Hartman Arena Goes Green

Hartman’s new arena
in Park City going green

By Chris Hunter

ARK VALLEY NEWS
Last Updated: August 07, 2008

At a time when concerns of global warming and energy prices are rising, Hartman Arena, which is slated to open near 77th North and I-135 in April 2009, is going green.

“It’s way beyond its time that people started realizing that conserving energy is an important part of how we are going to have to start living our lives,” said arena manager John Nath. “It is the socially responsible thing to do.”

Nath said many factors have played into the decision to go green, including the fact that the seating bowl is going to be 25 feet under ground.

“Number one, we are under ground,” Nath said. “That saves a lot on heating and cooling costs because we are using the earth as insulation.”

Nath said the decision to build the arena under ground has also helped keep energy costs down.

“It’s a balanced site,” Nath said. “All of the earth we had to move and dig out of the hole remains onsite. We did not have to truck it anywhere, saving those fuel costs and not having the trucking emissions, and we did not have to move anything in.”

Besides keeping energy costs down by building under ground, Nath said recycled materials would be used in the building process and would start going up this week.

“The steel is 100 percent recycled,” Nath said. “There is about 60 percent in the insulation, about 40 percent in the seating. The counters we are going to be using for the concession stands and tables are going to be recycled paper. It’s very, very cool the stuff we are doing. Obviously, all of the heating and cooling and ventilation stuff is very high performance and energy saving and we are going to have energy saving water services with the restrooms.”

Nath said plans are in the works for the arena to eventually supply its own power.

“We are actually looking at putting some windmills up and generating our own power,” Nath said. “It will be very, very high tech. Very modern.”

Advertising will also take a modern approach as Hartman Arena will feature an all-digital delivery system. Advertisements will be shown on 50-inch LCD screens.

In an attempt to urge others to go green, Hartman Arena is offering incentives to attendees.

“There is going to be a parking fee per car,” Nath said. “You will get free parking if you drive a hybrid. You will get free parking if you carpool too.”

Nath said that while there are not very many arenas like Hartman, more may start popping up around the country.

“This is a prototype,” Nath said. “This would certainly be applicable to many other markets.”

Hartman will feature seating for 5,000 for sporting events and 7,000 for concerts. Currently the Wichita Wild indoor football team is the only sports team with a contract at the arena. However, Nath said others are welcome. The Wild will be in their fourth season when the arena opens.

“We are obviously open to talk to anybody who wants to play in our facility but the only thing we have for sure is football,” Nath said.

Other events have been scheduled for the new arena, including Valley Center High School’s graduation.

“I have already sent them a contract,” Nath said. “Hopefully, they will be a standard client of ours every year, as well as several others. We have talked to Goddard, two USD 259, Derby. We would love to have all of the schools graduate at our place.”

Even though building the arena has been a challenge, Nath said the staff is enjoying the process.

“We are very excited,” Nath said. “This is the most challenging, most rewarding, the most fun I have had in my 30 years in the business.”