HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-02-23 Bass Park Committee Minutes Visitor Facilities and Attractions Committee Visitor Facilities and Attractions Committee _
� ' February 23, 1998
Minutes
Committee members present: M. Aube, G. Eckmann, D. Fichtner, J. Quirk, 3.
� Rohman, M. Sullivan.
Staff present: E. Barrett, R. Heller.
Committee members absent: P. Baldacci, A. Hess, S. Pechinski, J. Saxl.
The meeting was called to order at 4:05 pm. The minutes from the previous meeting were
accepted. The draft section concerning facility needs was reviewed, discussed and accepted.
John Rohman asked if a 20-25,000 square foot facility makes a meaningful difference. Ed
Barrett said we currently accommodate about 80% of the potential business at Bass Park, and
that this would increase that percentage measurably. Gary Eckmann said it illustrates how we
are restricted at the moment by space limitations. Mike Aube said that access to exhibition
space is also presently lunited and should be addressed.
John Rohman asked how much thought had been given to the reaction of existing hotels if a
hotel were to be located at or adjacent to Bass Park. Ed Barrett noted that it might be possible to
have existing hotels join in developing a new hotel on-site. Jack Quirk asked if there was a
precedent for this, and Mike Aube said that it been done in some places.
John Rohman moved on to the architectural study suggested in the draft and noted that the first
� question should be how many people will need to be accommodated. He noted that an architect
couldn't answer that question. Ed Barrett noted that the market has not grown appreciably since
the KPMG study was done. Jack Quirk stated his belief that the market exists for a new facility.
Ed Barrett restated his belief that we can accommodate about 80% of what the CVB attempts to
attract. Mary Sullivan asked how well we were serving this 80%. Ed Barrett said we could
. not overcome the Auditorium's shortcomings with marginal expenditures. Mike Aube said that
if we commit major resources to a project, we need to develop an aggressive marketing strategy
as a companion piece.
John Rohman again returned to the need for a consulting architect to have initial estimates as to
the capacity envisioned in any new project.
Ed Barrett noted that we have to improve the Auditorium to regain market share and then think
about its expansion. Gary Eckmann said that we can't market until we have an acceptable
facility to market. He also stated that he felt we weren't really meeting the needs of 80% of our
potential user market, and that groups that want to use the facility typically won't because of its
condition. He also said that concerts are key because of their revenue generation potential.
Ed Barrett said that any significant investment in the facility would not now be reasonable from
a revenue standpoint. He noted that we currently handle about six concerts per year, and that the
potential might be there for up to twelve.
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Visitor Facilities and Attractions Committee
February 23, 1998 � '
Minutes/2
John Rohman said that the complex is "squeezed"between horses and the road, and that this
"screamed" for either discontinuing Buck Street or removing the horse area. Mary Sullivan �
raised the possibility of connecting the grandstand to the Auditorium and having parking
underneath. She noted that a lot of facilities have parking available in the infield.
Ed Barrett noted that we needed to do a master plan. Donna Fichtner said that in planning�ve
need to pay attention to cosmetics in order to retain and grow business. Mike Aube said that a
commitment to building a marketing strategy without having "sold" the concept to the public.
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