Hundreds celebrate milestone for Historic Arkansas Riverwalk, PBR.

Most were impressed. Some just curious. Others had their eyes wide open.

The public was introduced to the new digs at the Pueblo Convention Center on Friday during a ribbon-cutting celebration and public tour of the expanded center.

“Oooh! This is a momentous opportunity for Pueblo," Mayor Nick Gradisar said with excitement. "It is really going to help us drive some economic activity. Not just downtown, but the entire city."

Gradisar was joined by hundreds of Puebloans eager to take a peek of the facility's expansion.

“They are going to bring people in from all over the world," he said. "This project is uniquely Pueblo, because Pueblo was found by immigrants that came from all over the world to make steel."

“These guys are going to bring in immigrants from all over the world to learn how to participate in sports.”

Gradisar called it a beautiful facility.

Antwon Burton, who has been named executive director of the new PBR Sport Performance Center, was on hand to showcase the facility.

Burton, a former defensive tackle for the Denver Broncos, moved to Pueblo about nine years ago and since has operated his own gym, Next Level Performance.

Tony Garcia, co-owner of Brues Alehouse, said he is excited for the project.

His business sits adjacent to the convention center along the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo.

“I think it’s like the next evolution for Pueblo’s downtown," Garcia said. "I am excited to see how they can integrate the community as well as people coming into our town – newcomers."

Garcia, who spoke with The Pueblo Chieftain before the event, said he is mostly excited about foot traffic.

Any convention or anything big that brings people out from outside of Pueblo will help all of us,” Garcia said.

In addition to the training center, the additions include a large exhibit hall, a 449-space parking garage and the Pueblo Welcome Center/PBR Fan Zone. Another project, the Gateway Plaza outdoor activities area, is under construction, with the work expected to be finished by the fall.

Other grand opening activities include dance, wrestling and volleyball exhibitions at the exhibit hall, a classic car show, music and refreshments.

Several current and past PBR stars are expected to attend. The PBR Championship Trophy and PBR Global Cup Trophy will be on display.

The training center aims to be an incubator for future bull riders, other western sports athletes and amateur and professional athletes across a range of sports who would participate in extensive fitness, nutrition, training and recovery programs using advanced equipment and technology.

Utilizing the new exhibit hall and other parts of the convention center, camps would be held for athletes ranging from youth in club sports to professionals.

Jerry Pacheco, executive director of the Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority, said the Pueblo Regional Tourism Act Project was a long time coming.

“We started working on this project in 2009,” Pacheco said. “Pueblo again has been put back on the map. This has been a design build project. We built it as fast as we could."

Local children's sports organizations demonstrated how the facilities can be utilized. Cheerleaders flipped, volleyball players spiked and martial arts students grappled.

“This is wonderful,” Pacheco said.

amestas@chieftain.com

Twitter: @mestas3517