by Matt Marquardt –
City Administrator Brent Trout unveiled his recommendations for a multi-purpose arena in Mason City on Tuesday night. You can watch the entire presentation and the council’s discussion of the plan below.
(PHOTO: Bret Trout, Mayor Eric Bookmeyer, and Councilman Alex Kuhn ponder a possible multi-purpose arena for Mason City.)
The project could include 3 phases and cost nearly $30 million. Trout recommended only phase A and B at a cost of $21 million. The project would be financed by “a large chunk of TIF” (tax increment financing.) TIF would be the primary, “less painful” source, Trout explained. He also suggested fundraising, selling naming rights, various taxes, general obligation bonds, and a lease purchase plan as ways to get the project paid for the most easily.
Trout showed examples of other arenas done in other, mostly larger cities, many of them in the twin cities area, and talked about how they operated. He also mentioned Waterloo’s Young Arena and an arena in Ottumwa, which has run into serious difficulties according to news reports. Trout said some of the arenas had people using the ice “from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.” He also verified that Waldorf College would bring their hockey team to play in Mason City if it had an arena. “They are an Iowa school, they want to play in Iowa.” Waldorf currently plays their games in Albert Lea.
The cost to operate the arena would be roughly $691,935 per year according to Trout. He estimated, conservatively, that revenue would be $692,000. Most of the revenue would come from ice time rental and concessions and beer sales.
The council was impressed with Trout’s presentation and thanked staff for their work. Councilman John Lee right away said that he could not support the project without taking it to a vote from the citizens. “It’s absolutely positively a necessity that the public gets a vote on this one,” Lee said. Councilwoman Jean Marinos said she would want a feasibility study done. The cost of that was $75,000 several years ago, and the cost today could reach $125,000 and take months to complete.
It was also said that if the state rolls back commercial property tax rates aggressively, as Governor Terry Branstad has supported, the project would not happen. “It’s ballgame,” Mayor Eric Bookmeyer said.
Watch entire presentation and discussion from council:
Wow. So the total profit would be $65 a year. That is if everything goes ok. Seriously? Yeah lets spend 21 to 30 MILLION to make $65 a year. People start thinking with your head instead of your ass. How is that helping anything?
Why not get with the County and if you do build build it at the Fair Grounds. If you are going to have horse shows there as you talk about you will not lots more room for parking and stalls plus outdoor arena areas. Without these features no horse shows.
Okay, as a resident of Mason City, we’re bankers on this whole deal. WE are the ones paying the taxes that will pay for this project. WE are entitled to some answers:
1) Where is a letter or commitment from Waldorf backing up the claims they will come to MC to play hockey? When making public claims, something in writing confirming and enforceable is needed.
2) Naming rights? How much is going to be raised by naming rights? Anyone can SAY there’s money behind the naming rights… but not one shovel of dirt should be turned over until at least HALF the naming rights and advertising commitments are SIGNED and enforceable!
3) Why downtown? Who owns the property where it might be built? Who owns property NEAR it that can possibly benefit the most through increased sales? Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-ILL, was shamed out of office for such actions regarding a major highway he got funded through pork-barrel legislation near property he just so happened to own.
IF such a project is built, there’s a potential boon of sales and profits… but it also takes off the tax rolls property that is currently helping make sure the mayor’s paycheck doesn’t bounce.
I agree that the fairgrounds is the most ideal spot.
Scott, WOW 200+ kids for Hockey, lets see 200+ divided by 31 million dollars. Makes sense to me build that thing for them kids. ARE YOU JERKING ME???? I think night. Go eat some ice on someone elses money!!!!!!
Hey yo! Looks like the Major is looking up at those pencils stuck on the ceiling – now who do you suppose threw those up there? Was that you Kevin?
Well if they do build it I hope the big foot conventions come to Mason.
I’ve always been opposed to this. If you think this project will break even, you are sadly deluded. Property owners be prepared to cough up even more in taxes. I’ve made a decision: the day my taxes go up one cent to fund this thing, the For Sale sign goes up and we are gone from this town. I’ve checked the tax rates in nearby communities (Austin, Albert Lea, Rochester). All have property taxes about the same as or lower than Mason City currently. How many others will be driven away by the rising tide of taxes and silly spending to fund someone else’s favorite sport.
Stop the Madness! Also, don’t waste the $100,000 on a feasibility study.
Mr. Lee is quickly proving to be a shining star for all classes of our citizens. Thank you Mr. LEE>
I was at the budget meeting last night and saw first hand Mr. Lee be a stand up guy. He was the first to bring up the citizens need to have a vote. I went up to him after the meeting and thank him for letting the citizens of Mason City have a voice on this issue. Rather for it or against it with something as costly is this I am glad the citizens have the choice to go out and vote on it.
It’s the citizens decison NO ONE elses period. PUT IT TO VOTE!
Why not build it at the fairgrounds? Get the county on board. I feel with the right promoter running it we could boost our local economy. People who go to events eat and need rooms to stay in. Downtown is the wrong place. I’m totally against getting it rammed down our throat! There are other options. I for one would love to see big name bands come to Mason City. Concerts sell out quick, look at some of the shows at the Surf (ZZ Topp comes to mind.) And lets not forget people who drive to events need fuel. I know that our elected officials don’t give a s**t about the little guy, however most of us care about our beloved city.
Build it! If the voters were crazy enough to vote in the library renovation, why not go ahead with this white elephant?
I’m all for the mutli-center. The location down town is a bad spot. The area that they are looking to build is in a flood plain. It has flood there before and will again. Lets move it somewhere else.
The cost to operate the arena would be roughly $691,935 per year according to Trout. He estimated, conservatively, that revenue would be $692,000. Most of the revenue would come from ice time rental and concessions and beer sales.
Barely breaking even year to year – and this is probably an optimistic view.
Most people in Mason City want nothing but the best for the downtown as well as the rest of the city. Looks as if the citizens will decide if this project is a good idea or not.
When is this town going to wake up. The downtown is dead and nobody wants to go there. Putting this arena there is completely stupid. Let alone the thought of building it. Let’s waste more of the tax payers money. Just when the fairgrounds starts to gain a heartbeat. Mason city has to shoot another bullet into it. But if this town is set on building this thing build where people go not where people use to go. Look at the mall for example.
Hockey, Come on, is this sport even worth it? I can see having some type of arena for events/concerts but for Hockey I say its a waste of money . No one cares about hockey .
At least we’ve got one guy on the council looking out for the public’s best interest. Thanks Mr. Lee!
What do you think drunkmeyer is thinking about? Visions of a coldone floating by is my best guess or when is this crap going to end “I need a drink”