By: Diane Benjamin
The Steve Miller Band concert held Friday did not sell out. Concessions were still a problem. According to the reviews on the US Cellular Coliseum Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/USCellularColiseum/reviews
VenuWorks wrote the $299,999 check to John Butler for the equipment. The City is paying them back with commissions.
VenuWorks also provided $450,000 for renovations: https://blnnews.com/2016/07/10/coliseum-the-rest-of-the-story/
Since the City is on the hook for $750,000, it will be a long time before any profits will be returned to the City. (Especially if VenuWorks doesn’t get their concession sales ironed out)
What about naming rights?
How long does US Cellular get free ads?
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This unfolding VenuWorks disaster will make CIAM seem like the good old days when the extent of it is revealed. The mayor, city manager and entire city council should be replaced for locking into a long term contract with this incompetent company- all of their glowing words of praise when VenuWorks took over are public record, even after a 3 month ‘probationary period’ during which nothing was accomplished. Curtis Webb, the manager who evidently has no idea what he is doing, told the Pantagraph several weeks ago that several bookings had been made but not announced yet. A blatant lie.
Simply another case of choosing the company recommended by Hales without looking into multiple options.
Incompetence begets incompetence !!
Wish I’d have known Steve Miller was playing, I’d a probably gone, but didn’t hear about it.