Gwinnett County residents could soon enjoy upgraded concerts, shows and events at a revamped Gas South Arena, thanks to a major county investment aimed at keeping the venue competitive. This overhaul promises better security, tech and parking.
🏗️ Project Breakdown: County commissioners greenlit a partnership with the Gwinnett Convention and Visitors Bureau to fund $170 to 176 million in upgrades, including enhanced security, a transformed lobby, premium seating and a new parking deck. Funding mixes reserve cash and bonds to modernize the 20-year-old spot without hiking taxes.
📈 Economic Boost: The arena has already pumped over $1 billion into the local economy through taxes, jobs and events, according to bureau leaders. Upgrades aim to draw even more high-profile acts, strengthening Gwinnett’s spot as a metro Atlanta entertainment hub.
🔍 Quick History: Opened two decades ago, the Gas South District includes a 13,000-seat arena, theater, convention center and a new Westin hotel, hosting everything from concerts to conferences that enrich cultural life.
The Sources: Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners; Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson; District 1 Commissioner Kirkland Carden; Gwinnett Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO Stan Hall.
How to Read and Understand the News
Truth doesn’t bend because we dislike it.
Facts don’t vanish when they make us uncomfortable.
Events happen whether we accept them or not.
Good reporting challenges us. The press isn’t choosing sides — it’s relaying what official, verified sources say. Blaming reporters for bad news is like blaming a thermometer for a fever.
Americans have a history of misunderstanding simple things. In the 1980s, A&W rolled out a 1/3-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder. It failed because too many people thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If we can botch basic math, we can certainly misread the news.
Before dismissing a story, ask yourself:
- What evidence backs this?
- Am I reacting to facts or feelings?
- What would change my mind?
- Am I just shooting the messenger?
And one more: Am I assuming bias just because I don’t like the story?
Smart news consumers seek truth, not comfort.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
