AUGUSTA, Ga. — The name of Augusta’s soon-to-be entertainment venue has become a point of contention among city officials, as the Coliseum Authority reportedly moves away from naming the facility the James Brown Arena, opting instead for the working title “New Augusta Arena.”

The decision has caught some city leaders off guard. Mayor Pro-Tem Wayne Guilfoyle said he was unaware that the Coliseum Authority had taken steps to remove James Brown’s name from the project. “I was not aware of, you know, taking the name James Brown away whatsoever,” Guilfoyle stated.

The move has sparked accusations from Commissioner Alvin Mason, who claims the Coliseum Authority is circumventing the will of the voters who approved bonds for the arena’s construction with the understanding that it would bear James Brown’s name. Mason expressed deep frustration with the Authority’s leadership and voiced a desire to remove all its members. “I want to know how we can get rid of them, but I’m getting rid of every single one of them today if I could,” Mason said.

Commissioners have announced plans to send a letter to the Coliseum Authority urging that the arena’s name remain the James Brown Arena. Commissioner Jordan Johnson emphasized his unwavering support for the legendary musician’s legacy, saying, “The day the news broke about the name potentially changing, I made a statement under no circumstances could I support changing the name from anything other than James Brown Arena, and I meant that.”

The Coliseum Authority was established through state legislation, which allows commissioners to remove board members without cause with a seven-vote majority. However, Guilfoyle cautioned against making personnel changes at this critical stage, noting that “construction is happening, the groundwork has already been done.”

While city leaders appear divided on how to address the Authority’s decision, they are united in their belief that the arena should bear James Brown’s name. The issue highlights the challenges of balancing respect for voter intent and maintaining progress on a major civic project.

As Augusta moves forward with the arena’s construction, the question remains: will the venue honor the Godfather of Soul with its name, or will it open under a more generic title? The coming weeks promise continued debate among city officials and the Coliseum Authority.