Ice Skating Petition - Time, Response
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MEMORANDUM
February 11, 2005
TO:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Public Ice Skating Petition Response
Leisure Services Manager Gil Spence is submitting a response to the petition presented
to the City Council asking that Saturday public skating sessions be scheduled for the
remainder of the session. SMG advises that for financial reasons, only Sunday public
skating will be scheduled this year, with the last event on Sunday, February 27.
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Michael C. Van Milligen ---
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Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Gil D. Spence, Leisure Services Manager
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MEMORANDUM
February 2, 2005
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: GiI D. Spence, Leisure Services Manage
SUBJECT: Public Ice Skating Petition Response
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide you with a response to the petition
presented to the City Council asking that Saturday public skating sessions be scheduled
for the remainder of the season.
DISCUSSION
Attached is a memo from Five Flags Interim General Manager Les Crooks explaining
why there are no public skating sessions scheduled in the month of March.
When the petition was being circulated at public skating sessions, I visited with then
General Manager Paula Jo Wolfe about why Saturday sessions were dropped. She
explained that the reason was financial. Attendance on Saturday sessions in 2003 -
2004 was so low; renting the ice on an hourly basis to a user group would generate
more revenue.
In 2003 - 2004 there were eighteen two-hour Saturday sessions. Average attendance
at these sessions was 75 people (38 adults and 37 youth) generating average revenue
per session of $299 (including skate rental). Additional staff that works public skating
sessions included a house manager, an usher, and a cashier. The cost for these three
employees is $77 per hour session. This results in an average "profit" of $222 per
public skating session. Two hours of ice rental to the Dubuque Youth Hockey
Association results in revenue of $256.
continued
public ice skating, page two
Mr. Crooks reports that an increase in Sunday attendance has been noticed this year
with the elimination of the Saturday session.
When SMG names a permanent general manager the public skating sessions will be
reviewed to determine what the schedule will be next year. Increased Sunday
attendance will help create the demand for Saturday sessions to be added to the
schedule.
If you have any questions, please call.
GDS:et
attachment
cc Cindy Steinhauser
Les Crooks
DUbuque
'Five Flags
Center
January 26,2005
To: Gil Spence
Leisure Services Manager
City of Dubuque
From: Les Crooks ~
Interim General Manager
Re: Public Ice Skating Petition Response
Five Flags Civic Center has traditionally hosted a public ice skating program annually.
This community event has been wonderfully received and is a program that SMG looks
to build upon in the future.
At this time, public ice skating sessions are scheduled through Sunday, February 27. No
further sessions are scheduled past this date.
In reviewing the attendance figures for public skating for the past two fiscal years, there
is a noticeable decline in the amount of attendees during the month of March. The data is
listed below.
Fiscal Year AVl!: Attendees (Oct-Feb) AVl!: Attendees (Mar)
Difference
2003 105 32
2004 93 62
(70%)
(33%)
Based on figures provided to me, it costs a minimum of $155.00 to maintain the ice sheet
per hour at the facility, based upon Fiscal 2003 costs. In the nine sessions scheduled in
March during the last two years, only one of the nine sessions has attracted enough
attendees to make this a profitable venture. It is possible that Dubuque Youth Hockey
could rent the same ice time at $240.00 and provide the facility a no-risk event, as
opposed to public ice skating which involves additional staffing and advertising expense.
In addition, the March ice program is dependent upon the success of the Dubuque
Thunderbirds. Should they lose in the playoffs and not qualify for the National
Tournament, the facility will be melting the ice sheet. It is difficult to advertise public
events with such an uncertain schedule for maintaining ice. As your agent, SMG will re-
instate public ice skating in March, if so requested by the City. It is the opinion of the
facility's management that the current public ice skating schedule remains unchanged.
Please contact me if you have any further questions regarding this matter.
405 Main Street - P.O. Box 628 - Dubuque, Iowa 52004-0628.563/589-4254 . Fax: 563/589-4351. TDD: 563/589-4193