Numbers

Published 12:00 am Friday, August 8, 2008

Attendance was down, but Vicksburg Convention Center and Vicksburg Auditorium managers said their quarterly financial picture was “spectacular” due to an increase in events at the convention center and revenue from the city’s lodging tax.

VenuWorks Executive Director Larry Gawronski said numbers now available from the third quarter of the fiscal year nearly equalled the amount brought in by the city-owned convention center and auditorium in the first two quarters combined.

“It’s been a hectic three months,” Gawronski told the appointed members of the advisory board when they met last month. “We’ve gotten a lot done and have had some great success.”

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The 11-year-old convention center posted an operating deficit of $308,691 last fiscal year and Gawronski said he set a goal of reducing that figure by 20 percent by Oct. 1 when the next fiscal year begins. As of the end of the third quarter, the operating deficit was at $101,532.

“We’re heading in that direction, and we should easily meet the 20 percent goal,” Gawronski said.

The convention center on Mulberry Street and auditorium on Monroe receive income through rentals and supplemental services. A 2 percent tax added to the general sales tax on rooms rented by the night provides one supplement and costs not covered by rentals and the special tax are paid from general city revenue.

Gawronski said the third quarter success was due in large part to an 18.25 percent increase in lodging tax income as well as a successful Miss Mississippi Pageant in June and other events. The lodging tax has brought in $352,000 through the third quarter, compared to $287,760 last fiscal year, thanks to occupancy rates that topped 73 percent in June and rising room average room rates that have exceeded $78.

“Our attendance overall was down about 2 percent, but we’ve made up for it by booking more small conventions,” he said. “While not as flashy as concerts and other entertainment events, these are the type of bookings that regularly bring in people from outside of Vicksburg who eat in the city’s restaurants and stay in our hotels.”

A June B.B. King concert that drew about 1,300 did not live up to expectations set by the show’s promoter or the convention center administrators.

“The promoter lost a bundle,” said Gawronski. “Overall, in my opinion, it was not a positive indicator for future concerts.”

Among conventions and events planned in the current quarter are the Dimensions in Blue Jazz Ensemble at Vicksburg Auditorium on Monday and the Beautiful Bride 2008 show at the convention center on Sept. 14. Disney Live! Winnie the Pooh will be Oct. 18 and 19, as well as a Business to Business Expo on Nov. 19 and the Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker on Dec. 29.

The advisory board also elected Cliff Whitney III as its new chairman during its quarterly meeting. Whitney has been a board member since its inception in 1997. He replaces Bobby Bailess, the board’s first chairman, who will stay on as a board member.

When they met, board members were also updated on a digital message board being purchased for $49,900 to be erected at Washington and South Madison streets. It will be nearly 22 feet high and will measure 6 feet by 9 feet. Mid South Signs of Columbus is building the sign to be installed by mid-September.

VenuWorks, based in Iowa, is a contract acilities management firm for dozens of arenas, convention and other facilities. The company has managed the Vicksburg Convention Center for most of the years since it was built and is paid a base fee plus incentives.