Sedgwick County commissioners agreed today to relieve SMG, which manages Intrust Bank Arena, of its duties to also manage the Kansas Coliseum.
Officials say the arrangement hasn’t worked out well. SMG has focused primarily on the downtown arena.
The move comes as commissioners struggle with the Coliseum’s future. They listened to two proposals Tuesday from groups that want a chance to develop the complex off of I-135 near 85th Street North.
Commissioner Gwen Welshimer said she believes the county will lose millions of dollars if it doesn’t take advantage of opportunities to develop the aging complex.
Other commissioners have expressed concerns about proposals for the Coliseum that rely on private-public financing.
11 Comments
How much has the Coliseum lost since SMG took it over? Shouldn’t they be held more accountable than just being relieved of their contract?
The decision to abrogate SMG’s responsibility for the Coliseum complex was made months ago, perhaps as as early as January 2009… in private. I detect a whiff of mendacity and more than a little duplicity on the part of the County.
Just another errant child of that unholy marriage of the government, and the private sector. Sometimes U have to mitigate future pain, by absorbing UR losses and set them free.
What did the county commish expect? Heck yea they’re focusing on IBA! The best thing for the coliseum would be a bulldozer!
Since SMG took over operations of the coliseum back in 2007 or whatever it was, it seemed NOTHING was done or booked. They (SMG) was just more less running it as status quo from the past. I seen nothing added (event wise). So other than just running the daily operations —- that was ir. My question is this, after the new INTRUST arena is up and going and all the NEW-ness is over —– will the new arena end up like the present coliseum concerns? Sure NEW draws people for a while but what happens when the NEW is over? Which gets back to the issue — did the county do the right thing and hire SMG when they could have operated it themselves
Is it really surprising SMG didn’t bother with the Coliseum? From the time the Arena fiasco got started it was obvious the Coliseum was doomed. The county just reinforced that belief over the last several months, and this contract change is just the last nail in the coffin. SMG just did was made the most sense for their business and ignored the Coliseum.
fearstonecold1…..Actually when SMG came in they kept a big wig county guy who had worked there for years. Previously his job was events scheduling and planning which is a title he continued to hold with SMG. However, looking back over the past years events I would say the guy wasn’t doing much to live up to his job description. Maybe because he made so many promoters mad that they refused to work with him and he probably didn’t care anyway because he thought the coliseum was going to close.
The Collisium would make a lovely Casino… or an indoor theme park and hotel… or both.. Why not?
@ RU… the word used by one promoter representative for the treatment received was “smarmy.”
Score: Uncle Frank’s new-fangled Digital Crystal Ball 1, SedgCo 0.
I’m waiting to see if they auction off the ceremonial demolition plunger push… KA BOOM!
Now if they could just throw them out of IBA!
randyhare has the winning comment. Why not get someone to make the coliseum into a casino or an indoor theme park?