Chevy Centre meetings to start Jan. 28

YOUNGSTOWN — City officials plan to meet during the last week in January with companies that want to run the Chevrolet Centre.

The meetings are to start Jan. 28. The companies will give presentations to city officials as to what they can offer in terms of running the city-owned Chevrolet Centre and ideas for bringing in revenue to the financially struggling facility, said Kyle Miasek, deputy finance director and the city’s point-man on the arena.

Three written proposals were given to the city Nov. 30. A review of the documents by city officials is done, Miasek said.

The face-to-face discussions were delayed because it’s a “busy time of the year” as the city closes its books on 2007 and prepares its 2008 budget, Miasek said.

The proposals came from:

UGlobal Spectrum, a Philadelphia company that manages 68 facilities including Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati and Citizen Bank Park in Philadelphia.

USMG of Philadelphia, which manages 209 facilities including the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, and the Peterson Center and Mellon Arena, both in Pittsburgh.

UA partnership between Cavaliers Operating Co. of Cleveland, which owns and operates the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team and its home center, the Quicken Loans Arena; and International Facilities Group of Chicago, which has developed and constructed more than 34 centers and stadiums.

City officials expect a management firm in place by March 30.

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