Kent’s ShoWare Center losses continue in first quarter of 2015

The city-owned ShoWare Center lost $74,100 in the first quarter of 2015 but several popular events later this year are already selling well.

The city-owned ShoWare Center lost $74

The city-owned ShoWare Center lost $74

The city-owned ShoWare Center lost $74,100 in the first quarter of 2015 but several popular events later this year are already selling well.

SMG, which runs the arena, projected a profit of $44,408 in the first quarter. Instead, ShoWare had expenses of $716,955 and income of $642,855 for the loss of $74,100, according to the March 31 income statement.

Food and beverage sales came in about $40,000 below budget at the $84.5 million arena.

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

“Food and beverage and other event income came in lower than budget primarily due to two canceled concerts,” said Arletta Voter, ShoWare director of finance, in her report on April 30 to the Public Facilities District (PFD) board, which helps oversee arena operations.

Voter said promoters moved the Gerardo Oritz concert to May 24 from March.

ShoWare also took a $37,000 expense hit in general and administrative costs because of all the bank credit card fees it had to pay on the thousands of ticket sales for Disney on Ice’s Frozen, which will feature 11 shows from Nov. 11-16. More than 30,000 tickets have been sold, about 85 percent of capacity. But revenue from that event won’t show up until the fourth quarter.

The arena made about $22,000 more than budgeted in direct event income because of two Seattle Thunderbirds home playoff games in the Western Hockey League. But that income wasn’t enough to compensate for the lost concert revenue. Staff doesn’t budget for playoff games since it’s unknown ahead of time if the team will make the playoffs.

Repairs and maintenance costs were about $30,000 higher because the arena paid a contract for a year worth of services upfront rather than spreading the cost throughout the year.

“By the end of the year that line item will be at or below budget,” Voter said.

SMG officials projected an operating loss of $463,000 in 2015 at the start of the year. The arena lost $752,324 last year, the highest loss since it opened in 2009. ShoWare’s total revenue losses are $3.2 million in six years.

But other encouraging signs for events later in the year include an anticipated sellout of 5,000 for psychic Theresa Caputo on June 7 and an expected sellout of 6,000 for the Scorpions concert on Oct. 9. More than 4,500 tickets were sold over one weekend for the Scorpions with special guest Queensryche.

SMG also is in contract talks with the Tacoma Stars of the Major Arena Soccer League to play the 2015 season at the ShoWare Center. The Stars would play 10 games at the arena.

Colin Campbell, vice president and assistant general manager of the T-Birds, the anchor tenant of the arena, told the board that attendance has gone up each year since the team moved to Kent from the KeyArena in Seattle. The T-Birds averaged 4,400 fans per game for the 2014-15 season, up from an average of 4,200 last season, he said.


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 https://www.kentreporter.com/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

File Photo
Kent man presumed dead after fire follows domestic violence call

Incident began April 8 at Kent apartment and ended with fire at an Auburn commercial building

t
Grand reopening of Kent Commons Community Center on May 4

City of Kent spent $1.5 million to upgrade facility

t
Meeker Middle School teacher receives state award

WEA recognizes Neeraj Agnihotri with Human and Civil Rights Award for Student Involvement

t
Protest against Trump, Musk draws hundreds in Covington

Rally on April 5 part of global protest in response to numerous actions by president

Cars drive northbound through the intersection of Southeast 192nd Street and 140th Avenue Southeast in Fairwood. An 18-year-old was driving over 100 mph southbound through this intersection on March 19, 2024 when his car hit a minivan, resulting in the deaths of one woman and three minors. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
Kent man who killed four in Renton crash pleads guilty to all charges

Chase Jones faces up to 23 and a half years in prison. His sentencing is set for April 25.

File Photo
Kent City Council approves Stay Out of Drug Areas zone

Nine organizations signed letter opposing new ordinance as ‘not an effective option’

t
Slower is safer: Steps to increase traffic safety in South King County

11-mile corridor has a high number of collisions, many of them fatal.

t
Family starts GoFundMe page for Kent man killed in crash

Jose Ortiz, 55, died in March 28 collision; wife suffered serious injuries; police arrest driver of 2nd vehicle

Courtesy Photo, City of Kent Parks
Kent city leaders want bigger piece of county Parks Levy

Measure could go to voters in August; King County Council to consider levy this month

King County Correctional Facility in Seattle. COURTESY PHOTO, King County
Man, 22, gets 20-year prison sentence for 2022 Kent killing

Drive-by shooting outside bar on Central Avenue took the life of 29-year-old Kent man

File Photo
Kent Police arrest man, 22, for arson, assaults against girlfriend

Allegedly set apartment on fire and repeatedly beat 19-year-old woman

t
Kent man, 56, dies in two-vehicle crash March 28 in Kent

Police arrest woman for investigation of vehicular homicide; collision at 94th Ave. S./S. 240th St.