City officials list reasons to keep Ryan at Chevy Center

City officials list reasons to keep Ryan at Chevy Center

YOUNGSTOWN —¬†So how did resistance to retaining Eric Ryan as the Chevrolet Centre’s manager become a deal-breaker for companies wanting to help operate the facility?

Ryan, of Struthers, an event promoter hired by Youngstown in October 2007 to be the center’s interim director, has impressed city officials.

“Over a period of time, it became apparent that Eric has very good insight on running the facility correctly,” said city Deputy Finance Director Kyle Miasek.

James G. Floyd, a lawyer working on behalf of the city, wrote to the companies interested in helping operate the facility Feb. 28 asking if they’d be willing to a “strategic alliance” with Ryan serving as director of the city-owned entertainment facility.

SMG and Global Spectrum, both of Philadelphia, responded that they’d be willing to make such an arrangement.

The Cavaliers Operating Co., a Cleveland company which had a joint proposal for the center with the Chicago-based International Facilities Group, said no.

That decision led to the end of discussions between the city and the two companies regarding the center.

“We had the right to reject, select pieces [of a proposal] or negotiate” with the companies interested in helping to run the center, said city Finance Director David Bozanich.

A contract between the city and Ryan’s company, JAC Management Co., still needs to be negotiated. As long as there are no objections from city council, that will occur.

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