Southside, Ark. — The Southside School District will celebrate the opening of its new arena with a daylong event on Saturday, Nov. 7, featuring games, community activities, and a dedication ceremony honoring the legacy of Southside basketball. The event will take place at Southside Arena, a centerpiece of a recent campus expansion.
The Blue and Gold Basketball Showcase will kick off the festivities at 2 p.m., spotlighting the district's basketball program from youth participants to varsity players. Fans will get an early preview of the Southerners’ squads for the coming season. The dedication ceremony, scheduled for 5 p.m., will honor past Southside basketball coaches and superintendents for their contributions to the program and the district. Games will resume following the ceremony.
Admission to the event is $5 per person. Shirley’s Kitchen, the arena’s concession stand, will be open throughout the day, and a pie auction will raise funds for Southerners basketball.
Superintendent Dion Stevens emphasized the importance of the occasion, citing the community’s investment in the 2021 millage initiative that funded the arena and other district upgrades. "The Southside community made a significant investment in our schools, our students, and their future through the 2021 millage,” Stevens said. “This arena is one part of that investment, providing a place for our student-athletes to compete and our community to come together. We look forward to celebrating this milestone with the families, alumni, and leaders who have helped shape Southside basketball."
The 146,000-square-foot addition, which includes the new arena, connects to the district’s junior and senior high school buildings. It also houses new classrooms, advanced science and technology labs, a fine arts suite, expanded cafeteria spaces, and upgraded athletic facilities, as well as additional safe rooms to enhance campus security. Construction on the project began in August 2023.
Athletic Director George Sitkowski shared similar excitement for the event and the new facility. "Southside basketball has a proud history, and this arena gives our student-athletes a home worthy of it," Sitkowski said. "We’re excited to open the season with Next Gen players through our varsity teams and to honor the coaches who built this tradition."
The district encourages attendees to arrive early, enjoy the festivities, and join in celebrating the proud tradition of Southside athletics and the new facility that promises to support the program’s future.
**If You Go:** - **What:** Southside Arena Dedication and Blue and Gold Basketball Showcase - **When:** Saturday, Nov. 7 - **Where:** Southside Arena, Southside School District - **Admission:** $5 per person - **Schedule:** - 2 p.m.: Blue and Gold Basketball Showcase (Next Gen, junior high, varsity) - 5 p.m.: Arena dedication ceremony; showcase resumes afterward - **Food and Activities:** Shirley’s Kitchen concession stand and fundraiser pie auction