Fox Cities Exhibition Center Convention Center Community Coalition

Fox Cities Exhibition Center Convention Center Community Coalition 1

Time Line 2008: Feasibility Study by CS&L May 2009: Follow-Up Data April 2010: Appleton Council/Mayor Appoint Convention Center Community Coalition December 1: CCCC Report to the Community January 25: Update 2

Feasibility conclusions Strong market demand Downtown Appleton Site Partner with Radisson 30, 000 -35, 000 exhibit space plus 50% more for support $8. 4 million annual economic impact 4. 39 estimated benefit to cost ratio 3

Visitor impact Full service convention center capacity annually adds 42, 000 overnight stays, and 66, 000 annual non-local visitor days If average 1 ½ days per overnight stay and 10% fly in, 2, 800 arrivals and 2, 800 departures 4

CCCC task was to provide regional leaders with information needed to help them make a decision about pursuit of an Exhibition Center… 5

Hypothesis: The City of Appleton should move forward in the development of an Exhibition Center in conjunction with the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel. 6

If we built the Exhibition Center will it… create real economic value? value Is there a reasonable site and design? design Is there a way to finance construction? Would it be able to… cover operating shortfalls? shortfalls 7

Annual Economic Impact $8. 4 million; ≈$105 million over 20 years – new dollars to the Fox Cities – (future dollars discounted at 5% per yr. ) 8

45, 000 total sq. ft. Designed for… maximum flexibility 30, 000 sq. ft. of exhibition space with 24 foot high column-free clearance 9

Owned and governed by a stand-alone authority OR not-for-profit corporation 10

Outagamie County parking lot is the best site option (Lawence St. /Elm St. /Eighth St. /Jones Park) 11

Construction cost range between $18 and $23 million --depends on actual cost per sq. ft. -(no current professional cost estimation) 12

Financial variables: Design features Building cost per square foot Radisson agreement to take risk County requirements Site acquisition & prep cost Skyway cost City infrastructure development Bonding interest costs Room tax level Other gifts and grants 13

Stand-Alone Facility: annual deficit estimated at $500, 000 to $600, 000 If part of an Existing Operation: deficit becomes significantly less, if any 14

Hoped for contract with Radisson Paper Valley: operations management and long-term risk (20 year net-net lease for $1) 15

County issues (current input to us) • Enhancing County image and visitor flow • Concern about interests of entire County • Recovery of 100+ parking spaces • Loss of likely campus space expansion option • Sunk $3 million in targeted site • Net budget cost, if any (calls for joint creative thinking) 16

OUTAGAMIE COUNTY PARKING LOT SITE 17

Hoped-for County commitment If parking and expansion space concerns can be adequately resolved, make site available, available subject to hotel risk taking, city participation, private grants, and room tax components coming together. 18

Hoped-for City commitment • • Confirmation that plan satisfies City strategic plan Confirmation that funding for site development & infrastructure is available Assurance of bonding availability Potential normal development support 19

Hotel room tax data • Tax assessed until bond retired (FCPAC 8 more yrs. ) • Tax covers construction costs, not operation losses • Expected capacity: $1 million yearly collections yields $12 million bond (FCPAC 2% tax collects $720, 000 to $850, 000) • If 3% room tax, bond capacity = $14 million bond • Actual tax depends on final cost estimates 20

No additional parking issues 21

How much will it cost the community to have a $105, 000 impact? 22

If $5. 3 million to purchase & prepare the site and If $210 – $300 construction per sq. ft. plus design costs, skyway access, and Contingency provisions then Total cost = $18 – $23 million 23

Economic Value Added If net taxpayer cost excludes ex operating risk and the cost effect of 3% room tax: tax 20 year economic impact per $1 = 12 to 23 times cost 24

Economic Value Added If net taxpayer cost excludes ex operating risk and includes cost in effect of 3% room tax: tax 20 year economic impact per $1 = 4. 6 to 5. 8 times cost 25

Failure to proceed detrimental to the economy… education… social capital… of the entire region’s population 26

Status Quo = High Risk 27

Then (1990’s): Fox Cities were a premier Wisconsin position as a convention site Now: Fox Cities are no longer among top choice site considerations 28

Current visitor spending $359 million or $1, 570 per resident Supports 8, 500 full-time jobs Exhibition Center adds 142 jobs 29

If decline of 2% of visitor spending per year from current level, by 2020 total jobs lost = 1, 300 30

The case for an Exhibition Center is compelling. The time to move forward is now… 31

Update Not-for-profit organized & incorporated Further discussions require better cost data and building scope, so Boldt Co. providing preliminary design and cost estimates Initial briefings planned with County Property Committee, Radisson owners, City Council Committee, and other parties of interest 32

Given cost estimates, next steps: Determine estimated total resources needed Obtain Radisson net-net contract Obtain County agreement on site plan Obtain City agreement on infrastructure funding plan Apply for CVB grant Determine required room tax level; obtain agreement Solicit naming right gifts and other grants 33

And then? 34