ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – It is one of the most diverse venues for events in the Southwest, but one thing it’s been lacking is comfortable seating. Now, a big change is coming and it’s happening fast.
“We’re just really excited for Monday to come and actually get this baby off the ground,” said Dan Mourning, general manager for Expo New Mexico.
Over the decades, Tingley Coliseum has been a staple for Albuquerque. From hosting graduations to monster trucks to concerts, it’s seen almost everything. However, as the acts change, one thing has stayed the same: the small seats in a cramped space.
“Back in the day when they put these seats in, people were a lot skinnier, so they’re a little bit narrow in some of those seats.”
That’s about to change.
“These will be more comfortable, better for the entertainment experience.”
Starting Monday, it’s out with the old and in with the new. Expo New Mexico is replacing all of the seats in the coliseum including the benches.
The new wider seats will be eliminating around 800 seats but Expo said they will still be able to seat their usual 9000 because of the extended use of their floor seating. Other maintenance and upgrades will be coming to the coliseum as well.
“We’re going to update the concourses, update lighting, HVAC [system], so it’s kind of, you know, just to spruce them up.”
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Expo New Mexico said they hope to have this seating project done by February.
“You know, the folks that come out to Tingley, the state fair, and any event out here are just going to love what we have coming out for them. It’s going to be a lot better experience.”
Overall the entire renovation will cost around $2 million, with funding provided from state capital funding.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
