LYNCHBURG, Va. -

Liberty University is presenting a new idea for a possible civic center in Lynchburg.

LU is offering to build an arena on Candler's Mountain Road, next to Routes 29 and 460.

The property currently houses a large parking lot for Thomas Road Baptist Church and Liberty Christian Academy. Both facilities would likely have to move, if the arena is built.

Under the proposal, Lynchburg's government would own and operate the civic center, but Liberty would pay for construction and lease it for school events.

LU originally offered to build a civic center at River Ridge Mall, but engineers determined that location couldn't accommodate traffic for large events.

Here is the full press release from Liberty University:

Liberty University has presented Lynchburg officials with a draft proposal that could serve as the outline for an agreement between the university and the city for a new civic center in Lynchburg. The proposal calls for the university to pay for its use of and to finance the construction of a new regional civic center on Candlers Mountain Road near its juncture with the U.S.460/U.S. 29 bypass.

The university would provide the land for the facility and would allow the civic center to avail itself of some university parking spaces during major events scheduled when classes are not in session.

Under the proposal, the city would own and maintain ongoing operational control of the facility by creating a special purpose Sports Authority. Liberty would agree to a long-term lease which would require it to pay annual rent for the right of first refusal for 40 to 45 event dates including all mens basketball and hockey games, concerts and other special events. The Vines Center would continue to host convocation and sporting events that do not draw large numbers of off-campus participants driving to campus (parking is very limited near Vines).

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Liberty University offers new proposal for civic center in Lynchburg