A dream that hasnt come true Why prior plans to build a downtown Kalamazoo arena flopped

KALAMAZOO, MI — The estimated cost of an arena project in Kalamazoo has increased by about $219 million compared to a version put forward 13 years ago. The estimated $300 million price tag of the currently proposed downtown arena is more than triple the $81 million officials estimated an arena project would cost in 2010. Although plans for the downtown space have been tossed around for decades. The effort has progressed in fits and starts over the years. Each time the ball was picked up by a new group to restart the effort, it came with some changes in strategy.…