Officials in Polk County are proposing a new 16,000-seat arena in Des Moines that would replace Veteran’s Auditorium, but ISU officials say they aren’t yet concerned about the possible competition the new facility could give the Iowa State Center.

“It really isn’t going to affect us that much,” said Murray Blackwelder, vice president for External Affairs.

Blackwelder said he did not think Hilton Coliseum would lose business if Des Moines were to build the new arena, and he noted Hilton has “a base of 26,000 students that are in walking distance.”

“This isn’t anything that’s going to upset us one way or the other,” he said.

Mark Miller, director of contemporary programming at the Iowa State Center, said he would wait to see how the situation unfolds before deciding on how a new venue in Des Moines would affect booking at Hilton.

“I’m waiting to see exactly what they’re going to do,” Miller said, noting that the plan for the arena has not yet been approved. “They’ve tried this before, and it’s failed a couple of times.”

Miller said a new arena in a neighboring city “could be beneficial to both parties.”

Having more competition in one market area could bring in more shows, and Hilton could draw the same number of shows it does now, Miller said.

“You’re getting more shows in the market. It could help both of us out,” he said.

Blackwelder said Hilton officials have plans of their own for the future.

Last spring, voters in Ames rejected a proposed hotel tax that would fund additional seating and other renovations for Hilton.

However, Blackwelder said Iowa State Center officials are moving on with plans for renovations that would bring the arena into compliance with fire safety laws and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“We’re trying to make the building more consumer-friendly, and we hope to unveil the plans for that in the very near future,” he said.

Blackwelder said he wishes Des Moines officials well if the plan to build the new arena is approved, saying Hilton Coliseum would continue to serve Iowa State and Ames one way or the other.

“We have a mission to provide sporting events and cultural events to Ames and the students around here,” he said, “and I think we can do that even with a 16,000-seat arena 40 miles down the road.”