The city of Kent plans to spend an estimated $900,000 in the next two years to upgrade the city-owned accesso ShoWare Center with new carpet, walk-through metal detectors and other projects.
The 16 items are part of the 2019-2020 city budget that the City Council’s Operations Committee will consider Nov. 6 and the full council is scheduled to approve Nov. 20. The proposal includes $599,000 to be spent in 2019 and $300,000 in 2020.
“These are anticipated needs,” said Kurt Hanson, City Economic and Community Development director, in a Oct. 25 report to the Public Facilities District Board that helps oversee the ShoWare Center. “We just wanted as a measure of transparency for the board to see that these are the things that we are expecting to reinvest in the building in the next two-year period.”
Tim Higgins, ShoWare Center general manager, and his staff compiled the list of projects that includes $110,000 for new carpet in the suites, $35,000 for carpet in the Seattle Thunderbirds junior hockey offices and $23,000 for administrative office carpet – a total of $178,000 on carpet.
“The carpet is starting to look pretty rough so we need to get new carpet put in,” Higgins said at the meeting about the $84.5 million arena that opened in 2009.
The city will pay for the projects out of its ShoWare Operating Fund, set up by the council to cover capital projects and annual operating losses at the arena. That fund has a balance of $2.6 million in 2018. The city transfers $850,000 each year from the general fund and $300,000 from the capital resources fund to the operating fund. The city’s ShoWare Center admissions tax on each ticket sold brings in about $350,000 per year to the general fund that is used for the operating fund.
Another major project includes $90,000 for portable walk-through metal detectors as people enter the 6,200-seat arena. Security personnel currently uses hand wands on patrons.
“The industry is going toward walk throughs that you see at CenturyLink, Safeco and the Tacoma Dome,” Higgins said.
Higgins also wants to rebrand the concession stands at a cost of about $75,000.
“If you look at the concession stands, they say concession,” Higgins said. “If you look at the building it’s in great shape. But the building is outdated, it’s time to bring it into the 21st century. We feel the investment back into the concession stands, rebranding – calling them a certain name – giving them a look, people will spend more money.
“If the building stays status quo, we think it hurts ticket sales. If you invest back in the building, ticket sales will increase. If you look at it, for 10 years those stands say concessions. If you go to any other building, they are themed in some sort of way. We really need to do that.”
Safeco Field, for example, has the Caught Looking Lounge, Rolling Roof Refreshments and other names linked to baseball or the stadium.
In 2020, the city plans to spend $120,000 to install Wi-Fi, so all guests can get use an arena system that could lead to potential marketing opportunities. Most arenas and stadiums offer Wi-Fi.
Another project is $100,000 for a building extension.
“There’s an area out back for more storage,” Higgins said. “Now that we are having more shows and higher-end acts, we are trying to find better space for artist catering. So cleaning up the back will give space for higher-end catering.”
Other projects on the list include club level tables $40,000; dehumidification unit repair $60,000; new trash cans/recycle bins $50,000; plaza audio $10,000; kitchen freezer $50,000; roof door $6,000; scoreboard control equipment $80,000; power transformer $30,000; and utility cart $20,000.
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