ISU to Manage Hilton?

[MNclone]

Interesting read on the Register's webpage
Looks like Pollard is going after control of the Iowa State Center.
This would be great for ISU.
DesMoinesRegister.com

According to the article, ISU only receives only 50% of the advertising revenue at hilton. Not to mention having to rent it for all events.

 

[ISUFan22]

Yeah, this came out shortly after Pollard got here. A great yet very simple move.

 

[MNclone]

Yeah, this came out shortly after Pollard got here. A great yet very simple move.

I think every AD has talked about getting out of it since we got into the management contract. But it never happened.
However, the company that currently manages it got bought out, allowing to get out of the contract that we are in with them.
It looks as though it may be a realistic possibility this time.

 

[Cyclone62]

Would this impact concerts or Broadway shows coming to Ames?

 

[cytech]

I don't know how it will change the concert or show outlook, but I think alot of these tours sign up with the management company to goto all their arena's, and I am just guessing that with this we may get passed up on some shows that would of came. Though on another note it may open it up to different shows, if for some reason or other the management company couldn't get one act or another to sign.

But overall I think this was a long time coming, and something that will really help boost the revenue that is created by the basketball team.
With the savings from money spent to practice and have games there to getting the $$$ from the concessions and advertising , it should have a positive effect .

 

[BryceC]

Let's face it, while we might miss out on some good shows, it was a terrible situation for ISU athletics. I can't imagine how much the AD lost out on under the old agreement.

 

[cyclonenum1]

I find it so interesting that there seems to be a such "template" being used by ADs around the country. LSU did this a few years ago as well.

With respect to non-ISU events (ie: concerts) it may limit them more than in the past and it may prevent alcohol from being sold at them.

 

[psycln11]

Would this impact concerts or Broadway shows coming to Ames?

Doubt it...as for any facilities management company, it is in ISU's best interest to have the facility used as many days a year as possible.

 

[wolverine68]

This deal has always seemed messed up to me. The ISU theatre department has to pay rent to use Fisher, and last year when the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival was hosted by Iowa State, one of the performances had to be moved to the Ames Municipal Theatre because the "management company" booked a show at C.Y. during the fesitival.:angry6wn:

 

[CYdTracked]

Pollard will get this done. They guy is a smart business man and he'll find a way to make it happen I'm sure.

 

[ISUFan22]

Let's face it, while we might miss out on some good shows, it was a terrible situation for ISU athletics. I can't imagine how much the AD lost out on under the old agreement.

You would think, seeing how much of a money guy BVD was, he would have made this change.

Now, being on the outside, perhaps he was looking into this and wasn't able to finish it - who knows.

Regardless, I'll give Pollard the credit as they change is happening under his watch. :biggrin9gp:

 

[psycln11]

You would think, seeing how much of a money guy BVD was, he would have made this change.

Now, being on the outside, perhaps he was looking into this and wasn't able to finish it - who knows.

Regardless, I'll give Pollard the credit as they change is happening under his watch. :biggrin9gp:

The change was made available until recently...The articel states that ISU and SMG had a contract through 2011, but since SMG was recently sold, ISU can evaluate it's contract.

As much as it pains me, I can't fault BVD for this one. :rolleyes5cz:

 

[birdflu]

This deal has always seemed messed up to me. The ISU theatre department has to pay rent to use Fisher, and last year when the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival was hosted by Iowa State, one of the performances had to be moved to the Ames Municipal Theatre because the "management company" booked a show at C.Y. during the fesitival.:angry6wn:

The ISU music dept also had to hold some concerts at Ames municiple auditorium because they losing money by having to rent out CY Stephens for concerts.

 

[ornryactor]

The ISU music dept also had to hold some concerts at Ames municiple auditorium because they losing money by having to rent out CY Stephens for concerts.

Every band concert. The recital hall in Music Hall is waaaay too small to have ensemble concerts there- the audiences can't all fit inside. The choirs do it, but we end up turning away a ton of people at every concert. When a concert has more than one choir on the program, they can't watch each other, either. All the band concerts have to happen downtown- we don't fit on the recital hall stage, and it costs way too much to rent Fisher or Stephens. We barely fit on the City Auditorium stage, but at least there's plenty of seating. The only concert that happens in Stephens is Band Extravaganza, and that's only because that's the only stage that can hold the whole marching band (and even then, juuuuuust barely). The department loses money on that one, too, despite how many tickets they sell.

Since the department is essentially bankrupt, ISU taking back the Iowa State Center would be a fabulous thing. Here's to hoping, but it doesn't sound like anything is going to happen for a few years.

 

[pulse]

Previous administrations have made some really, really dumb decisions in the past. Outsourcing the management of the ISU Center is right up there at the top with selling WOI-TV.

 

[birdflu]

Every band concert. The recital hall in Music Hall is waaaay too small to have ensemble concerts there- the audiences can't all fit inside. The choirs do it, but we end up turning away a ton of people at every concert. When a concert has more than one choir on the program, they can't watch each other, either. All the band concerts have to happen downtown- we don't fit on the recital hall stage, and it costs way too much to rent Fisher or Stephens. We barely fit on the City Auditorium stage, but at least there's plenty of seating. The only concert that happens in Stephens is Band Extravaganza, and that's only because that's the only stage that can hold the whole marching band (and even then, juuuuuust barely). The department loses money on that one, too, despite how many tickets they sell.

Since the department is essentially bankrupt, ISU taking back the Iowa State Center would be a fabulous thing. Here's to hoping, but it doesn't sound like anything is going to happen for a few years.

Yeah, I wasnt sure if they were still holding their concerts at Ames Muni. but I was in symphonic band when they switched from CY Stephens to Ames Muni.- what a downer to play there. My highschool auditorium was nicer.

 

[ISUFan22]

The change was made available until recently...The articel states that ISU and SMG had a contract through 2011, but since SMG was recently sold, ISU can evaluate it's contract.

As much as it pains me, I can't fault BVD for this one. :rolleyes5cz:

But why did we never hear about this under BVD's watch? And I wonder what AD put this in place - BVD or Gene Smith?

Not even a few months after Pollard showed up in Ames, we heard about this and how he wanted to change it as soon as possible.

 

[theshadow]

Previous administrations have made some really, really dumb decisions in the past. Outsourcing the management of the ISU Center is right up there at the top with selling WOI-TV.

Selling Veenker GC to the university was also a terrible move, in retrospect. I cringe when I think of the extra revenue that would have generated over the past several decades, not to mention a home course that the golf team didn't have to pay to use.

 

[ajk4st8]

Maybe now some of the concessions sales will start going to ISU athletics.

 

[jimmycy]

But why did we never hear about this under BVD's watch? And I wonder what AD put this in place - BVD or Gene Smith?

Not even a few months after Pollard showed up in Ames, we heard about this and how he wanted to change it as soon as possible.

Its always been this way at ISU. Several years ago the ad paid over 500,000 dollars to use hc for basketball. by the way the ad also pays the university to use it's other gyms around campus to practice. the whole situation is silly. for some reason football doesn't have this issue.