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SANTA FE — A new state equestrian and rodeo facility will be located at the Mesa del Sol development in Albuquerque, Gov. Bill Richardson announced today.

Richardson said a 7,000-seat indoor arena, a small outdoor arena and stables and outbuildings will be built on a 200-acre, state-owned site that is currently leased by the state Land Office to Bernalillo County.

The governor also said he would earmark another $10 million from the capital outlay funds available to his office for design and construction. He already has made available $15 million for the project.

The location was the unanimous choice of the state Rodeo Council, which reviewed proposals from cities and towns.

Mesa del Sol made the most sense as a location because of the availability of state land - eliminating the need to buy property - and its central location and accessibility to the Albuquerque airport, Rodeo Council member Dennis Monroe of Albuquerque said at a news conference.

Construction could begin by mid-summer, Monroe said.

"I want New Mexico to be the premier rodeo-equestrian site in the country. . . . This is a great tourism and job creation tool," the governor said.