Columbia Sports Arenas Could be Turned Into Hospitals

Several sports arenas in Columbia could be transformed into an emergency hospital for COVID-19 patients.

Respresentatives of the Missouri National Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers visited the Hearnes Center and Mizzou Arena last week and so far the project is just in the planning stages.

If the Coronavirus pandemic fills the almost twelve hundred beds in Columbia’s four hospitals, either or both buildings might be transformed into Alternate Health Care Facilities.

The university is cooperating with the planning according to a university spokesperson.