Baton Rouge leaders address public concerns over new LSU arena

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Community leaders are advancing an ambitious billion-dollar plan to transform Baton Rouge into a major entertainment destination, featuring a new LSU arena, a remodeled River Center, and a new hotel.

Representatives from the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and Visit Baton Rouge answered questions from members of the Baton Rouge Press Club Monday.

Jill Kidder, CEO of Visit Baton Rouge, said 40 percent of concert goers in the metro area travel more than five times a year to go to shows that do not come to Baton Rouge. It’s a statistic she is hoping to reverse, highlighting the need for a ‘headquarters hotel’ to support the entertainment infrastructure.

“When you build a place where people want to visit, you build a place where people want to live, work, and invest,”