Jul. 7--Macon Centreplex officials compiled financial projections at the request of the city attorney that show decidedly heavy costs if the City Council approves a proposed Macon Coliseum lease agreement for the Macon Whoopee.
According to numbers released Thursday, revenues at the Coliseum will probably see slight increases from Whoopee games next year due to increased beer sales and more parking.
But because of the proposed lease agreement, costs for the Coliseum to host the Whoopee are expected to increase by 47 percent.
Where officials spent $230,000 to host the Whoopee this year, they will spend nearly $338,000 in the 2001 season. The majority of those costs can be attributed to giving the Whoopee an increased share of concession sales and a larger share of parking revenues.
Although the Centreplex, which includes the Coliseum, Wilson Convention Center and City Auditorium, made nearly $100,000 in 1999 on the minor-league hockey team and made more than $79,000 from this season's Whoopee games, the Centreplex is expected to lose nearly $19,000 on Whoopee games next season if the agreement is approved.
City Council President Anita Ponder said she and other council members have a difficult job ahead of them. They must sift through the numbers, make judgment calls on the pros and cons of the proposed lease and come up with an agreement that will satisfy the minor league hockey team, the Centreplex and any other sports franchise wishing to come to Macon.
'I just believe there is a way to do that,' Ponder said.
The council will discuss the Coliseum lease in a Tuesday committee meeting and then is expected to vote on the proposal July 18.
Keith Burdette, president of the Whoopee, said the team declines comment on the proposed lease and on continuing negotiations until the council makes its decision.
The projected figures will play heavily on the minds of council members as they consider the proposed new lease.
'That's going to be something we need to address,' Ponder said. 'For me, the very first thing I will look at is the effect on the Centreplex.'
Ponder did say, however, that initial losses may be tolerated if there is sufficient evidence the profits will return in future seasons.
In March, council members made a goal to help the Centreplex reduce its deficit and get closer to the financial break-even point. A $30,000 study by consultant group RKG Associates suggested some price increases and additional fees could help the facilities.
At the time, council members embraced the study, saying the council could no longer ask the city's public arenas to break even without giving Centreplex director Regina McDuffie the tools she needs to accomplish that goal.
Council members, while reviewing the proposed lease, will also have to take into consideration another proposed sport for the Coliseum.
Today, Ponder will meet with Bryan Watson, president of Sports Towne, which is trying to bring arena football to Macon. Ponder said she wants to keep the Whoopee in Macon, but she doesn't want to shut out other potential sports franchises in the process.
'I just want to make sure I have some kind of negotiating for anyone else that wants to come here.'
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(c) 2000, The Macon Telegraph, Ga. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
