Simmons Bank Arena board presents clean 2025 audit, highlights upgrades and busy event calendar

Beverly Valines, representing the Multipurpose Civic Center Facilities Board, presented the Simmons Bank Arena’s 2025 audit to the Pulaski County Quorum Court on April 28 and said the independent audit firm (Forrest Mazars) issued an unqualified (clean) opinion on the facility’s financial statements.

Valines told the court the arena hosted more than 35 events during 2025, citing artists including Rascal Flatts, Tyler Childers, Nelly, Maroon 5 and the Jonas Brothers, and that the venue handled a heavy March with roughly 15 shows and nearly 100,000 guests in that month alone. She said the board increased capital reserves while maintaining and updating the facility to industry standards.

Among capital work reported, Valines said the arena installed a new outdoor marquee adjacent to Interstate 30, completed a full-scale landscaping refresh that began in 2024, and made upgrades to HVAC and energy-management systems. She thanked the county’s leadership for support and offered to answer questions about the independent auditors’ report.

Court members and at least one resident praised arena staff and the venue’s upkeep. The presentation concluded with the chair thanking the arena board and staff for their work.

What’s next: No formal vote was required; the report was entered into the record and the board offered to supply further details to any members who request them.