Minutes Five Flags 2 17 03Five Flags Commission Meeting
February 17, 2003
PRESENT: Rod Bakke, Mike Brannon, Gary Dolphin, Cindy Fuller, Mark Nauman
STAFF PRESENT: Gil Spence, Paula Wolfe
The Commission meeting convened at 9:35 a.m. in the Manager's Office at Five Flags
Center. Chairperson Mark Nauman presided.
Rod Bakke moved to approve the January 13, 2003 Five Flags Commission Minutes,
seconded by Gary Dolphin. 'Minutes were approved by all.
Manager Wolfe reported that the month of January was a very good month for
concessions, due largely to eight Thunderbirds home games in one month, along with
the inaugural Wendy's Women's Basketball Classic, and other arena events. FBN
performed 2 FBNRadio Live radio shows.., very inexpensive and popular with
audiences. A self-promotion report was distributed for DanceTime. Manager Wolfe
explained that a typical attendance for a show of this nature in the Theater is 400.
There is a point where things are profitable. In this case all expenses were kept
minimal. Rates were negotiated, with Iow expenses. A lot of promotion was done on a
shoe-string budget, along with public service promotion. Targeted mailings ware also
sent to ballrooms, ballroom dance studios and instructors. The show was very well
promoted. 417 people purchased tickets, however, the showwas still (disappointingly)
a marginal financial loss. Although the showwas a financial loss, it Was a success for
the community with over 400 people in attendance who truly enjoyed the performance.
Manager Wolfe also discussed profitable events such as the Nutcracker ($18,000 profit)
and Chadie and the Chocolate Factory ($1,700 profit), and compared and contrasted
these events and others for the Five Flags Commission.
Tracking of upcoming events was also discussed. Copacabana will be a co-promotion
with the agent Who brought us Big River from New York last March. We have a radio
sponsor for Copacabana - Radio Dubuque Stations: KATFM, KGRR, KDTH and their
new country station The River. They have committed to $6,000 in radio promotion.
Anne Murray (a co-promotion With National Artists from Maryland) tickets are selling
very well. The first day of sales recorded over 840 tickets at the close of the business
day. Cindy pointed out that it Will be interesting to see if this will impact the Arena Pops
Concert. Manager Wolfe has spoken With the Symphony and explained the
conversation to the Commission.
With January being right after the Holidays, the first part of the month was slow for non-
revenue events. Commissioners discussed including concession product expenses,
and attendance figures on the commission report if possible. Financials were reviewed
and approved.
The Commission began its review of the Five Flags Center Policies. The intent was to
make revisions throughout the ensuing months at monthly meetings. Gil Spenca
Five Flags Commission Meeting
February 17, 2003
Page 2
directed the Commission through the draft. Rod Bakke asked if Gil had any
recommendations for revisions. Discussion ensued. Mike Brannon asked about user
policies for advertising safes. It was noted that the policies are covered in the
Thunderbirds contract. The Commission progressed through the Food and Beverage
section of the User Policies with discussion and revision recommendations, and tabled
the discussion to continue at the next meeting.
With no further business, Gary Dolphin moved to adjourn the meeting. It was seconded
by Mike Brannon and approved by all. The meeting adjourned at 10:23 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mark Nauman
Chairperson