Booking changes expected at arena Decision follows financial losses

The management company’s move to expand its entertainment roster sent financial figures plummeting.

By ANGIE SCHMITT

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — More astute booking decisions are coming for the Chevrolet Centre on the heels of more recent financial losses, a city official said.

The nearly two-year-old sports and entertainment venue finished its third quarter more than $200,000 in the red, according to numbers released by the city. The setback leaves the center with a $33,000 total loss for this fiscal year, which began in October 2006.

Its management company, Global Entertainment Corp., had predicted the center would generate about $727,000 in profits by this point in the year

“Global is trying to determine what kind of market it is,” said Kyle Miasek, the city’s deputy finance director. “They did better in bringing diverse performers to the building. Some of those didn’t sell.”

Miasek praised Global’s efforts to expand the area’s entertainment options, saying today’s losses will translate into more astute booking decisions in the future.

Global had projected a loss of $88,000, or 44 percent of the actual shortcoming, for April through July. But the company’s move to expand its entertainment roster sent financial figures plummeting, said Miasek.

Adding shows

Global added six shows to the summer lineup after the outset of the quarter, said Miasek. Expanding the entertainment agenda from 11 to 17 shows hurt profitability when several major performers bombed at the box office, he said.

Ludicris and The Doobie Brothers/Peter Frampton were among the shows that resulted in a net loss for the center. As a result, booking charges, anticipated to cost about $200,000, maxed out at more than $850,000, said Miasek. Box office sales failed to offset the increase.

“They have to promise the performers so much money,” he said. “If you don’t sell the tickets, you lose money.”

Among the spring/summer season’s more successful acts were the Blue Man Group, Stevie Nicks and ZZ Top, he said.

Miasek also applauded the company for keeping operational and marketing costs near original estimates, despite the increase in events.

Although hockey figures are not part of the center’s most recent April through June returns, arena football was a relative success in the third quarter, said Miasek.

During its first season, the Mahoning Valley Thunder, an arena football team, drew about 4,100 fans per home game.

The team finished the season last month with a 7-9 record, according to Vindicator records.