More good news than bad

By Cindy Landrum  

APRIL 2, 2010 8:21 a.m. (0)

Fewer events are being held at the Carolina First Center, but attendance is rising.

And the convention center which has been named a Facilities and Destinations Magazine 2010 Prime Site Award winner is on track to lose less money this year than it did last year.

In the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2009, 465 events were held at the Carolina First Center with an attendance of 265,465, said John Wilusz, the facility’s general manager.

“I think the renovation helped us more than it was given credit for at first glance,” Wilusz said.

A $22-million renovation to the building formerly called the Palmetto Expo Center was completed in June 2008. The city of Greenville purchased the facility, which was on the brink of bankruptcy, from Textile Hall Corp. for $6.75 million in 2001.

Two big events during 2009 – the American Institute of Architects’ regional convention and the Southern Independent Bookseller Association convention – would not have come to Greenville if the Carolina First Center had not been renovated, Wilusz said.

The center had a strong fall, partly attributed to advance bookings tied to the renovation project, he said.

“That helped us weather the first impact of the economic situation,” Wilusz said.

Wilusz said while bookings of smaller meetings have fallen a bit, the center has made up for it with an increase in consumer shows and a weekly booking of New Spring Church.

But the spring calendar is weak, he said.

“I think next year, we’ll see a rebound in the spring calendar,” Wilusz said. “It certainly is a more difficult operation period than a couple of years ago.”

Still, the center is running less of a deficit than last year at this time, he said.

Last year, the center finished with a $583,000 deficit. This year, the center was budgeted to lose $600,000, he said.

Through February this year, the center has lost $242,000. That compares to a deficit of just under $315,000 during the first eight months of last year.

“Hopefully so,” Wilusz said when asked if he expects the Carolina First Center to finish this year with better financial numbers than last year.

The Prime Site Award is a national award based on the opinions of corporate executives, meeting planners and trade show managers.

Selection is based on criteria such as professionalism of staff, attractiveness and quality of site, food and beverage selection, convention center services and technological capabilities.

The Carolina First Center is managed by SMG, a facilities management company that oversees more than 20 arenas, stadiums and convention centers around the world.

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