I’m starting to think the one thing the Pavilion has been missing is a little business acumen. Gawd, never thought I would agree with Mayor Huether.
The Pavilion came out $492,422 ahead in 2o11.
If you substract the city subsidy, they are still $875,735 in the hole. This has been a sticking point with the Pavilion. My feelings on the subsidy? I think it will have to continue, but the Pavilion and the city needs to figure out a way to ween themselves eventually, especially with the opening of the Events Center. I will agree with the Pavilion on one issue, the entertainment tax funds the Pavilion, which makes sense. Citizens are not being taxed extra in retail taxes or property taxes to fund the Pavilion. Basically if you are paying for entertainment in SF (eating out) you are subsidizing the Pavilion. This isn’t a bad thing. Something that is not shown in this financial report: (washpav-2012) Is the fact that the city owns the building, so any repairs or upgrades must come out of the capital improvement funds, (UPDATED: according to Toll at the informational meeting today (Item C) any capital improvements comes out of the entertainment tax) this fund of course comes from regular retail taxes. The ultimate goal of the Pavilion shouldn’t be eliminating the entertainment tax subsidy, but it should be making them pay for their own upgrades out of that subsidy, the Washington Pavilion Management Co. essentially leases the building, if they want new windows, etc., they should HELP pay for them.
But that is an argument for another day.
I will say I have been impressed with Toll’s leadership and his effort to try to get a handle on the financials of the Pavilion. It is a beautiful facility and an asset to this city (A big F’ing a$$et). If I ever have had one complaint about the Pavilion (well I have several) is that I wish it was more inviting to everyone. Art means different things to different people. To some it is a quiet sonata, to others it is a bouncing mezzanine. You need both to succeed, and once the Pavilionites figure this out, they will always be in the black.
And now a little video of one of my favorite performers at the Pavilion;
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3__WmcmY1o&feature=fvst[/youtube]
I agree – Larry Toll has been a blessing to this facility and the community. I am glad the Board finally realized that we didn’t need a high power from a different city to make this thing work – we needed someone that knows Sioux Falls.
As a side note, my husband and I took a trip in the last couple of months. We were charged a tax/fee for EVERYTHING. We paid $6.95 for 20 minutes to use the business center computers. Did we like that? – not really – but guess what – that city is thriving in tourist immenities and conveniences – hence the tourists pay for it. I wish our city would understand this. If you want to add entertainment venues and value – tax the people coming to enjoy those things. You find that the revenue pays the expenses and costs and subsidizing becomes less as an option. As a person that knows – a tax on a hotel room or the things that come with it do not deter most people from visiting somewhere. It is part of the package.
Well, I think Steve Hoffman was kinda green behind the ears when he started and didn’t have a degree in finance. It is no secret who actually runs the place anyway, Jon Loos, the operations manager. Has for years.
I agree with the entertainment tax.
I think Larry is the best to ever run the place, and part of that is knowing not to fix what isn’t broken.
That’s great and all, but there are a few things that are broken, and have been for years. The Science Center needs to be scaled back and open up that space for rental/catering. The cinedome needs to offer laser shows at night.
More musical acts too! Jewel and Jackson Browne were so long ago, but I’d love to see more of that type of stuff coming through.
Well, the Great Hall does make money, but would agree on the diversity of musical acts. I can’t even remember the last concert I saw there. I think it was Wilco.
BTW, I do visit the art galleries quite often, yet I sill have to see the Ansel Adams show.
Impressive considering the Pavilion was a bottomless sinkhole left behind by Munson. If he’d privatize it, he’d not have to answer to the idiots at city hall. Especially the chipmunk with perfect hair who looks good in the tennis skirt that’s to small for his wife or daughter.
Andre Bochelli. I flew to Orlando to see he and Heather Headley. It’s practically impossible to get Bochelli tickets. I paid $500 each for 2 tickets 15 rows back. People would fly in from distant states. Hotels and restaurants would be full. These are the types who drop 5K while here for but a few days. Women swoon and men know how appreciative they’ll be even if the only rooms left are at Motel 6.
Andre Bochelli. Heck, he even makes my panties wet.
Lewis, you crack me up sometimes. Other times, the general population is lucky to have you. There’s no checks and balances at city hall. You’re all we got to expose prevalent corruption and tyranny.
“There’s no checks and balances at city hall.”
That leaves my panties with brown streaks.