ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The familiar sight of the red and white dome across from Lambeau Field, known as the Brown County Arena, will soon be gone to make room for the new Brown County Expo Center, a modern, larger building taking its place.
Bret Michaels concert Saturday was the final event for the Brown County Arena and this weekend’s pet expo will be the final event for Shopko Hall.
So, what does that means for all of the usual events held in those spaces?
“We will essentially lose the arena and Shopko hall for about a year and a half that space,” said PMI communications manager, Terry Charles. PMI is the company that manages the events inside the buildings.
Charles tells FOX 11 between the two venues, they’re home to dozens of events every year.
“We knew there would be some growing pains.”
Charles says temporarily most of the events are being accommodated at other spaces. Some will have to take a year off.
“We’re looking at other options, so we know our winter wedding show we’re going to hold in the Lambeau Field Atrium, our boat show will be going to the KI convention center, our RV and camping show will be in the Resch center.”
The Einstein Expo is another large event hosted by the Einstein Project to promote STEM education.
“It’s typically always held at the Brown County Arena Shopko Hall area because that’s the only place big enough,” said Autumn Rockhill, event coordinator for the Einstein Project.
Rockhill tells FOX 11 the event is usually the first Saturday in February.
“For 2020 it’s being moved to the KI center and it will be about a month later, just due to the dates they had available.”.
“It’s been a challenge for us over the last year to plan for the future,” said Charles.
He says events for the new Brown County Expo Center can’t be scheduled yet. It’s too early to tell if it will be finished by the expected January 1, 2021 date.
Demolition started Monday on the old ‘Hall of Fame’ building.
The Brown County Arena is expected to be torn down on May 1st.
