PRINT ADS

With the opening of the addition to the OmniCenter in July 2007, the convention center turned a slim profit of $11,608 for 2007, after removing donation revenue.

Total revenues were $1.49 million and expenses were $1.04 million. More than $440,000 of the revenue was donations specifically for completion of the addition.

The highlight of the year was the completion of a nine-year construction project that put the finishing touches on a second ice rink and additional indoor locker rooms, a second concession stand, viewing windows, a new pro shop and a new state-of-the-art banquet room.

Other highlights included hiring a new event coordinator and purchasing new equipment, including 400 new conference room chairs from L.B.White.

With the completion of the addition, the OmniCenter can provide 50,000 square feet of exhibitor space as well as having four breakout rooms for seminars.

According to the center’s unaudited annual report, attendance, gross revenue and profit/loss figures were the highest they have been for the past five years.

“Over 100,000 visitors passed through the doors,” said OmniCenter manager Tom Hammill. “During ice season, 50,000 came through and in non-ice season, another 50,000 came.”

It was better than expected, considering the new addition was to have opened in the beginning of the year but was delayed until July.

As a result of the improvements, the banquet room hosted 80 percent more events and over 5,200 people visited the center for receptions or seminars, 61 percent more than visited in 2006.

In addition, 2007 was the first year the center’s budget went over $1 million. Revenues slightly exceeded expenditures, even after accounting for donations related to the new building.

The greatest share of operating revenues, 53 percent, came from the arenas. The arenas contributed the most to the operating profits with expenses at only 33 percent of revenues. The profit on the arenas was $63,106.

The reception/banquet rooms contributed 18 percent of operating revenues with expenses at 32 percent of revenues.

The concession stands provided 29 percent of total operating revenues, but expenses were 96 percent of revenues.

According to the report, a second concession stand was set up to stimulate sales in the second building. Those sales did not cover labor costs and supplies so management intends to reduce the hours of operation in 2008 to game nights and tournament weekends.