By: Diane Benjamin
I am going to keep using the City of Bloomington’s own documents to support what I write. Remember this quote from the proposed budget:
Staff continued to build strong working relationships with reporters from The Pantagraph, WJBC, WGLT, and other area media. http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=8224 Page 116
Today the bird-cage liner regurgitates false talking points – obviously towing the City of Bloomington’s line. The City can’t admit the Coliseum was a huge mistake and it’s an even bigger mistake to have not fired CIAM (Central Illinois Arena Management – John Butler and Bart Rogers) years ago.
You deserve better than lies.
Lie #1
Refer to the above. The 3rd Quarter CIAM statement is NOT posted on the City of Bloomington website. I submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for it on February 26th. It is due today. So why did the newspaper do a story last night? Since I have proven over and over what CIAM reports is a joke, what do you think?
Lie #2
Last year CIAM reported a loss of $197,079 for the year. The auditors reported a loss of $782,945. CIAM was off by $585,866! We are supposed to believe that year to date the Coliseum was only lost $504,050? We are supposed to believe that CIAM is reporting real numbers now? Really? Thanks for the comedy!
CIAM report: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=7448
Auditor: (net of depreciation): http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=7481
Lie #3
John Butler blamed the loss on the worst winter in 50 years. Unfortunately for him, that was LAST winter. Last winter is not in the Coliseum’s fiscal year, the reporting year started May 1st 2014.
Lie #4
Losing the parking garage affected attendance. It may be slightly true, but how many cars can park in that garage? Per the cage liner – 211 spaces were closed for the repairs. If 4 people went in every car and parked in the 211 spaces, that means 844 people didn’t attend some event because of parking. Butler claims attendance dropped 25%. If 800 represents 25%, attendance is dismal at best.
Butler: Are you going to release paying customer numbers for hockey, basketball, and football? Maybe I should start posting pictures of the empty arena.
Lie #5
The gap can be closed in the 4th quarter. Sure. In May CIAM will issue the 4th Quarter financial statement. The auditor won’t issue their report until at least October. CIAM’s numbers won’t be proven lies until then. Every other year has been a lie, so I expect the trend to continue.
Lie #6
Parking was only part of the problems with the Home Show last year: http://blnnews.com/2014/03/11/coliseum-failed-the-home-show/
I also hear the Coliseum charged the Home Show lavish dollars for labor to move items in, but the Coliseum staff mostly stood around and watched. I also hear the Home Show will never return to the Coliseum, even if it was free.
Lie #7
Concert touring industry has gone dormant. Hiring professional arena managers would provide access to promoters that CIAM doesn’t have. CIAM’s contract will expire next year. Will the City care enough about your tax dollars to hire professionals this time?
Lie #8
2010 – 2014 the Coliseum only lost $39,000 per John Butler.
2014 Audited loss: $782,945 http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=7481
2013 Audited loss: $22,943 http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=6077
2012 Audited loss: $160,330 http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=4650
3 year losses: $966,218
2011 and 2010 are NOT on the City website. The reports issued by CIAM are NOT on the City website either.
You are expected to believe the Coliseum had profits of $927,218 in 2010 and 2011 – that’s the only way the total loss is only $39,000. Depreciation is not included in any of these losses, that means actual operating losses are $850,000-$925,00 more per year.
The cage liner story says nearly 60,000 people attended 77 events. Do the math folks. That’s 779 people per event. That includes people who got free passes.
I’m surprised the story didn’t throw in an Economic Activity number! When they do, remember this: Your tax dollars are paying for the Coliseum. Any Economic Activity generated is nothing more than taking your money and giving it to somebody else. (Redistribution of wealth)
John Butler can not be trusted. Now you know the bird-cage liner can’t be trusted either.
Unfortunately, the potted plants on the Council still believe the Butler lies. Happy?
obviously a DESPERATE attempt by CIAM to save their asses and they continue to release false information. $.50 (that’s fifty cents) of all paid tickets are supposed to go into the parking fund. With only 60,000 people attending events through the first 9 months and a lot not paid tickets (jehovahs, etc), of course the revenue in that area will be down. Everything is event driven. When hockey is suffering, basketball draws no one, indoor football will be a complete joke and a slow concert season, revenues will be down. Blame the weather!? Blame the parking deck!? Start looking in the mirror.
Management has ruined hockey (hopefully it will recover since it is in a good league) and football (didn’t we have solid local ownership years ago?). They no longer sell club seats, suite revenues are dismal, they are going to lose naming rights….the outlook looks bleak, folks.
However, the good news is that CIAM management has a first place hockey team in Peoria at the Peoria Civic Center with your local tax dollars paying both of their full time salaries….how screwed up is that, City?
Lie # 9 A downtown hotel will help the Coliseum do better.
Lie #10 or the truth being financially it is a money sucking vortex impacting the community by taking your money to support it.
WJBC article “Coliseum shows loss, but shows major impact on community”
“Central Illinois Arena Management President John Butler said he expects events in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year to reduce losses. He said the coliseum has a major financial impact on the community.”
It does have a major financial impact – a BAD one.
Must be a secret want events are planned 4th qtr. Maybe Elvis Presley is doing a show but I’m sure he will cancel. Truth probably is John Butler has no idea what events there will be 4th qtr. Just a carrot he is sticking out there.