ShoWare Center forecasted to break even this year

Steve Tadlock

Steve Tadlock

Despite a slow start to ticket sales, ShoWare Center officials expect the new arena to break even in operating costs by the end of 2009, thanks to upcoming events.

“A lot of it has to do with ticket sales for hockey and the circus coming in that we are confident we will be in the black,” said Tim Higgins, ShoWare general manager, at a Thursday meeting of the Public Facilities District board.

The board oversees operations of the $84.5 million, city-owned events center.

ShoWare officials predict a profit of $1,591 for the first year of operation that ends Dec. 31.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The Seattle Thunderbirds junior hockey team, the anchor tenant of the arena, plays 19 games at ShoWare between now and the end of the year. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performs eight shows Thursday through Monday. Disney on Ice operates here Nov. 11-15.

“With the circus and Disney on Ice, we know what to expect based on ticket-sale trends,” said Steve Tadlock, SMG regional general manager, at the board meeting. “We look at the data to tell us what those shows will generate in revenue before they happen.”

Tadlock, who works out of Fresno for SMG, the operator of the arena, remained confident the ShoWare Center can break even, despite losing $369,000 in its first seven months of operation.

The ShoWare Center had expenses of $1.5 million and receipts of $1.13 million from Jan. 2 through July 31 for a loss of $369,000, according to SMG.

“Summer is the slowest quarter,” Tadlock said. “For May, June, July and August, more events are geared to being outdoors.”

A hockey camp was the only event in July at the arena when the facility had an operating loss of $109,000.

“The two biggest expenses are labor and energy (utilities),” Tadlock said. “We’re learning how to make our staffing efficient and to watch our event staffing.”

SMG has 18 full-time employees at the arena, down from a high of 24 when the facility opened in January. ShoWare officials expect to keep monthly operating expenses at about $185,000.

“SMG has been able to keep the month-to-month operational costs at $185,000 for four straight months,” said Ben Wolters, city economic development director, at the board meeting. “That is the lean-and-mean level and that will fluctuate with utility bills, but at $185,000 is where it will be moving forward.”

Tadlock emphasized that it would be quite an achievement if the ShoWare Center breaks even this year compared to other SMG-operated facilities that are expected to lose money in 2009.

“This building opened in one of the worst economies,” Tadlock said. “It’s expected to operate in the black while many of the arenas we operate are in the red. Fresno, Boise and Bakersfield operate in the red.”

Tadlocks expects ticket sales to go up for Thunderbirds games compared to last season because the games will be spread out to one or two per week rather than as many as three or four per week last season when the home schedule was crammed into a few months. He also expects big walk-up sales for the circus.

“We feel very good about our forecast to operate in the black,” Tadlock said. “We know the tide will turn as the economy turns. There are a lot of reasons for optimism.”

The arena has made a profit in just one of the first seven months. The arena made money ($51,234) in March when the Thunderbirds played nine home games, including a total of three games against rivals Everett and Portland that attracted large crowds.

The T-Birds open play this season with a Sept. 12 exhibition game against Everett.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website http://kowloonland.com.hk/?big=submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. FILE PHOTO
Three men charged in 2023 Kent murder of 48-year-old woman

Recent witness information identifying men help lead to charges in July 2023 shooting

FILE PHOTO, Bailey Jo Josie, Sound Publishing
Chase Wilcoxson, father to Matilda, 13, and Eloise,12, places a family photo at the roadside memorial dedicated to his daughters, Buster Brown, 12, and Andrea Hudson, 38, killed in a March 19 crash.
Year in review: Kent’s top stories of 2024

A month-by-month look at several of the headlining stories.

t
Kent Reporter’s most viewed web stories of 2024

Second fatal shooting of Kent-Meridian student in three days leads the list

t
Kent man pleads guilty to attempted luring of 6-year-old girl

Prosecutors initially filed second-degree attempted kidnapping charge in July case

t
Man charged with tagging Kent water tower faces nine other cases

Kyle A. McLaughlin pleads not guilty in two cases but Kent arraignment and other cases continued

t
Vandalism at Islamic Center in Kent causes concern about potential hate crime

Man throws objects through windows at Islamic Center of Federal Way mosque before speeding off in pickup

t
Kent receives $1.1M grant for Pacific Highway pedestrian crossing

Federal funds will pay for safety improvements near South 246th Street

t
Kent-based Toys for Joy program provides for 1,500 children

Puget Sound Fire collects more than 6,000 toys and stocking stuffers from community donations

t
Kent man, 34, shot and injured at sports bar on East Hill

Early Sunday morning, Dec. 22 at 25626 102nd Place SE

t
Kent Police Detective Ford retires after 29 years with department

Helped solve 44-year-old cold case murder in 2024

t
Kent’s Lower Russell Levee project receives John Spellman Award

City, King County Flood District and other partners recognized for historic preservation

Northwood Middle School, 17007 SE 184th St., in unincorporated part of King County in Renton and part of the Kent School District. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Calls about man trying to access Northwood Middle School causes lockdown

Deputies arrest man for investigation of resisting arrest, obstruction at Kent School District property