If you happened to find yourself thinking, “It’s never been this hot over Memorial Day weekend,” simply put: You were right.FORT WAYNE – Memorial Coliseum managed to make a profit last year despite a difficult economy.
The Coliseum was able to net $65,246, said Randy Brown, executive vice president and general manager. At the same time, the Coliseum drew enough visitors to Allen County to create an economic effect of $99.6 million, Brown said.
The Coliseum’s situation was unique during a time when many other venues were losing money, Brown said Wednesday during a Coliseum board meeting.
“The entertainment world was difficult; ticket sales were down overall,” Brown said, “but it was not that bad for us. I’m proud to say that we are self-supporting.”
Brown said because it has become more difficult and competitive to book entertainment and trade shows, his staff has had to get creative. He cited the 2011 bookings of USA Roller Sports, the IHSAA girls state basketball tournament and the “Walking with Dinosaurs” show as examples.
The number of visitors in 2011 was up, as well, Brown said. In 2010, the Coliseum had 1,114,065 visitors, and last year that number rose by 2.02 percent to 1,136,597.
The Coliseum was in use 1,405 days last year, up from 1,302 days in 2010, Brown said.
Several changes and improvements are scheduled to take place this year, Brown said.
The first project is the installation of electronic menu boards and card-payment systems at the Coliseum’s food concession areas.
Board members approved a contract – not to exceed $13,000 – with Entertainment Venue Partners that will oversee the bidding process and the installation of point-of-sale stations and menu boards.
The estimated cost of installing the systems is between $300,000 and $350,000 for the point-of-sale stations and $100,000 for the electronic menu boards, Brown said.
Paul Frascella, a representative of Entertainment Venue Partners, said the Coliseum expects to see a bump in concession and food revenue of about 15 percent – the national average – after the credit-card stations are installed.
“People just spend more if they are given the option,” Frascella said.
The point-of-sale technology will include a touch-screen interface that will make it easier and quicker for concession workers to serve patrons, Frascella said.
The information is immediately transferred to a central inventory system, simplifying record-keeping, he said.
The system is expected to be running by September, Frascella said.
Although the card systems will be installed only in the concession areas this year, Brown said he hopes to eventually install similar technology in the Coliseum parking lot.
Other Coliseum projects planned this year include suite-level renovation of the bars and lounge areas; the third and final phase of a roofing project; new parking lot booths; and a new arena storage area.
