Put together by Clear Vision Eau Claire.

1. Convention Center Analysis
Visit Eau Claire Case Study on
Midwest Based Facilities

2. La Crosse: The La Crosse Center
• Built in 1980
• 42,400 total square feet
• Cost was estimated at 9 million dollars
▫ Financially bonded by and paid back by a tax levy

3. La Crosse: The La Crosse Center
• 2000 expansion doubled the center to over
84,000 total square feet
▫ 14 million dollar expansion
▫ Bonded for and paid back through the tax levy, a
portion of room tax and a portion through a ticket
facility fee
• Arena can hold up to 8,000 people
▫ Hosted the 2011 Division III NCAA Wrestling
Championships

4. La Crosse, WI:
The La Crosse
Center

5. Rochester, MN: Mayo Civic Center
• Built in 1938 as a 1,700 seat arena and 1,340 seat
theatre
• Modifications made in 1972 and 1978
• 1984: 18 million dollar addition to Taylor Arena
and underwent a name change
• 1997: West Expansion added

6. Rochester, MN: Mayo Civic Center
• 1998 authorized a 25,000 square foot expansion and
North Lobby
▫ Completed in 2001
▫ Totaled 18 million dollars
 2.5 million dollar granted funded by the state
 Remaining balance was funded through a 1/2 % local
option tax
• Currently sitting at 120,000 square feet
• Looking into a 70 million dollar expansion focusing
on conference center space specifically
▫ Applied for a 35 million dollar state funded grant
▫ Other 35 million would come from a 3% increase in
room tax

7. Rochester, MN:
Mayo Civic Center

8. Duluth, MN: Duluth Entertainment
Convention Center (DECC)
• Built in 1966 for 6.5 million dollars
▫ Primary focus was for the UMD Bulldogs Hockey
Team
• 1990 added a 30 million dollar City Side
Convention Center
• From 1996-2005 an Omnimax and 10 screen
cinema as well as the Harbor Side Convention
Center were added

9. Duluth, MN: DECC
• 2008 funded an 38 million dollar expansion
▫ 27% was funded by a ¾% increase in food and beverage tax
▫ 12% was funded by University of Minnesota-Duluth Athletics
▫ 11% was funded by DECC
▫ Remaining 50% was funded from the state based on an
agreement
• Features a new hockey arena, parking ramp, and meeting
space
• Hosted the 2012 Frozen Four Division I NCAA Women’s
Hockey Tournament
• 3 year process for approval from the state
• Totals over 100,000 square feet equipped with 2 ballrooms,
6,600 seat arena, and 30 meeting rooms

10. Duluth, MN: Duluth
Entertainment
Convention Center
(DECC)

11. Madison: Alliant Energy Center
• Multiple structure changes since land was initially
acquired in 1896
▫ Creation of expo hall
▫ Agriculture building renovations
▫ Renovation of arena
▫ Willow Island
• Oscar Meyer Theatre and the Isthmus Theatre
• Dane County Coliseum
▫ Built in 1967
▫ Holds 10,231 people

12. Madison: Alliant Energy Center
• 1995 Expansion/Multi-Pronged Project
▫ Exposition Hall was 21 million dollars alone
▫ All projects combined cost over 28 million dollars
 Funded through naming rights and facility
operations
• The Alliant Energy Center does not receive any
subsidies because it is owned by the county and
is a self supporting facility
▫ Bonds are close to being paid off

13. Madison:
Alliant Energy Center

14. St. Cloud, MN: St. Cloud Civic Center
• Built in 1988 for 10.9 million dollars
▫ Funded on city food and beverage tax at an additional 1%
• 91,700 total square feet
• Terry Haws Center
▫ 25,700 total square feet
• Glenn Carlson Hall
▫ 16,000 total square feet

15. St. Cloud, MN: River’s Edge Convention
Center
• 2012 Expansion cost 22 million dollars
▫ Funded by city food and beverage tax
• 15 year renovation process
• Nearly 180,000 total square feet
• Added an additional 35,000 total square feet

16. Appleton: Fox Cities Performing Arts
Center
• Opened on November 25, 2002
▫ Cost 45 million dollars
 Raised through private donations
▫ Open after 31 months of construction
• Totals over 25,000 square feet
▫ 2,100 seat Thrivent Financial Hall
▫ Kimberly Clark Theatre can accommodate up to
350 people

17. Appleton:
Fox Cities Performing
Arts Center

18. Green Bay: Resch Center
• Built in 2000 and opened on August 24, 2002
▫ Cost roughly 58.1 million dollars
 Started with private funding for naming rights
 Remaining balance was funded through room tax
 PMI Entertainment (operating group) paid back room
tax to Convention and Visitor Bureau
▫ Features a 10,200 seat multipurpose arena and
the Time Warner Cable Theatre that can seat up to
5,500

19. Green Bay:
Resch Center

20. Mankato, MN: Verizon Wireless Center
• Built in 1995 for 23 million dollars
▫ Funded through ½% sales tax
• Over 35,000 square feet comprising of
▫ Banquet Hall
▫ Reception Hall
▫ Conference Center
▫ Arena: 5, 280 seats

21. Sioux Falls Convention Center: Sioux
Falls, SD
• 71,000 square foot space operated by Global Spectrum
▫ 12 breakouts and a 16,800 square foot ballroom
• Fall, 2014: Opening a 115 million dollar event center
▫ Funding by city taxpayers
▫ Will hold up to 12,000 people

22. Eau Claire: The Plaza
• 28,000 total square feet
• 15 banquet spaces
available
• One space can hold up to
850 people at one time
• 233 total hotel rooms
available

23. Eau Claire: The Ramada and
Convention Center
• 23,000 total square feet
▫ Up to 14 breakouts
• Largest room: Great Hall,
7,344 square feet
▫ Holds 900 theater style
• 122 hotel rooms
• Parking ramp connecting
to hotel

24. University of Eau Claire: Davies Center
• Originally constructed starting
in 1957
▫ 2008 determined a new
student center was to be
created
• New building is 170,000
square feet
▫ 5,500 square foot terrace
▫ 12,000 square foot ballroom
▫ Theatre will hold over 200
people
• Re-opening Summer, 2012
▫ Construction started on
March 11, 2011

25. Florian Gardens
• 10,563 square feet of available meeting space
• Largest space can hold up to 775 people theater
style
• 5 breakouts available

26. Eau Claire: Indoor Sports Center
• 2 arenas that are 16,000 total
square feet each
▫ 1 is sport court material and
the other is field turf
• 2 breakouts
▫ 875 total feet
▫ 1500 total square feet
• Can hold up to 1,777 theater
style

27. Questions and
Discussion