The Jackson, Miss. architectural firm the city of Monroe hired in 2017 for $800,00 to examine the feasibility of building a new arena to replace the aging Civic Center failed to produce its findings until pressured by Mayor Friday Ellis in recent months.
In the years before he left office, Mayor Jamie Mayo promoted the construction of a $109-million arena and conference center in downtown Monroe. Mayo never revealed how the city would raise the millions of dollars needed to build a new arena. He also dismissed any possibility of renovating the Monroe Civic Center.
After defeating Mayo in the mayoral election in July, Ellis nixed Mayoâs plans to build a new arena and suggested upgrading the Civic Center complex. He sought a resolution to the cityâs existing agreement with M3A Architecture of Jackson at that time.