City looks at alternatives to Downtown El Paso arena

EL PASO, Texas – After 10 years of debate, lawsuits and little progress, city leaders are reevaluating how to move forward on the Multipurpose Cultural and Performing Arts center voters approved in 2012.

According to El Paso Matters, the city could abandon plans to build an arena in Downtown El Paso - and instead choose an indoor-outdoor entertainment complex that incorporates elements of the Duranguito neighborhood.

“Our understanding is they want to see those buildings as is. So can we look at other alternative options for those? So we need to look at the possibility. Nothing is saying this is the direction that we’re gonna go, this is just a conversation in terms of how do we get there,” said city spokeswoman Laura Cruz-Acosta.

Cruz-Acosta says the multi-purpose cultural and performing arts center will be built in the downtown area, it's just a matter of where, and whether some historical building can be preserved.