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Downtown Hartford could get a boost now that Gov. Ned Lamont has backed a plan to spend $55 million to renovate the city’s XL Center arena.

The governor has in the past tried to convince Connecticut’s two federally-recognized Native American tribes to open a third casino on the site, and Gov. Dannel Malloy pitched a $250 million makeover for the building to address years of underinvestment.

The state Bonding Commission has already backed $35 million for work on the facility, the Hartford Courant reports, adding that the Lamont administration is trying to see if there are ways to bring private investors into the project.

Despite its age and need for upgrades, the XL Center brings thousands to downtown Hartford every year, fueling local businesses.