DC's SEC vs. Wichita's Kansas Coliseum

[lurker]

Dodge City's spenders want a 10,000 seat barn. Wichita already has one (that gives them problems) but they want a new 15,000 seat barn.... and CONsultants to help them run their old one because they have problems.....

We will have problems with ours and here's a peek at what's to come....

EDITORIAL: LATEST CONSULTANT REALLY NECESSARY?

Sedgwick County commissioners could have just given the job of running the county's new arena outright to the county's Kansas Coliseum staff, no bidding necessary, or hired a consultant to help the employees prepare to run the arena.

Instead, commissioners last week voted to spend $37,500 to hire an out-of-state consultant to prepare Coliseum employees to compete against private management companies for a chance to manage the arena.

Huh? That looks more like an act of waste and indecision than an exercise of "due diligence," as Assistant County Manager Ron Holt characterized it Tuesday to The Eagle editorial board. And if citizens aren't ready to revolt over local governments' overreliance on consultants, they've got to be getting close.

But Holt said that hiring the consultant fits with the county's process of ensuring it has weighed all options carefully on arena decisions.

He said that unlike the four private companies expected to bid on the arena management contract, the Coliseum staff has not had experience with naming rights, sky boxes, premium seating and the like. The arena is "going to be under a high level of scrutiny, and we just want to make sure as part of our open and transparent process that we're looking at all aspects," Holt said.

Meanwhile, some will wonder about the wisdom of possibly letting Coliseum staff manage the arena, given how Coliseum attendance and revenue have declined this year -- creating a $383,000 deficit through August for an operation that long has broken even or generated revenue through the Select-a-Seat ticketing service and promotional efforts.

But Coliseum manager John Nath, who will give commissioners a monthly update today, said Tuesday that the event business is cyclical and "we've got a pretty loaded fourth quarter, so I think we're going to be just fine."

Holt said the Coliseum had long planned to be closed for renovations during this period, prior to the arena idea's revival two years ago. He also noted that the concert market is down nationally; Holt thinks that in the next few years, concert prices will go down and concert attendance will go up.

If commissioners ultimately go with the Coliseum staff to manage the arena, Nath said, "I think they'll increase events and save money and be more in tune with their constituents, because we live here."

As this defining management decision is made, the nagging question for many residents will be: If the 10,000-seat Coliseum is having a hard time drawing crowds*, how much harder will it be for the 15,000-seat arena? The sooner county leaders can nail down the answer, the better for the arena's future and public trust.

For the editorial board, Rhonda Holman

The Kansas Coliseum is in Wichita and sits next to an Interstate roadway.

Our's will be in the park... and dark.

THANK YOU oh wise ones' for leading us down this path.....

[Bubba]

Originally Posted by lurker

....Our's will be in the park... and dark...

Where are you getting this misinformation? The last vote we had on the SEC said that we DON'T want it in the park.

As for the rest of your post, are you aware that the Kansas Coliseum is over 25 years old? It has enjoyed many successes. I have attended more concerts there than I can easily count. I have personally been to a SOLD OUT Garth Brooks concert and a SOLD OUT KISS concert. Also many near sold out concerts including Creed, ZZ Top, Aerosmith....you get the idea. They also have gun shows that are very popular, boat & RV shows that are popular.

Have you seen the events scheduled at the Kansas Coliseum through the end of this year?

September 2006
September 9 Kansas Paint Horse Show
September 10 Kansas Paint Horse Show
September 16 Park City Races
September 16 Park City Races
September 17 Flea Market
September 22 Kansas Junior Livestock Show
September 23 Kansas Junior Livestock Show
September 24 Kansas Junior Livestock Show
September 24 Kansas Junior Livestock Show
September 28 Fall Circuit and Futurity Horse Show
September 29 Fall Circuit and Futurity Horse Show
September 30 Fall Circuit and Futurity Horse Show

October 2006
October 1 Fall Circuit and Futurity Horse Show
October 3 WWE & The Marine present SMACKDOWN & ECW
October 5 Disney on Ice
October 6 Disney on Ice
October 7 Chisholm Trail Gun Show
October 7 Disney on Ice
October 7 Disney on Ice
October 7 Disney on Ice
October 8 Chisholm Trail Gun Show
October 8 Disney on Ice
October 8 Disney on Ice
October 9 World Wide Paint Horse Congress
October 10 World Wide Paint Horse Congress
October 11 World Wide Paint Horse Congress
October 12 World Wide Paint Horse Congress
October 13 World Wide Paint Horse Congress
October 14 World Wide Paint Horse Congress
October 15 World Wide Paint Horse Congress
October 20 Wichita Thunder Hockey
October 21 Wichita Thunder Hockey
October 27 Wheatland Poppin Johnnies
October 27 Wheatland Poppin Johnnies
October 28 Wheatland Poppin Johnnies

November 2006
November 3 Wichita Thunder Hockey
November 4 Wichita Thunder Hockey
November 11 Wichita Thunder Hockey
November 17 Wichita Thunder Hockey
November 18 Rodney Carrington
November 22 Wichita Thunder Hockey

December 2006
December 1 Wichita Thunder Hockey
December 8 Wichita Thunder Hockey
December 9 Wichita Thunder Hockey
December 16 Wichita Thunder Hockey
December 23 Wichita Thunder Hockey
December 26 Wichita Thunder Hockey
December 30 Wichita Thunder Hockey
December 31 Wichita Thunder Hockey

How many of the residents of this area would like to see Disney on Ice or Wrestling or even some hockey?

Just thought I would even out the negative bias with a little positive reinforcement.

[Dodgegal]

Thanks Bubba!

I for one would love to save gas and be able to attend events in town! We are always driving to Kansas City for a Musical, Wichita for a concert, and even Denver. Just because I like to do things why do I have to be punished! I can't wait to have these events in Dodge. When we travel, we have friends from Garden City who usually tag along. There are alot of locals who will use this facility and take part in the events.

[Bubba]

It just shows to me that if you get some good concerts in a venue, people will drive the distance to see them. Case in point, I just took my Cadillac with 4 of us in it to Dallas last Saturday morning to see a comedian at the Dallas Improv on Sat night. We spent the night in a motel in Denton and woke up Sunday morning and drove back. If it is a good show it is worth the drive. If it is a good show that is closer to home then it is that much better.

[Bronco-Fan]

Originally Posted by Bubba

It just shows to me that if you get some good concerts in a venue, people will drive the distance to see them. Case in point, I just took my Cadillac with 4 of us in it to Dallas last Saturday morning to see a comedian at the Dallas Improv on Sat night. We spent the night in a motel in Denton and woke up Sunday morning and drove back. If it is a good show it is worth the drive. If it is a good show that is closer to home then it is that much better.

Hey Bubba: Lot of if's in there..

[Bubba]

OK, maybe I should re-word it....It was a good show and was worth the drive. Had it been closer to home, it would have been that much better!

Is that better suited to your taste?

[Bargod]

Part of the problem here is that people in Wichita don't want to go to the Coliseum. It's not exciting for us anymore, it's more of a hassle to park and the get out of the parking lot traffic after the show. It has to be a really good event for people to leave the house and drive out there. I still go out for the swap meets and car shows, and I think that they will have a large turn out for the Livestock events, but I don't think that the wrestling will go over so good. I remember a couple years back when WCW was in their heyday, they came and they Coliseum staff was giving away tickets to everyone they knew to try and fill up seats. They don't do the live broadcasts from Wichita so the really big names don't come out. Concerts seem to do alright, but I think it has been the ticket prices keeping the fans away more than anything. The other frequent event listed is the Wichita Thuner hockey games, I have never been to one personally, but I understand that they are a pretty good team, I hope that more people go out and support them so we don't end up in the same situation that we are in with the Wranglers.

[Made in the USA]

I used to go to the Thunder games all the time. They were wild and great. Then a few years ago, someone complained about the music being too loud, too much "violence" on the ice, too much drinking, and too much noise---so they tamed it down. It was like going to a church sermon, so I quit going. I mean, just like Legend games, if you don't want to cheer and enjoy the game, then stay home and visit and read your book!

[TexKan]

The last time the Astrodome was filled up it was for soccer!! Soccer is as big as our illegal population!!...... Big money maker there!!...... Jump on it before some south of the border promoter does....... it will fill yer SEC up!!

[Bubba]