Planning for an Idaho Falls Events Center
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Yesterday’s Post Register featured Idaho Falls Mayor Jared Fuhriman suggesting we develop a large multi-use events center. He says Idaho Falls is missing the boat on this opportunity. I noticed this discussion started on the same day that Pocatello announced they are pushing a bond to improve ISU’s Holt Arena. Does anyone else see the competitive stakes involved in our area events centers?
The pitch for an Idaho Falls/Bonneville County large events center was first made about eight years ago, but failed in a public vote. When last proposed in 1999, apparently the model was to charge up to 5% extra on motel rooms, so of course the area motel and hotel owners fought it hard. The vote failed by only 620 votes, so I think it is likely that this could pass today. Mayor Fuhriman and Chamber of Commerce Director Robb Chiles say they don’t know if they will take the same funding route as eight years ago. However, this method was used to fund Boise’s Centre on the Grove, which has proven to be a jewel for downtown Boise.
The funding alternatives do not look great to me, which include local property tax increases or local sales taxes, or an as-yet-unknown creative funding solution which could require legislative approval. I’m thinking I would be more likely to vote for this events center if it was funded by the Boise method of motel room surcharges. I would not be as likely to vote for it if it increased my property or sales taxes. I also suspect the Idaho Falls business community would fight this proposal if a local sales tax was the vehicle.
Why do we want or need this kind of facility? We could finally host tractor pulls, corporate events, trade shows, concerts, and maybe even a minor league hockey team. The city wants to hire a consulting firm to gauge local interest in such a center. The feasibility study will cost about $50,000, and will not occur until enough donations come in to pay for it. I wonder where the donations are coming from?
There is a need here and there is desire for this type of facility, but no private companies have stepped forward to fill the need so our municipality will probably have to take the initiative. Our city has some nice things going for it that other similarly-sized cities do not, however we are lacking a large events center. How many more years are we going to wait for this kind of jewel? I say if the funding is done right (by way of motel taxes), let’s get this to a vote early next year and aggressively pursue it to open by summer 2009.
What do you think about this idea? How would you like to see it funded? Where would you like to see it located?
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Comments
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0 
0 If they try I hope we vote out the bums in the city council who back it just like last time. If this can be done without burdening the property taxpayers then so be it but the citizens of Idaho Falls shouldn’t have to foot the bill for something that those in Ammon, Rigby, Blackfoot, Shelley, and the surrounding area are going to use just as much. Its needs to be paid for in such a way that the cost is shared. And I don’t support a sales tax hike either because that will just drive business across the street to Ammon. Basically I don’t think it can be done without costing the residents of IF a bundle and I don’t trust the city leaders given the repeated blunders they make time and time again about cost estimates (ballpark, Sunnyside road, etc). So I’d vote no for sure.
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0 0 I’d have to vote “NO” on this proposal also unless they come up with an innovative way to get the money. I’m not sure how many more increases the residents of IF can afford. Everything from basic necessities to luxury items have risen in price — we don’t need another property tax increase to fund an event center. I really question those proposals that say that once this bond or whatever they choose to call it is paid off, then we will see a decrease. How many decreases have any of us as tax payers ever seen. Granted, the state sales tax did decrease for a short period of time only to have a bigger increase when Reisch got on board. I know I am rambling here, but bottom line is, I am starting to see the bottom of my cash reserve — how about you?
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0 0 I think this events center is less a frill and more of an investment in our area’s future. Not having a major events center is going to handicap our future.
Apparently Chubbuck is seeking to pitch in $3.84 million to upgrading Pocatello’s Holt Arena, in addition to Pocatello seeking $20 million for the upgrade.
Why would Pocatello want to spend $20 million on a 35 year old facility that was originally funded by ISU student fees? Why would Chubbuck be willing to throw almost $4 million at a facility located a few miles from their city?
Because they’ve realized the huge economic benefits of having the large mutli-use events center, which Idaho Falls has not. They know it is an investment in their area’s future.
Will Idaho Falls be able to see that? I truly hope so! I hope nobody lets hurt feelings from past projects cloud their judgment on this project.
As for funding, the first thing Fuhriman and Chiles talked about was the funding vehicles. I think the motel room tax will be the best option of what’s proposed so far.
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0 0 Just a few thoughts. First, before everyone starts belittling our local city leadership, this is not a project that is being brought forth by the City of Idaho Falls and the local council. The Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau are the ones who are responisble for investigating this issue. I simply brought the mayor aboard to show that the city supports the thought of this idea.
Second, before everyone starts bashing the idea of an multi-purpose event/conference center, you might want to wait until we have completed the study. This study will answer most of your questions, including site location, feasability, economic impact, funding mechanisms, size, etc. There are many different ways to fund a facility of this nature. We are investigating those options that other states use and perhaps might need some legisltive help to get it done.
Finally, I really would like to see people take a look at the positives of what a facility like this could bring to our region. There is really no competition within a 200 mile radius of Idaho Falls. (Incidently, the Holt Arena, even with improvements would not be able to compete with the faciltiy we are talking about mostly because of University rules and regulations. Also, the Holt Arena doesn’t have the conference center aspects that we are looking at.) The economic impact could mean alot to our local businesses and strengthen our ecomony. This isn’t being investigated as a project that we are hoping to save our economy. We are looking at it as way to strengthen and diversify it. Look at it as a quality of life issue as well. A facilty like this could bring much needed entertainment to the region. When busineses and people are looking to relocate to our area, they look for these things. The mayor said it right. We are missing the boat here. Look at the Idaho Center in Nampa. The community embraces the facility, because they know what is means to their community. They actually built that facility using property tax dollars and even fund the $750,000 shortfall it has every year. Don’t you wonder why? That’s alot of money. But they see the benefits it provides them.
Anyway, I could ramble for along time. The main point is that we aren’t suggesting anything be done until a study determines that its feasable and gives suggestions or answers to the many questions that all of us have.
Vote:
0 0 Cool, good points and thanks for bringing them up. I look forward to seeing the results of that study.
Vote:
0 0 Great post Robb. It’ s amazing to me how people will bash something before they have the facts. What is really ironic here is that your folks are simply trying to gather the facts and make sure the events center will work here.
Sounds to me that you guys are going about this the right way. Hats off to you and your staff for getting the ball rolling to see if this will work for our community, as well as benefit the residents here.
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0 0 Good points Robb! I believe there was a post regarding this issue awhile back, although I’m not sure what it was named. Perhaps Joe could look that up and put a link to that post as there were a number of great ideas and suggestions related to all the different events that could utilize a venue such as this.
Regardless, this is one of the things I’ve been suggesting since moving here and I for one am all for it. I love this town, but I personally think this is one of the major issues holding back Idaho Falls from becoming a really great city. The cost and how this project is going to be funded should be the least of our worries. A convention center is a must have for any decent sized city thats looking to grow economically. We have enough mid level to semi large companies in & around Idaho Falls, that having this convention center would be a major asset for not only them but our community as well. This type of venue would not only be a great place for conventions, but any number of cultural & community events that are severely lacking in South East Idaho.
I just hope that if they do decide to build one, they make it large enough to support the future growth of Idaho Falls. I’ve lived in a couple of cities over the years where they’ve put millions into building a convention center or arena and 10 years later outgrew it and ended up having to build a larger one. I know we’re not a major city, (& I’m happy we’re not) but we are growing at an incredible rate and we definately need to think ahead to the future and plan this structure accordingly.
I hope more & more people get behind this idea and work to get others to back it 100% in order to make it a reality!
Vote:
0 0 Hey Robb heres an idea. Why not have the Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce fund the study for a new events/convention center after all you are the president /ceo of the COC. The board of directors of the COC has some real local movers n shakers. As for the the City of Idaho Falls goes I think they should set some other priorities with tax payer dollars before getting involved with a events/convention center project. Some infrastructure improvements would be nice.
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0 0 I don’t know if you saw the part that they are seeking donations to fund the feasibility study? I was still wondering where those donations were expected to come in from? I imagine local businesses, business people?
Vote:
0 0 I agree Idaho Falls is missing a big boat if this idea isn’t pursued. I lived in another city where a convention/events center was brought in and it ended up being a huge financial boom to the whole area.
That being said, I love the arguments about who will pay for it, why we do or don’t need it, the town is getting stagnant, etc. We need to look around and then look at ourselves in the mirror. Those of us with healthy incomes should be willing to invest in the community. Those without extra income to donate could help in other ways.
I don’t know the ins and outs of funding, laws, etc. but we all need to stop looking at everyone else all the time to fix the problems or come up with solutions. We can be the answer.
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0 0 excellent comments reader!
Vote:
0 0 5% hotel tax and IF would get a new events center. Seems simple enough. It was defeated with a smear campaign funded by… oh guess who. The claim was that the industry couldn’t support a 5% tax increase. Obviously voters bought into the full page ads in the PR.
My question is this:
How many new hotels have popped up since 1999, but the industry couldn’t support 5%?
Proponents will have to have deeper pockets than the hotel chains to get this through. I’d be happy to put up the first $50!!
Vote:
0 0 Just the fact that it was defeated by such a small percentage of voters makes me think they should try the same funding route again.
A tax on motel rooms is not a tax on our general population. Why would locals be opposed to that?
Vote:
0 0 Go to any vacation state such as Florida & Caliornia and look into the motel/hotel & rental car taxes they impose on vistors. It’s outrageous, but it works and nobody complains!
I too believe they should try the same funding route. I bet it would pass this time. A convention/events ctr is badly needed in this town.
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0 0 Yes yes we know we should wait to see the full proposal, but I wanted to bring up how Pocatello residents voted down the $24 million Holt Arena upgrade bond this week, and by a large 71% margin. Some Poky residents I spoke with said they did not like how ISU failed to save money from usage fees all these years to pay for the upgrades themselves. They said a better way is for ISU to pay for the upgrades and charge higher fees to the community groups that do rent Holt Arena.
Is Pocatello’s loss a win for Idaho Falls in this case? I was going to suggest when they make the Idaho Falls Events Center proposal that they ensure it exceeds Holt Arena’s capabilities in every imaginable regard, but rereading the comments it seems Robb indicated they would.
I’m excited to see the proposal when it comes out. Of course we want economical, but I hope they have some bold plans in there, nice architecture and versatile facilities and probably childcare facilities.
Vote:
0 0 I can understand why the Holt Arena bond was defeated. Unless a taxpayer is a diehard ISU sports fan, what’s in it for them? They used to have concerts and many other events there. Granted, it has lousy acoustics for a concert but it’s better than nothing. As an I.F resident I may be uninformed but I don’t see a great value to the general public for Holt Arena. One rodeo and a handful of football games along with a few track meets and trade shows is about all they offer. As for Idaho Falls I feel the same. I would support an events center but would expect it to be put to use a lot more than Holt Arena is.
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0 0 When it comes to an events center, I always think of Panguitch, Utah, deep in the Heart of Dixie’s Color Country. Bear in mind that the Panguitch Population (year 2000) was 1,623 and its estimated population in July 2006 was 1,485, a -8.5% change!
Just don’t tell the Panguitch People that they are in the middle of nowhere! They have an attitude and it works for them. Their Triple C Arena totally ROX! They are the living, breathing example of how a little community can make an events center work wonders. We’ve seen it personally and we can attest that this place is awesome.
If you know much about Dixie, Utah, you will know Panguitch and Garfield County. If you don’t, you probably ought to. The bottom line is that a community’s “can do” attitude makes ALL the difference in the success of an “events center.” And, yes, it’s still true–it you build it, they WILL come!
http://triplecarena.com/index.html
Take some time to roam the above website, I feel certain you will learn something. Bear in mind that Panguitch’s population is far less than a small neighborhood in Idaho Falls–perhaps the equivalent of the 11th St. Historic District.
And, to bring it back to local relevance, I ask you to imagine how the scale and scope of a larger effort in a city such as Idaho Falls could make magic happen. It’s possible–all it takes is vision and faith.
Cheers, Monte
Vote:
0 0 I vote YES!! Idaho Falls needs an event center. I’ve spent over twenty years of my life in Idaho Falls and this has been a NEED for a long time. I love concerts and big events and I always have to travel everywhere else to see them.
Would the new events center include a year-round indoor ice rink and swim center? My daughter loves to ice skate. We drive her to the Eccles Ice Arena in Logan, Utah everyweek so she can ice skate. With today’s gas prices I don’t know how much longer we can afford to drive her there.
Idaho Falls should have a year round ice rink and an indoor swim center. We are a big enough town and because we have such long winters kids need positive things to do.
I think the additional tax on Hotel room charges is a great way to get additional funding for this project. I think this events center is essential to the communities future.
Thanks for hearing my opinion,
Kelly Anderson
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0 0 Just an FYI…..we do have a year-round indoor ice rink. It’s located at Tautfaus Park right next to the Zoo. I’ve been there a number of times and it’s a decent rink for Idaho Falls. I would suggest you bring your own skates though as the majority of the skates they rent are ice hockey skates (the ones without the little ridges on the toe to help you stop and start. But skates rental is only a dollar so you can’t beat that!
Give them a try, I’m sure you’ll like them as much as my family does!
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0 0 Another FYI, we have a year round indoor aquatic center also. They provide year round lessons in various aquatic activities and open swimming.
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0 0 I beleive Idaho Falls has been missing the boat for over 10 years. I own a catering company, and we travel, to many different event complexes to cater many differet types of events. Concerts, Trade Shows, Sports Shows, Corperate conventions, etc. Some of these events are one day and others last for over a week. When we attent these shows to cater or for fun, we spend on average $100 to $2500 with in the comunity on gas, food, entertainment and hotels. All depending on the lenght of the show. When you bring in anywhere from 1000, to 15,000 people per day into a event, just think of what it does for all the local Gas Station, Restaurants, Conveinent Stores, Movie Theators and HOTELS. When these people come into our comunity to spend money for one day up to one week, and their hotel room cost them 5% more, do you really think they are going to notice. They have to pay the same rate, in Boise, Salt Lake, or anywhere else they travel to for any type of convention. And as for as taking care of all the local roads, or rentavaiting old buildings, before we build a event complex, how many new jobs or how much additional revenu, will the road improvements, and nicer old building bring to the comunity. Besides there will always be roads that need inproving, did you ever think maybe this might be one way to bring extra money into our comunity to help with all the other improvement that need to be done. I think Idaho Falls has missed the boat for to long, and now its time to get on board, and vote yes for the entire comunity.
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0 0 I completely agree! Not just an “events” center, but a major convention center. Something large that can hold a lot of people and host everthing from trade shows to major concerts, And like the previous posted noted, it’s a major investment in and for our community.
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Vote:
Before Mayor Fuhriman comes up with his whats best for Idaho Falls visions he needs to figure out ways to pay for his ideas and he might want to set some priorities first. Yep we sure need a place to have tractor pulls a few saturdays a year and we sure don’t need a new police or fire station. Didn’t the city dodge a bullet on the sunnyside rd project when they lost one grant AFTER the project was in the works but luckily came up with another grant?. I think the city administration should be cauteous on spending on frills, bells and whistles for the next few year until they see what money the tax rolls will bring in heres why. With the current mortgage meltdown going on just how many new homes in the area are going to stay empty or ho many home owners are going to lose their homes in default?…how much tax base with that cost?. The city could shell out 2.5 million for a new ball park or Kevin Green’s new locker rooms or his team might have had to find a new city but they couldn’t come up with $50,000 for an all access palyground at tauphus park?. Has the city got anything back from Melaleuca Field? oh wait Mitt Romney visited there. nd what is the nightmare going to be when the legislature meets next and changes the tax laws? I see a lot of municipalities losing money. Anyone know what the deal is with the developments along the river south of Pancheri? I hear theres some serious tax deferments in the works just to make Idaho Falls seem like a Big Time City…something smells hoakie.