Private Company to Manage Bicentennial Center
KSAL Staff - Mon 06:05 PM 02/27/2012
Global Spectrum will take over management of the Salina Bicentennial Center.
For the first time, the Salina Bicentennial Center will be managed by a private company. Salina City Commissioners Monday voted to enter into a contract with Global Spectrum.
Global Spectrum, headquartered in Philadelphia, operates 108 public assembly venues around the world. The company hosts a wide array of sports and entertainment, trade shows, performing arts, and other special events. The company manages one NFL venue, and has also hosted one Superbowl.
The Salina Bicentennial Center has consistently operated at a deficit. According to the city, while full benefits of private facility management cannot be realized in a single year, they do believe that Global Spectrum can provide significant operational benefit the first year and realize the fullest potential within three years
Highlights of the contract include Global Spectrum agreeing to hire the City's current employees. The City retains the authority to ratify the hiring of the Global Spectrum's general manager and is given the right to comment on the hiring of other key management personnel.
The City retains the right to approve all event-related contracts that create any financial risk through a co-promoted or in-house promoted event.
The City reserves the right to approve all naming rights contracts for all facility spaces and apply consideration for location, aesthetics, etc. Naming of the entire facility requires the approval of the city.
Gobal Spectrum was vying with Venue Works from Ames, Iowa and Pennsylvania-based SMG to manage the Salina Bicentennial Center. The company takes over management of the facility beginning March 1st.
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ShadowCipher
Monday 27 February 2012 18:10 Report this comment
The only thing that now matters is seeing a positive change. The claim of 1-3 years seems reasonable, but I do hope to see legitimate change sooner than later.
buckstay
Monday 27 February 2012 19:54 Report this comment
Have you ever noticed the magnificent architectural and structural quality of the roof in the Bi-Center? Hopefully the place is paid for. The continuous deficit situation over the years we have all paid for. The reasons for this is mostly giving the venue to the youth organizations, (THIS IS GOOD!), the rest is for the managing of the facility overall. Now, since we have proven that we can't manage the facility to a "Break Even" status we are going to turn it over to a company that can, "supposedly and hopefully" make it into a some sort of active enterprise. Now what does the County and the State say about this!
GETALIFE674
Tuesday 28 February 2012 00:47 Report this comment
THEY NOW NEED TO NAME THE ENTIRE FACILITY BUTT-HEAD AREA AFTER OUR CURRENT COMMISSIONERS WHO LET A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE RENAME THE BASKETBALL COURT WITHOUT ANY CONSIDERATION OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTED TO DO. ALSO FOR PAYING AN INDIVIDUAL ALL THE MONEY THEY DID ALL THESE YEARS FOR ABSOLUTELY DOING NOTHING.
getumgranny
Tuesday 28 February 2012 07:12 Report this comment
I really hope this works out for our community!! I'm still not sure an out of state company was the way to go, but, I look forward to seeing some positive changes here. A couple suggestions would be for them to have some affordable entertainment, maybe some local bands, a monthly flea market where people could pay to set up a booth and sell things. They also need to look at the scheduling of events, not schedule 2-4 events on the same weekends, spread stuff out over the month.
Noob
Tuesday 28 February 2012 08:09 Report this comment
I'm positive the bi-center management was on Jason Gage's list of responsibilities. This means he will take a voluntary pay cut now right??
troy
Tuesday 28 February 2012 09:42 Report this comment
I certainly hope for a future of great entertainment. Sorry, dog shows, occasional monster truck shows and the annual Oak Ridge Boys Christmas Special don't cut it. Shoot for the moon folks, Nickelback, Van Halen, hockey team (Wichita Thunder), you get the idea. Start an annual go-kart nationals race. Fill the place with dirt and race karts. Don't laugh, just Google "Chili Bowl". Bothers me when folks fail to see the big picture. Most will say "no one in Salina will come to see that", there's a large group of folks outside of Salina who would drive 8 hours to attent something like that in January or February. Just keep an open mind to the possibilities.
getumgranny
Tuesday 28 February 2012 10:12 Report this comment
I hope this company will watch some of these posts, let's give them some good ideas to work with!! troy, you have some super ideas here. And, I agree, people, don't laugh. Another thought is lawnmower races. I watched them on TV one day, they are fun to watch!! I laughed so hard at the thought, then I started really paying attention and I must say, these people do get into this. It has quite a following. How bout it Mr. Gage, perhaps a voluntary pay cut would be a kind gesture towards the struggling citizens of the community. We won't hold our breath though, I would also suggest your assistant is not a position that should receive over $100,000 a year!!!
smokey99
Tuesday 28 February 2012 11:40 Report this comment
One of the biggest problems with this event center is the fact that you have city officials who think they can run a public entertainment venue like the Bi-centennial Center. They CANT /COULDN’T.( That was/is painfully obvious!!) PLUS….You had past managers who were puppets and had their heads up the@$$’$ of said city officials. And as you can see by all the inclusions to the contract, these city officials STILL want to keep playing in the kitchen and still have no idea how to cook.. Despite the city still being involved, hopefully this management company can turn it around!!
HOMER
Tuesday 28 February 2012 14:08 Report this comment
Sweet! We're going to host the Super Bowl!
troy
Tuesday 28 February 2012 15:36 Report this comment
I don't care what you call the place. Intrust First National Sunflower Bank of Bennington (main office in Tescott). Name it after Jason Gage. Re route the Smoky Hill river around the place like a moat then each bridge to the place could be named after someone I don't care about. WOW! We're strolling across Troy Vancil bridge on our way to see the Oak Ridge Boys!
jimdingo
Tuesday 28 February 2012 18:15 Report this comment
Better that the Fox theater downtown.
troy
Tuesday 28 February 2012 18:58 Report this comment
That's the W. W. Watson / Fox / Steifel theater. Never knew any of them, don't care either. Makes the point pretty well I think. It could be called the Smith / Jones / Johnson theater and it wouldn't change a thing. 1 out of 100 shows might appeal to me. The name is only important to those who find names to be important.
equineman7
Wednesday 29 February 2012 13:17 Report this comment
troy is this the same jason gage that got upset over his salary being printed and what his retirement will amount to. Jason needs to move on to another city if they would have him, but he definately needs to move on. got to be the worst city manager salina has ever had. city commissioners open your ears and do something salina needs better management.
equineman7
Wednesday 29 February 2012 13:21 Report this comment
if the city intends to micro manage this company it will never work out. the city spent alot of taxpayer dollars on hiring managers over there that did absolutely nothing. The last guy would still be there collecting his money if he did not get wind that people wanted something done and the commissioners were going to look into it. Then he was out of here like a cockroach on fire.