Update: Bloomington finally released the Coliseum 1st Qtr report. They lost $252,000, but we don’t know how much of this is wages to themselves. We do know CIAM took commissions of $24,378 and Management fees of $35,510. Concessions income is a secret. The Coliseum works great for John Butler, not so much for you.
By: Diane Benjamin
Did you know that John Butler (aka Coliseum Management) tried to get U of I basketball to play 5 games at the Coliseum? Did you know the offer started at $300,000 per game plus $10,000 in concessions – but then got upped to $325,000?
They didn’t get it – Springfield did. The Coliseum would have kept ticket sales. If they sold 7000 seats per game, just to come close to breaking even, ticket would have to be $44. If they could cram 8000 people in, tickets would be $38.75. They would have to sell out all 5 games. See a story about it here: http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2015-04-15/six-cities-made-pitches-illini.html
Side note: The Rod Stewart concert didn’t sell well. A lot of the people in the seats got free tickets. Rumor has it the Coliseum lost $300,000 on that concert.
Back to the U of I. Since concessions are never audited and the City doesn’t require Butler to produce any reports showing actual sales, I’m wonder if Butler planned to pocket a lot of concession money. Since nobody is watching, he is free to do what he wants.
Lisa Madigan’s Office has once again failed to act on my Request for Review. The last correspondence with them was in February. Since they don’t care about enforcing laws, I have no choice but to file another Freedom of Information lawsuit against both the City and CIAM (Central Illinois Arena Management). Might as well add BMI Concessions and John Butler.
Let’s see what a judge thinks. Two citizens have agreed to fund the filing fees.
Go get em
A few weeks ago Art Wynn I believe it was who owns a local heating and cooling business had a letter in the firewood starting paper and he mentioned that the management of the coliseum should be booking shows like who manages the Castle Theatre. Something needs to be done that’s for sure.
Kind of off topic, I was told there is a new gravel pit proposal for SW Funks Grove Township. The Kickapoo Creek goes thru there at least that is what I was told. I thought pray tell I wonder why this is needed or who wants it. I believe it goes before the county board at the end of this month. I didn’t catch all of the hearing dates. Now I wonder how many more roads are going to be torn up hauling gravel.
I am not able to attend County Board meetings. I really need a reporter there!
If you think the last quarterly loss was bad, you ain’t seen nothing yet. The currently scheduled full house shows, Theresa Caputo and WWE are complete disasters. Check out the Ticketmaster ticket charts for each event. CIAM is in implosion mode. I call Butler’s bluff and say they do not have any ‘big’ show announcements coming. CIAM needs to be replaced ASAP.
That’s why a lawsuit is needed. The City is pussy-footing with them and has for YEARS.
Hey Blnnews!!! The Coliseum has a General Manager again!! Doesn’t he also work for the Peoria Rivermen?
“Our financial projections are submitted to the City of Bloomington eight months prior to the start of the next fiscal year,” explains U.S. Cellular Coliseum General Manager Bart Rogers. “We base our monthly income and expense projections from previous years of event booking experience. Our first quarter is traditionally a slower time period; however we hosted nine ticketed events, including three full-house show shows this quarter. The facility hosted several days of non-ticketed events. Those type of events, conventions and high school graduations, are generally held during the first quarter and are clearly intended to drive business to the community.”
His “financial reports” have no dollar amounts recorded. How can anyone predict future revenue if you don’t know past income?
Do you need any more money for other fees or attorney costs?
I’ve got some money for those, but can’t pay tax bill