Renovations to Bon Secours Wellness Arena
- Aaron S. Terry
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Bon Secours Wellness Arena, home of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, will undergo renovations starting soon, with the most visible change being the addition of a 6,000 to 7,000-seat outdoor venue. The outdoor venue is planned to attract 25 to 30 concerts each year, but is also expected to accommodate 25 or more community events each year.
The good news for Swamp Rabbits fans is that the plans also include renovations to the arena itself, including a new Church Street entrance to address pedestrian congestion, as well as traffic safety concerns around I‑385. The new entrance is also expected to improve crowd flow into the venue and enhance the fan arrival experience.
Other enhancements inside the venue include adding additional restrooms, expanding ADA seating, creating better artist amenities, and adding new concession service areas, including a brand‑new kitchen.
The total budget for all these renovations is around $282M, but this amount is phased, meaning some of the planned changes won’t happen until revenue starts coming in from the new outdoor venue. About $162M has already cleared its early approval steps and is currently moving through the full local‑government approval process. Public meetings in and around Greenville have already begun.
The expected bonds include $22M in accommodation‑fee revenue bonds, $40M in general obligation bonds, and $100M in hospitality‑tax revenue bonds, most of which will be repaid over the next 30 years using taxes already in place – no new taxes, but it does mean those dollars will be spent on this project instead of on something else.
While some local residents have questioned the price tag and whether the upgrades are truly needed, officials have continued to point to the expected economic boost and increased tourism the project is supposed to bring.
