Contact the City on Fargodome upgrades / poor operations

[SDbison]

Until they figure out pretzels the whole thing is a fail.

By accident I ordered a pretzel at the dome this past season. Never again! I don't know how you can make a soft pretzel any harder (que Izzy response here).

[stevdock]

For how long some of these issues have lasted, I seriously doubt the FargoDome is going to look at fixing anything. My bet is they will run the place into the ground and then hope their surplus is big enough to replace it.

[bisonaudit]

For how long some of these issues have lasted, I seriously doubt the FargoDome is going to look at fixing anything. My bet is they will run the place into the ground and then hope their surplus is big enough to replace it.

I disagree. There is no universe where the surplus in the maintenance and improvement fund is sufficient to outright replace the facility and the people in these positions are not delusional enough to think that is possible. Doesn’t mean that they have the desire or wherewithal to get the sorely needed improvements done. Just saying that’s not the reason.

[HerdBot]

For how long some of these issues have lasted, I seriously doubt the FargoDome is going to look at fixing anything. My bet is they will run the place into the ground and then hope their surplus is big enough to replace it.

The surplus would barely be enough to cover demolition, build a new east lobby, and to replace the video boards and turf.

[Gully]

I agree with you, but somehow it looks like they have ONLY done the big things right as they have like a $60M surplus or something right now.

somehow, its worked out for them. But the time has come to fix all the small #$%^

I could probably run a business and generate a $60M 'surplus' if someone gave me free plant and equipment (the taxpayers funded the construction of the Fargodome).

[bisonaudit]

I could probably run a business and generate a $60M 'surplus' if someone gave me free plant and equipment (the taxpayers funded the construction of the Fargodome).

Sure, but at the same time the building has financially outperformed the expectations that it was approved on. They’ve likely been to slow to deploy their accumulated war chest over the last decade to adapt to a changing event landscape, but I think that’s got more to do with local political nonsense than outright mismanagement. That’s just my impression.

[Gully]

Sure, but at the same time the building has financially outperformed the expectations that it was approved on. They’ve likely been to slow to deploy their accumulated war chest over the last decade to adapt to a changing event landscape, but I think that’s got more to do with local political nonsense than outright mismanagement. That’s just my impression.

I don't disagree. I'm just saying turning a "profit" isn't necessarily too impressive. You are right that they have outperformed expectations.

[roadwarrior]

I will say this again. Most of the surplus is from the sales tax that ran for 20 years. Growth in sales was much larger than anticipated over that 20-year period. The debt on construction of the building was paid off and the rest left in the surplus fund. Investment gains over the past decade have fueled the surplus fund also. The bulk of the surplus did not come from operating income.

[bisonaudit]

I will say this again. Most of the surplus is from the sales tax that ran for 20 years. Growth in sales was much larger than anticipated over that 20-year period. The debt on construction of the building was paid off and the rest left in the surplus fund. Investment gains over the past decade have fueled the surplus fund also. The bulk of the surplus did not come from operating income.

This is true. It is also true that the financial performance of the FargoDome has consistently exceeded the estimates that it was approved based on.

[Mr Meaty]

This is true. It is also true that the financial performance of the FargoDome has consistently exceeded the estimates that it was approved based on.

Arlette Preston thought it would be the largest grain bin in the country.