The reasons for the financial decline for the arena are many according to McMullin. The original PFD legislation demanded a certain type of building, the recession hit the area economy, the Sonics and Thunderbirds both moved out of Key Arena in Seattle so dates that traditionally were taken in Seattle but open in Everett were now open for promoters in Seattle in a building that would give them bigger attendance. Also, the biggest money-maker for the Arena, the Everett Silvertips, have seen their average hockey attendance drop from an average per game of 4488 in 2010 to 3889 in 2014.
One other item that seemed to take the Everett City Council by surprise was the revelation that the administration will soon be asking the council to approve more than $675 thousand dollars for a new scoreboard. When asked where that money would come from, city CFO Deb Bryant said they would transfer it from under-expenditures from 2014’s budget. That news didn’t appear to sit too well with some of the council given all of the work that has been done to close Everett’s budget gap and bring it back into what the Mayor called structural balance in a letter to the council last March. During the citizen comment portion of the meeting Jackie Minchew told the council. “We can and will find $675k for a scoreboard but nothing for homeless, that makes me sad.”
McMullin told the council that the way they plan to turn things around is for Xfinity Arena to offer its own events and programs in the conference center. “The new trend is to do it yourself,” said McMullin. “Make your own action.” She also presented projections that show things turning around beginning in 2016. With regard to whether the arena has done what it set out to do when built, McMullin told the council she thinks it has. She says the goals established in the 1994 comprehensive plan to promote economic development were met. The building helps attract an educated and skilled workforce to Everett and enhances the city’s image when businesses and people look to move to Everett.
April 9, 2015
Downtown Everett, Everett, Everett Economy, Everett Government