[NCARC] Re: exhibition bldgs

[SCOMIND@aol.com]

Hi Frank,

Thank you for checking into this situation, I appreciate it!

The comments below are my own and not the club's..


We have a fee ($25) that is for each 'drop' from the ceiling (this will
feed about 25 booths, and the cost is labor coverage).  Early on (Jan.)
we implemented 2004 rates that included a $25/booth electrical fee
(which we based on our research around the state in convention centers
and fairgrounds).  Upon further review of this situation, we found that
$25/booth was standard in convention centers, but NOT fairgrounds....so,
we adjusted it to each 'drop'....this is about 1/10th of the original
concept. We didn't supply drops in the McMillian building, so this is
a new service.  There is no charge for using the outlets around the
outside walls, just as it was at the old fairgrounds.

Thanks for the clarification. The 2004 Rate Schedule sheet simply says, 
"Electrical for Vendor Booths (Per Day), $25". It doesn't say that one drop handles 
25 booths, nor does it indicate that wall outlets are included in the lease 
fee.

Facility fee - this is only for 'ticketed events', which I don't
believe yours is?  If the event is just for vendors, or free, this
doesn't apply.  In terms on collecting for the County, if you are
selling admission tickets, just tell us total # of attendees and it
applies from there.  This fee is consistent across the campus, including
the BEC.

Our event is a ticketed event; we charge both buyers and sellers an 
admission. But I don't understand this "consistent across the campus" part - - isn't 
the Budweiser Event Center a totally separately-operated island within the 
complex? To further the point, note that tickets purchased at the BEC for events 
within the campus (including those not held at the BEC)are subject to an 
additional handling fee! As one of JD's assistants, I can personally attest that some 
of the draft horse show attendees weren't happy when they discovered the 
tickets they bought at the BEC ticket booth a couple of hundred feet away were 
higher than the tickets at the Ranchway ticket booth. So why is there a concern 
that all events must pony up an identical 'facilities charge'?

I know the catering issue has been a sore spot for some users. 
Although this is the norm in the industry, it's still a change. 
We've made several modifications with Ovations and continue to work
with them to make this work for non-profit groups.  We do allow potluck
dinners, and food can be brought in for workers/volunteers in certain
circumstances.  What we don't want to allow is the sale of food to
ticket holders or attendees to events that goes through a third party
and by-passes the Ranch.  This is the same at CSU football games, school
district athletic events, hotel event centers, or even local movie
theaters.  A big part of making this place pay its own way includes
revenue from the concessions.  Ovations has invested hundreds of
thousands of dollars in the facility, saving taxpayers that money and
allowing us to invest in other improvements to the site.  This includes
the 4-H teaching kitchen.

Uh-oh. You're saying the 4-H'ers won't be able to sell to the public out of 
their teaching kitchen? Does Kathay know this?

I really don't think this is as far off course as you may perceive. 
I have found Jay very accommodating for groups, and if other staff or
contractors seem to be an obstacle, he works hard to come to a mutually
acceptable compromise.

Jay's a good guy. My problem is with the policies, which aren't made by one 
guy or in a vacuum. The reason we're communicating now is because I hope to 
influence those policies. No worries, that's what an interactive government is 
all about.

 I'll be interested to hear how the meet goes in comparison to what
you experienced at the McMillian building.  This is a vastly improved
facility, with a lot more potential for your group and with much more
visibility.  Please let me know how it goes, especially how it worked
for your group financially and if it was able to meet your expectations.
If it doesn't meet your needs, let's sit down and talk about how we
can make changes to work better 
for your group, while still meeting the
goals and financial requirements of the taxpayers.

Our attendees are taxpayers, mostly from Northern Colorado, although we 
certainly hope to attract folks from Denver and beyond. I agree that we need to get 
one Superfest under our belt before we'll know all about how the facility 
rates with attendees. Thanks for the invitation, I think we definitely should 
compare notes afterward.

Regards,
Bob Schmid


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