Staff Reductions Possible as Losses Mount at Comcast Arena at Everett

As its anchor tenant begins their 10th season, the losses continue to mount at Comcast Arena at Everett. During Thursday’s meeting of the Public Facilities District the financial report included news that the arena is showing losses in excess of six figures for this year. Board member Mark Olson expressed concern during the meeting saying, “We are in a situation where we continue to spend more than we’re bringing in and that is not sustainable.” When Olson asked what Global Spectrum, (the company that manages the arena for the PFD), was doing to reduce operating expenses by 10 percent this year, Kim Bedier General Manager of the arena replied, “We have positions that have gone unfilled and we are looking at the possibility of staff reductions.” Concerts and events that were expected but never came through and declining attendance at annual events are cited as two reasons the financial picture is less than robust for Comcast Arena at Everett. This weekend the Ringling Brothers Barnum Bailey Circus is at Comcast with what they call “Barnum Bash”. That’s a smaller version of the Circus that travels by truck instead of Circus Train. There are some big draws coming to Comcast that may fill the financial gap including the return of “WWE RAW World Tour” and the Broadway Show “STOMP.”

Comcast Arena’s anchor tenant, The Everett Silvertips, have started training camp for their 10th Anniversary Season. Next weekend marks the Annual Pre-Season tournament and the ‘Tips home opener is set for September 22nd. Last year the Silvertips averaged just over 5100 fans per game which is the lowest turnout for the team since they began play in 2003.