Opportunity For all Meridian
Voters can help bring new events to our community, support athletes of all ages and give our economy a boost by creating the Auditorium District of Meridian – with NO impact on local property taxes. Sign the petition to put this important initiative before voters in November.
Complete the form below and someone from the Meridian Chamber of Commerce will bring the petition to you. You can also sign the petition by stopping by the Meridian Chamber of Commerce Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Get it on the Ballot.
We need voters help to create the Auditorium District of Meridian. To put this initiative before the community at least 10% of voters who live within the district’s proposed boundaries must sign the petition.
Do your part to give the local economy a boost, create more opportunities for local athletes and make it possible to host high school graduations and regional events in Meridian.
Get it on the Ballot.
We need voters help to create the Auditorium District of Meridian. To put this initiative before the community at least 10% of voters who live within the district’s proposed boundaries must sign the petition.
Do your part to give the local economy a boost, create more opportunities for local athletes and make it possible to host high school graduations and regional events in Meridian.
Complete the form below and someone from the Meridian Chamber of Commerce will bring the petition to you. You can also sign the petition by stopping by the Meridian Chamber of Commerce Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The BENEFITS
New Opportunities for Athletes
The Auditorium District of Meridian would be a game-changing facility for local athletes. Meridian would be able to host regional tournaments and training camps for a wide variety of sports.
The facility would be designed to host basketball, volleyball and pickleball tournaments, cheer and dance competitions, martial arts events as well as other sports and training opportunities.
Currently, there isn’t a facility in Idaho large enough to accommodate multi-state tournaments. The Auditorium District of Meridian could fulfill unmet needs in our state.
The Auditorium District of Meridian would create the funding mechanism needed to construct and operate an indoor sports complex.
The facility would be designed to host basketball, volleyball and pickleball tournaments, cheer and dance competitions, martial arts events as well as other sports and training opportunities.
Currently, there isn’t a facility in Idaho large enough to accommodate multi-state tournaments. The Auditorium District of Meridian could fulfill unmet needs in our state.
The Auditorium District of Meridian would create the funding mechanism needed to construct and operate an indoor sports complex.
More Events for Meridian
While there are existing venues in Meridian, none of the facilities have the necessary square footage to accommodate the type of events the Auditorium District of Meridian would be able to attract. We have an opportunity to bring new event and entertainment opportunities to our community.
Home and garden shows, wedding expos, RV, boat and outdoor tradeshows, as well as industry-leading conventions could finally be hosted in Meridian.
Large, multi-day events would easily be accommodated at the Auditorium District of Meridian.
The Meridian Chamber of Commerce spent the past two decades studying what type of venue would make the most sense for establishing the Auditorium District of Meridian. Through our research, we’ve already heard from people who would be interested in using our space if it is approved by voters.
Home and garden shows, wedding expos, RV, boat and outdoor tradeshows, as well as industry-leading conventions could finally be hosted in Meridian.
Large, multi-day events would easily be accommodated at the Auditorium District of Meridian.
The Meridian Chamber of Commerce spent the past two decades studying what type of venue would make the most sense for establishing the Auditorium District of Meridian. Through our research, we’ve already heard from people who would be interested in using our space if it is approved by voters.
A Boost to the Local Economy
Studies show the Auditorium District of Meridian would have a positive economic benefit on the community, bringing in additional money from tourists, more hotel stays and creating hundreds of new jobs.
When the facility is operating at full capacity, it is estimated it will generate an additional $25.4 million in economic output annually between direct and indirect spending.
The Auditorium District of Meridian would create an additional 316 full and part-time jobs.
Between the different sports, conventions, tradeshows and events, it is estimated the Auditorium District of Meridian could generate an additional 30,000 hotel night stays each year.
When the facility is operating at full capacity, it is estimated it will generate an additional $25.4 million in economic output annually between direct and indirect spending.
The Auditorium District of Meridian would create an additional 316 full and part-time jobs.
Between the different sports, conventions, tradeshows and events, it is estimated the Auditorium District of Meridian could generate an additional 30,000 hotel night stays each year.
Auditorium District of Meridian Boundaries
The proposed Auditorium District of Meridian would cover approximately 16 square miles, located mainly between Chinden Blvd and I-84 and North Can Ada Road and Eagle Road. If voters create the Auditorium District of Meridian, the multi-purpose, indoor sports and event complex would be built somewhere within these boundaries. An exact location would be determined by the Auditorium District of Meridian’s board members.
The Meridian Auditorium District’s proposed eastern boundary begins I-84 intersects with S. Eagle Road. The boundary line follows N. Eagle Road north where it turns into Highway 55 and continues north to the intersection of N. Eagle Road/Highway 55 and E. Fairview Avenue.
The northern boundary follows E. Fairview Avenue west until it meets S. Locust Grove Road at which point it turns south and continues south on S. Locust Grove past the intersection with Pine Road. Approximately halfway between Pine Road and Franklin Road, the boundary turns west and continues west until meeting N. Black Cat Road. At N. Black Cat Road, the boundary turns north until W. Ustick Road. At the intersection of N. Black Cat Road and W. Ustick Road, the boundary turns west. Prior to the intersection with N. McDermont Road, the boundary turns north, then turns south onto N. McDermont Road. The boundary turns north on N. McDermont Road, but prior to the intersection with N. McMillan Road, the boundary turns southeast following Five Mile Creek to N Fawnridge Way, then turning east on N. Rustic Oak Way and following N. Rustic Oak Way north. Just prior to the intersection of N. Rustic Oak Way and W. Gondola Dr., the boundary continues north, and N. Rustic Oak Way jogs west. The boundary meets up with N. Rustic Oak Way travelling north to the intersection with W. Chinden Boulevard. The boundary turns west on W. Chinden Boulevard/20-26 until it meets N. Can Ada Road.
The western boundary follows N. Can Ada Road south until the intersection of N. Can Ada Road and W. Ustick Road, where the boundary proceeds east on W. Ustick Road until turning south on N. McDermont Road. After following N. McDermott Road south until I-84, the line travels east along I-84 until turning south on S. Ten Mile Road, following S. Ten Mile Road until W. Overland Road.
The southern boundary turns east at W. Overland Road following W. Overland Road until turning east to follow the Ridenbaugh Canal to where it meets S. Linder Road. At S. Linder Road the boundary turns north, following S. Linder Road until turning east on W. Overland Road. At the intersection of W. Overland Road and S. Stoddard Road, the boundary proceeds south on S. Stoddard Road, turning east at the Wal-Mart Super Center until turning south including the parcels adjacent to the West side of Riptide Avenue. The boundary line travels past Elk Run and turns southeast, excluding the parcels adjacent to the East side of S. Ice Bear Way. The boundary line continues to Meridian Road, then turning south on Meridian Road to the intersection with E. Victory Road, the boundary then turns east following Victory Road until Eagle Road. The eastern boundary is Eagle Rd turning north and returning to the starting point at the intersection of Eagle Rd. and Interstate 84, which completes the Auditorium District’s proposed district boundary.
The northern boundary follows E. Fairview Avenue west until it meets S. Locust Grove Road at which point it turns south and continues south on S. Locust Grove past the intersection with Pine Road. Approximately halfway between Pine Road and Franklin Road, the boundary turns west and continues west until meeting N. Black Cat Road. At N. Black Cat Road, the boundary turns north until W. Ustick Road. At the intersection of N. Black Cat Road and W. Ustick Road, the boundary turns west. Prior to the intersection with N. McDermont Road, the boundary turns north, then turns south onto N. McDermont Road. The boundary turns north on N. McDermont Road, but prior to the intersection with N. McMillan Road, the boundary turns southeast following Five Mile Creek to N Fawnridge Way, then turning east on N. Rustic Oak Way and following N. Rustic Oak Way north. Just prior to the intersection of N. Rustic Oak Way and W. Gondola Dr., the boundary continues north, and N. Rustic Oak Way jogs west. The boundary meets up with N. Rustic Oak Way travelling north to the intersection with W. Chinden Boulevard. The boundary turns west on W. Chinden Boulevard/20-26 until it meets N. Can Ada Road.
The western boundary follows N. Can Ada Road south until the intersection of N. Can Ada Road and W. Ustick Road, where the boundary proceeds east on W. Ustick Road until turning south on N. McDermont Road. After following N. McDermott Road south until I-84, the line travels east along I-84 until turning south on S. Ten Mile Road, following S. Ten Mile Road until W. Overland Road.
The southern boundary turns east at W. Overland Road following W. Overland Road until turning east to follow the Ridenbaugh Canal to where it meets S. Linder Road. At S. Linder Road the boundary turns north, following S. Linder Road until turning east on W. Overland Road. At the intersection of W. Overland Road and S. Stoddard Road, the boundary proceeds south on S. Stoddard Road, turning east at the Wal-Mart Super Center until turning south including the parcels adjacent to the West side of Riptide Avenue. The boundary line travels past Elk Run and turns southeast, excluding the parcels adjacent to the East side of S. Ice Bear Way. The boundary line continues to Meridian Road, then turning south on Meridian Road to the intersection with E. Victory Road, the boundary then turns east following Victory Road until Eagle Road. The eastern boundary is Eagle Rd turning north and returning to the starting point at the intersection of Eagle Rd. and Interstate 84, which completes the Auditorium District’s proposed district boundary.
The Dollars-and-Cents of it All.
Tourism dollars will be used to build and operate the Auditorium District of Meridian. Funds will come from adding a 5% nightly fee onto hotel stays within the proposed district’s boundaries.
Meridian property taxes will NOT be used to build or operate the facility. In fact, Idaho laws prevent the Auditorium District of Meridian from levying local property taxes to cover its expenses.
Several other communities throughout Idaho have successfully used auditorium districts to finance community facilities, including the Boise Convention Center, Idaho Falls’ Mountain America Center and Pocatello’s Mountainview Events Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hotel guests and not local taxpayers will pay to build and operate the new facility. The Auditorium District of Meridian will be funded by adding a nightly 5% fee onto hotel stays in Meridian.
To put the decision to create the Auditorium District of Meridian before the community, at least 10% of voters who live within the district’s proposed boundaries must sign a petition.
Studies show the Auditorium District of Meridian would have a positive economic benefit on the community, bringing in additional money from tourists, more hotel stays and creating more than 300 new jobs. When the facility is operating at full capacity, it is estimated it will generate an additional $25.4 million in economic output annually between direct and indirect spending.
The multipurpose event center being envisioned would be large enough host multi-day events like the home and garden expo, tradeshows, conventions and high school graduations, as well as basketball and volleyball tournaments, cheer and dance competitions, and other sports and training opportunities.
An exact location will be determined by the Auditorium District of Meridian’s board members.
The Auditorium District of Meridian was intentionally shaped to capture current and anticipated hotel locations within the city. The Auditorium District of Meridian will be funded by adding a nightly 5% fee onto hotel stays, so it was critical hotels were included within the boundaries.