Still under construction, the soon-to-be Relyance Bank Arena was open to the public Thursday.
State Reps. Mike Holcomb and Glenn Barnes, both of Pine Bluff, joined Watson Chapel School District, Relyance Bank, architecture and construction officials for Relyance’s ceremonial gift of $500,000 to the district for naming rights to the gymnatorium – a combined competition gymnasium to seat 1,800 and auditorium. The district authorized a contract with Relyance to name the facility following a special board meeting Aug. 29.
“This is a symbol of destiny,” WCSD Superintendent Keith McGee said. “This is destiny that Relyance Bank has chosen to sow into the future of our scholars. They are helping to ensure that all of our scholars have access to a state-of-the-art facility where they can learn (and) they can learn, but more importantly they can prepare for their future.”
Holcomb said Relyance made a statement of commitment and belief in the future with the donation.
“By supporting this arena, we hope to give students a place to grow, compete and achieve their goals while also creating a gathering space that will bring families in the entire community together,” said Scott Pittillo, Relyance Bank President. “For decades Relyance Bank has been privileged to serve the Watson Chapel community. Our relationship with this district is built on trust, partnership and a shared commitment to excellence. We are excited to continue that tradition with this project.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Relyance Bank Arena is located on the Sulphur Springs Road side of the new high school campus, scheduled for substantial completion March 25, 2026. The present high school will be converted into a junior high school, which will house grades 6-8, and already includes an auditorium next to Leslie Henderson Gymnasium.
Steve Elliott of Lewis Architects Engineers explained both the home and visitor sides of the gymnatorium will seat 750, with chairbacks to be installed in most of the home seats. The other 300 seats will be folded in and out from the stage area.
The upper deck of the facility will include a family and consumer science room.
Pine Bluff Mayor Vivian Flowers remarked on what she called an investment into the city’s youths and reflected on a retreat she and her staff participated in Batesville recently. She used Batesville’s ability to invest in itself as a town of about 11,000 people – not quite a third of Pine Bluff’s population.
“You know what their secret sauce is? Unity,” Flowers said. “Everybody doesn’t like each other. Everybody doesn’t agree in Batesville. But despite that? They have come together over the years. Their business community, their chamber, their municipal government, and their county government to work with their state delegation and everybody else to set a vision and make the investment.”
Flowers also pushed for private investment and other acts of philanthropy, the “secret sauce” of which has allowed Springdale to grow, she said.
“This today is an example of not only youth investment, not only of us coming together but of private investment, the business community saying Pine Bluff is worth investing in,” Flowers said. “Our young people are worth investing in.”
The city of Pine Bluff will see two new high schools complete construction by the start of the 2026-27 school year. The Pine Bluff School District announced a topping-on ceremony for its new high school campus at 711 W. 11th Ave. is scheduled for 10 a.m. Oct. 3.
