Augusta, GA

Excitement builds downtown for Bell Auditorium reopening

Published

2 years ago

April 27, 2024

Excitement builds downtown for Bell Auditorium reopening

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – On May 28, the newly renovated Bell Auditorium will be unveiled, with the project now in the home stretch.

As the Bell reopens for its first show on May 31, the James Brown Arena nearby will soon close for construction when the groundbreaking for a new arena takes place in early June.

With the arena closing, it may seem like entertainment crowds heading to downtown may slow down, but Brad Usry, co-chair of the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority, says otherwise.

“I think the economic boom is going to start with the construction, and on the other side with the Bell, we have promoters wanting to come in this building and we’ve got some shows from the horizon that we haven’t announced yet,” he said. “I think the city is going to be really excited about it.”

Sports Center Bar and Grill is only a half-mile away from the James Brown Arena and Bell Auditorium. They see the construction crews coming to town as a good thing.

“I think that the construction workers will be the first I guess, boom, you know. The great thing is, all it takes is one guy,” said Sawyer Whatley, a Sports Center employee. “One guy, he’s gonna come here for lunch, and tell the guys when he goes back like, ‘Hey, man, you want a burger. I got just a spot.’”

The authority oversees the Bell as well as the James Brown Arena next door, which will be replaced with a new arena funded by a sales tax that just took effect a few days ago.

This is what The Lenox will look like once it's built.

The Bell reopens just as city leaders are discussing establishing a downtown entertainment district, which some people think will be just the extra lift the whole effort needs.

Toast of Augusta says the opening of the Bell will bring people in the doors.

“As long as the attractions are there and they are looking like they’re supposed to bring their people down here. Yeah, absolutely. It’d be beneficial for all business owners downtown. If it’s not any traffic traffic is on there or they’re not doing anything with it. Of course, it’s not a benefit to any type of business. But as long as they’re booking and doing what they’re supposed to to keep the business going for themselves it’ll overflow to us downtown people,” said Dominick Cartrell, owner of Toast of Augusta.

It’s adding more to downtown and bringing in more to the area.

“Between Augusta University, the Cyber Center, and all the residential going up, it’s time for us to kind of up our game in downtown Augusta,” Augusta Commission member Sean Franton said last week.

Cartrell said some items need to be addressed before the business boom takes full effect.

“People want to be secure where they go, and that’s one that’s number one. Parking number two and number three, I think they will be very beneficial for being down here. I don’t see a problem with it at all. I think it’s gonna be a massive overflow, especially in the James Brown arena starts,” said Cartrell.

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Augusta, GA

Local group holds 4th annual walk against autism

Published

8 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Local group holds 4th annual walk against autism

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – April is Autism Awareness Month, and one local group raised awareness with a walk in Augusta on Sunday.

The fourth annual autism walk was hosted by Moving Over Mountains Against autism at Lake Olmstead Park.

All proceeds from the walk support autism awareness initiatives.

We spoke with the CEO and founder of the group, Deidre Roberson, who said this year they are dedicating the walk to their photographer, who died recently.

Roberson told us what she looks forward to the most.

“I look most forward to seeing the different people every year. We always meet different people, new people, and they come from all over the CSRA, so Washington, Wilkes, Carolina,” she said.

There were also several vendors providing resources to families.

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Augusta, GA

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

Published

20 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- Augusta University baseball is in a three-game series matchup against the University of North Georgia.

AU is currently down in the series 0-2 after a close loss Friday and a loss Saturday.

But we aren’t focusing on the Jags, we’re going to take a look at North Georgia’s head coach, Nolan Belcher.

He is an Augusta native who began his career at Greenbrier and Augusta Christian.

He won three state championships, which then led him to play for the South Carolina Gamecocks.

There he won back-to-back national championships and finished runner up in 2012.

His coaching career began after that where he eventually joined the Peach belt Confrence, coaching at USCA and GCSU.

Now in his first season as head coach for the Nighthawks, he is happy to come home and coach in front of his friends and family.

“I’m very fortunate that I got family that, one is still around and they can come watch me do what I love. And, they’ve shown me, nothing but support throughout my whole coaching career and even back on my playing dates are very thankful and appreciative for everything they’ve done for me.”

AU and UNG will have their final series match on Sunday.

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