting another venue for concerts around here.

I recommend The Allman Brothers Band and Gov't Mule.

[JayBird]

They already said that it would be a spot for big national acts to play. IUP has totally changed since I graduated in 1998. The university is beautiful...actually amazing now. The new dorms are speechless. Big bucks are being dumped into all sorts of renovations.

On a side note...Gov't Mule just played in Pittsburgh or will be playing this weekend.

[RFBuck]

I'm actually glad to see this being built. Not just for the draw of some major acts - which will save a trip to Pittsburgh or State College - but mostly for the fact that it gets rid of the major junk eye sore that's been there since...God...before I was born. And it will generate revenue for the university and city...besides the school, this town needs all the help it can get.

Fisher Auditorium is close to if not done with its renovations. I can't wait to see that - I saw The Clarks there at one of the last performances in the old auditorium and it was by far one of the best Clarks shows I've ever heard as far as acoustics goes. I thought the Palace Theater in Greensburg was the top but Fisher had it beat.

[ToonaRockGuy]

Hey, maybe we will start getting another venue for concerts around here.

I recommend The Allman Brothers Band and Gov't Mule.

But they're liberal.

[whitedevilone]

Hey, maybe we will start getting another venue for concerts around here.

I recommend The Allman Brothers Band and Gov't Mule.

But they're liberal.

They're southern democrats who don't know any better But they're frickin awsome anyway,