THE IDEA OF CONSTRUCTING A NEW ENTERTAINMENT CENTER FOR JOHNSON CITY IS BEING TOSSED AROUND THESE DAYS BY CITY OFFICIALS. THE CITY IS EXPECTED TO PARTNER WITH A NATIONAL ARENA DESIGNER SOON TO STUDY THE POSSIBILITY. ACCORDING TO CITY MANAGER PETE PETERSON, GLOBAL PROPERTIES RECENTLY CONTACTED THE CITY ABOUT AN IN DEPTH STUDY TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF A NEW MULTI-PURPOSE ARENA. SUCH A FACILITY COULD POTENTIALLY SERVE SEVERAL FUNCTIONS INCLUDING REPLACING FREEDOM HALL CIVIC CENTER, BE HOME TO EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL GAMES, AND MIGHT PROVIDE A PLACE FOR YEAR-ROUND PUBLIC ICE SKATING.