Chevrolet Centre’s future must not be left to chance

There’s a very real possibility that the $45 million, taxpayer financed hockey arena/entertainment complex in downtown Youngstown will not feature hockey this year. And, there’s no guarantee that the owner of the Youngstown SteelHounds, the minor-league professional team that has called the Chevy Centre home for the past three seasons, will continue to be involved.

Youngstown businessman Herb Washington says he has lost money each year and that at some point he will have to make a business decision on the feasibility of his remaining as the sole owner, of taking on partners, or even of getting out of hockey all together.

So, what does Mayor Jay Williams and members of his administration say about these and other surprising developments that surfaced last week and have a bearing on the economic viability of the arena? We’re not sure.

The mayor did not attend a news conference Thursday called by Washington, owner of several McDonald’s fast food restaurants, to discuss the SteelHounds’ being cut loose by the Central Hockey League and the options he is exploring with regard to hockey at the Chevy Centre.

One of the options is a partnership with another Youngstown businessman, Bruce Zoldan, owner of B.J. Alan Company Fireworks and the Mahoning Valley Phantoms junior hockey team. The Phantoms play at The Ice Zone in Boardman, which Zoldan owns.

He has expressed a desire to be involved in hockey at the city-owned arena.

Open dates

Given that without the SteelHounds playing in 2008-09 season there would be 32 dates between October and March needing to be filled with other events, Mayor Williams should invite Washington, Zoldan, the general managers of their teams, coaches and anyone else who has been involved in hockey in this area to a meeting in City Hall.

The purpose: To find a permanent solution to what is now an uncertain future for hockey in downtown Youngstown.

Eric Ryan, a concert promoter from Struthers hired by the city to manage the facility, says he could fill many of the 32 days with other events, if given enough time. Therefore, Ryan is hoping Washington will conclude the negotiations he intends to conduct with the International Hockey League, which consists of six teams.

Mayor Williams must clearly state what the city expects with regard to revenue generated by hockey and other events. Why? Because Youngstown government borrowed $12 million to cover its share of the construction costs — the rest of the $45 million came from the federal and state governments — and has been tapping into the general fund for the $750,000 a year it has been paying just in interest on the loan.

At a time of budget deficits, the city can ill afford to divert money from its operating fund.

The administration must find a way of making the arena financially viable so government’s share of the revenue would at least cover the debt service on the loan.

If the mayor isn’t swayed by any of those arguments for his direct involvement, perhaps this one will spur him: Washington is blaming City Hall for the SteelHounds’ predicament.

Williams has refuted the businessman’s claims, but it is clear that a face-to-face meeting is necessary to clear the air — and reassure the taxpayers that the keepers of the public purse have their best interest at heart.