David Bradley, President and CEO of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, emphasizes the significance of the arena’s location.“ Akins Ford Arena will bring new life to the riverfront. We’ve seen this happen in other cities—when you bring water back into the community and make it a focal point, amazing things happen,” Bradley shares. Cramer points out that the original board of The Classic Center could have chosen to build on flat, accessible land by the mall in the ’90s. Instead, they decided to integrate the venue into downtown Athens. “The board knew it was important to build into the heart of the community,” Cramer recalls. “That decision has paid off in ways we couldn’t have imagined. Now, with the arena, we’re continuing that vision—connecting downtown to the river, bringing people together, and creating a space that reflects the unique character of Athens.” 9 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 11 AKINS FORD ARENA, THE CLASSIC CENTER
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