Chevy Centre shows profit at end of June

YOUNGSTOWN — Entertainment and sporting venues the size of Youngstown’s Chevrolet Centre typically don’t make a profit.

“If you can break even, that’s great. If you can make a profit, that’s outstanding.”

So says Jim Grinstead, editor and publisher of Revenues from Sports Venues, and Conventions and Conference Facilities, two trade publications.

When the books close on the Chevrolet Centre’s third operating year in September, “we’re optimistic the building will have a positive bottom line,” said Kyle Miasek, the city’s deputy finance director.

As of June 30, nine months into the center’s 2007-08 fiscal year, the facility had a $110,669 profit. July to September is typically a slow quarter for indoor facilities, and the Chevrolet Centre has lost money during those three months in its first two years.

Despite the few ups and many downs at the city-owned facility that opened in October 2005, Grinstead said, “I don’t think your building is doing badly. Youngstown is probably on the right track and moving in the right direction.”

Most small to midsize centers in secondary markets “don’t make money,” he said. “It’s tough to keep them busy. You don’t have many acts that want to come to venues that size that people want to see.”

For the complete story, see Sunday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.