FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners met Wednesday to vote on advancing a potential massive entertainment hub that would be centered in the north metro.
During the meeting, the board of commissioners voted 4-1 to move forward on the progress of "The Gathering" -- a more than $1 billion complex that would include housing, shops, office buildings and an arena space with over 18,000 seats in south Forsyth County.
The only contingency to the completion of the project, as discussed in Wednesday's meeting, is the return of a National Hockey League team to Georgia that would make the arena at the massive proposed development their new home.
11Alive confirmed Wednesday that Forsyth County officials visited the NHL headquarters in New York, where they toured UBS Arena -- an arena constructed in 2021 that is home to the New York Islanders.
If the NHL approves a team to return to Georgia, Forsyth County would offer $350 million toward the arena and an additional $40 million toward a single-arena parking deck, according to details in the new vote passed Wednesday.
The proposal also estimated there would be approximately 178 events at "The Gathering," which includes 41 home games -- an effort by developers to convince county commissioners the world-class entertainment district would include more than just hockey games.
The new ownership group for the potential NHL team would be Krause Sports and Entertainment.
“We believe this strategic partnership between Forsyth County and Krause Sports and Entertainment will redefine the landscape of entertainment and sports in the region," Forsyth County Manager David McKee said. "The Gathering at South Forsyth is poised to become the cultural and economic epicenter, offering a range of entertainment options for our residents and visitors alike."
Other details discussed in the proposal include:
- The NHL team must remain in the area until the debt is retired.
- There would be 1,800 multi-family homes -- the sale of these homes would help pay for the franchise, which would cost more than $1 billion.
- In order for the new complex to be approved, they must raise the hotel-motel excise tax by 5-8% -- for which the state must give a go-ahead followed by county approval.
The NHL has provided no guarantees for a new team as of now, per the proposal.
"I could not be more thrilled to take this giant step forward to bring this vision and dream to life for this community,” CEO of Krause Sports and Entertainment Vernon Krause said. “Marie and I and our family, along with our team, are committed to creating a gathering place that will cater to diverse interests and provide an unparalleled world-class experience for all. The prospect of bringing the National Hockey League back to Georgia adds another layer of excitement to this venture, and we are eager to pursue that potential."
You can take a look at the renderings of "The Gathering" below:
