Struthers promoter to book for Chevy site

Eric Ryan already has promoted 10 to 12 events at the downtown arena.

By DAVID SKOLNICK

CITY HALL REPORTER

YOUNGSTOWN — The city plans to hire Eric Ryan, a Struthers concert promoter, early next week to serve as the interim executive director of the Chevrolet Centre.

Ryan would hold the position for up to 120 days and run the day-to-day operations of the city-owned facility.

A tentative deal is in place and should be finalized Monday or Tuesday. Financial details weren’t released Friday.

“It is a big responsibility, but I’m all for it,” Ryan said. “I’m all for the challenge.”

Ryan has operated Eric Ryan Productions since 2003, and has promoted 10 to 12 events at the Chevrolet Centre since it opened two years ago. Among his events were concerts by Staind and Kenny Rogers as well as a golf expo.

For the past eight years, Ryan has owned a building on South Bridge Street in Struthers that includes The Cellar, a tavern that features concerts.

City officials need someone with the ability and knowledge to operate the center on an interim basis after signing a deal on Wednesday to end its relationship with International Coliseums Co., effective Oct. 31.

Because of Ryan’s experience promoting concerts at the center, city officials say he was a logical fit to be the facility’s interim executive director.

Ryan, 33, said he will not be the center’s permanent executive director.

“My specific focus is to manage the facility and keep things going,” he said. “On the operational side, I want things to run smooth. I want a more efficient operation at the center and to make the facility more attractive to patrons.”

Ryan will book shows at the center and plans to also promote his own events at the facility.

City officials, particularly those from its finance and law departments, will help operate the facility on an interim basis.

The city is advertising for a permanent management firm to run the center and will accept proposals from companies through Nov. 30 for the job.

The city came to a settlement agreement Wednesday with ICC and its parent company, Global Entertainment Corp. of Phoenix.

ICC filed a federal lawsuit against the city Sept. 19 citing a breach of contract, and refused to pay $600,000 last month it had guaranteed to Youngstown regardless of the center’s finances.

Talks between the company and the city in the past few weeks produced the settlement. ICC is to pay the $600,000 to the city and drop the lawsuit by Monday.

Based on Global estimates, the center should have made about $1.38 million in profits during its first 21 months of operation, which began in October 2005.

Instead, the center has lost more than $55,000 during that time, and Global previously acknowledged the facility would lose about $100,000 between July and September. The financial numbers for those three months won’t be finalized until at least next month.

Also, Youngstown City Council’s buildings and grounds committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at city hall to discuss a contract with USA Parking Systems, a Cleveland company, to provide 2,400 parking spaces downtown for center patrons.

The city administration wants to renew the deal that expires Oct. 31. USA Parking receives $220,000 from the city over a 12-month period to provide the spots.