The Board of Directors of the Augusta Sports Council (ASC) wishes to express its support in favor of SPLOST VIII on the sales tax referendum scheduled for March 16, 2021.
 
The ASC takes great interest in the development and on-going improvement of our city's athletic and recreational facilities, as many are utilized for our signature and supported events. SPLOST VIII projects include enhancements to Fleming and Newman Tennis Centers, Julian Smith Casino, and Diamond Lakes Regional Park, as well as development of a new state of the art James Brown Arena to replace our older outdated arena.
 
Improved recreational facilities and a new arena not only enhance the quality of life for residents but are also utilized to recruit and attract sports organizations and their events to our city. Competitors and visitors at these events have made an estimated economic impact in the hundreds of millions of dollars since the Sports Council’s inception 30 years ago, greatly contributing to our local economy and reducing our individual tax burden.
 
Past SPLOST projects have included improvements to Augusta Common, used by the Augusta University Half Marathon, 10K & 5K, multiple USA Cycling National Championships, and IRONMAN® 70.3 Augusta. The Boathouse has hosted many national and international rowing and power boat championships, while venues such as the Augusta Aquatics Center, Augusta Soccer Park, Diamond Lakes Regional Park, Lake Olmstead Park, and the Newman & Fleming Tennis Centers have hosted hundreds of different ASC supported events over the years.
 
The SPLOST VIII package will contribute $65M to quality-of-life projects managed by the Augusta-Richmond County Parks & Recreation Department and the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority. The improvement of these facilities will increase and enhance the Augusta Sports Council’s ability to recruit and host sporting events. For these reasons the ASC Board of Directors supports SPLOST VIII and encourages all Augustans to get out on March 16^th to vote on this important referendum.
 
To view the full SPLOST VIII package:  https://www.augustaga.gov/2731/SPLOST-8