Click here to download the city response to our FOIA regarding the Downtown Arena Premium Seating
Despite our FOIA request, we were provided very little information regarding the price of the premium arena seating, or the parties who supposedly purchased them.
The best way to analyze this information would be chronologically.
Page 24 of the PDF file includes an email from Scott Schoenike to John Kish and Jonathan Weinzapfel. The email reads:
“Good news,
All suites are now sold out. All suites were sold at list price and all cash no trade.
Thanks for all your help in putting together last night
Scott Shoenike”
This email was sent on Wednesday, May 25th at 5:30.
Page 3 of the file includes the “Approving Multi-Year Contracts for Premium Seating for the Downtown Arena Project” which was adopted by the Evansville Redevelopment COmmission on the July 19th, 2011, by a vote of 4 Ayes and 0 Nays.
This is the resolution that gave VenuWorks the authority to execute seating contracts for a 5 year duration.
An interesting line that should be noted: “Whereas, premium seats are available to the public on the suite level and as loge seats on the main concourse level;”
Scott Schoenike of VenuWorks sent the email saying that the suites are all sold out on May 25th. The ERC granted VenuWorks the authority to sell premium seating on July 19th. Therefore, the suites were sold without the authority of the city. Any premium seating contract that was signed before July 19th would be void.
However, we still do not know any of the parties that were promised these seats. Nor do we know the “list price” that was mentioned in Scott Schoenike’s email. Pages 4-23 of the PDF file are blank VenuWorks contracts.
As Evansville’s taxpayers, we are all shareholders in this multi-million dollar Downtown Arena Project. As shareholders, we should all be given the option to purchase these premium seats. To withhold that option would definitely be SNEGAL at best.
The ERC will be meeting tomorrow, August 2nd, 2011 at 8:30am.
A line item on the agenda reads “11-ERC-55 – Approval of Summary Terms For Professional Management Services and Use of the New Arena by VenuWorks of Evansville, LLC.”
Also at this meeting, the ERC will be approving the minutes from their July 19th meeting, where authority was granted to VenuWorks to sell these premium seats.
Why are Evansville citizens, as effective shareholders of the Downtown Arena, not being given a fair chance at premium seating? Why were the seats not made “available to the public” as listed in the ERC resolution?
Why were we not provided with more than 2 blank venuworks contracts, an ERC resolution, and an email from Scott Schoenike?
Why did Scott Schoenike sell ALL of the premium seats nearly 2 months before he had the authority to do so?
Who bought the seats before we were given the option? and for what price?
Mr. H. Dan Adams, MD, MBA, Evansville City Councilman At-Large,
Please tell us all what your AGA membership instructs you to do in this scenario?
PS: Aren’t we still waiting for answers on that password protection issue?
JUST MORE “DEEP INSIGHTS”?
MORE TIME FOR TALK?
WHEN, IF EVER, DO WE SEE SOME ACTION?
“At a time in nation’s history when we are finally getting long overdue, deep insights into the process of governmental revenue and spending details on all levels (Google the Association of Govermental Accountability (AGA) of which I am a member), we need and should demand more clarity in reporting and less, not more, hoops to go through to get it. It just does not make common sense nor lend credence to the ERC’s continued existence as a commission that spends millions of tax dollars w/o close oversight by an elected group of officials. The minutes are surely spun for consumption so what is there to hide ? It is just not good public policy. See my website,
hdanadams.com for a classic example of a city transparancy report. The ERC should follow it. H. Dan Adams, MD MBA, Evansville City Councilman At-Large
(https://city-countyobserver.com/2011/07/20/evansville-redevelopment-commission-restricts-access-to-public-information/)
Too bad you did not do what I asked you to do. HDA
You’re exactly right. It’s 100% my fault…
“EVANSVILLE, WHERE ARE YOU?”
Just how close to the ankles, do the britches of the ERC have to drop before the citizenry stands up and proclaims,
“NO MORE!”
Demand the resignation of the ERC; rescind their decisions/contracts; offer premium/preferred seating to the taxpaying public. …
What would ERC resignations do for us?
Isn’t it growingly clear, they are a rubber stamp – granted a delayed stamp – but just a stamp!
UE season ticket holders get screwed also. Bad situation. Should of be built behind Roberts, then everyone could of took their time in looking at seating and buying their suites or seats.
The Weinzapfel Administration continues “have it’s way” with the citizenry with impunity———–apparently.
There will be NO CIVILITY shown these thugs and or their concubines in the Premiumn seats, if we meet in public, you can be sure!!
And this surprises anyone? so how many seats were given to the yet unnamed sponsor (naming rights winner) in exchange? It’ll be a uphill battle to get the list of names of the lucky few who had the opportunity to get in on the deal.
JMHO
I look for Aztar to control naming rights and a segment of the premium/preferred seating.
Just my gut. …
That’s what I’ve been saying all along.
Sounds about right.
“Aztar Arena” has a ring to it.
It will be Vectren Arena. The public will pay twice for this arena. No windmills or solar panels at top (mistake), to help pay for electric in the bldg, Oh yea we will pay for it.
Given this piece of information on the handling and timing of the sale of the “premium seating” one would expect our elected officials to be at the ERC meeting, armed to the teeth, demanding an explanation, then demanding the dissolution of the ERC, and the resignation of the Mayor.
I questioned Kish about the sky-boxes at the end of the July 19th ERC meeting. He said they first contacted the current holders of sky-boxes at Roberts Stadium. One would assume that those contracts needed to be honored, although you would think a price increase might be in order.
Kish then said that they used a list or lists of former sky-box holders to offer the remaining boxes. At that time, July 19th, he said they still had one box left. I asked for a ball park figure on the boxes and he offered $55.K for the full monty (tickets to all the concerts, etc., and $35K without the concert tickets.
This was a straight 1 on 1 conversation and I have not sought any documentation to affirm his statements, but believe they are probably accurate.
–
Press
Thanks for the info.
If what you report is true, the citizenry will be furious.
It seems to me that there can be no bridge, no grandfather clause, no patronage, that circumvents the taxpayers, between Roberts Stadium and the Downtown Arena.
We pay for and own these facilities and demand fair access to their amenities. It’s a new day, a new opportunity; no good ole boy favoritism allowed
Am I right?
The Mayor’s responds on May 25 at 7:49 pm of “Congrats!” in reply to the May 25 at 5:30 pm e-mail from VenueWorks that all suites are sold out at list price and all cash no trade (see last page of FOI production). However, the form Suiteholder Agreement shows on bottom left a “Revised 4/27/11” date and the Lodge Seat Holder Agreements on bottom left show a “Revised 5/24/11” date. How can they have forms revised May 24 and have all Lodge Seats sold out for cash the next day?? The City should produce all of the signed contracts for both Suites and Lodge Seats.
Anybody find it interesting that the ERC authority was not granted to VenuWorks until AFTER the FOIA was filed?
YES.
It’s hard to believe that there is no criminality involved here.
What agency is responsible for watching over this like this and making the judgement of criminal or not? Whatever it entity that is, it’s not on the job.
That “agency” would be the Evansville City Council. Now you know the importance of electing people of high moral and ethical standards with the ability to think independently and not be led by the nose.
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