Council OK on talks for changing Covelli Centre vendor

YOUNGSTOWN

City council members say today they are agreeable to having the administration negotiate a change in the company handling the Covelli Centre food-and-beverage operations.

Council members met today with Hank Abate, SMG’s senior vice president of arenas and stadiums. SMG is the management consultant for the city-owned center.

The administration is proposing JAC Management, which runs the day-to-day operations at the center, and SMG become the in-house food-and-beverage vendor.

Centerplate has handled that responsibility since the facility opened nearly six years ago. Centerplate would have to agree to give up that position.

Council members said they’re willing to have the administration negotiate deals to switch vendors, adding that it would bring in more money to the center and provide greater flexibility for food and beverages to be sold at the facility.

For the complete story, read Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com