Monday, July 28th
2:00pm - 3:00pm

7A - The Management Debate: Private, Public or Contract?
Moderator: Mike Taylor, CFE, Special Events, City of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada

Panelists: Michael Marion, CFE, General Manager, Alltel Arena, North Little Rock, AR; Frank E. Russo, CFE, SVP Business Development and Client Relations, Global Spectrum (Comcast-Spectacor), Glastonbury, CT; Michael Marion, CFE, General Manager, Alltel Arena, North Little Rock, AR

Owners of public assembly facilities are increasingly being challenged to minimize cost and maximize revenues in an efficient and effective manner. Many public assembly buildings over the past 30 years have considered "privatization" as a means to increase event bookings, increase revenues and lower costs. Others are intimidated by private management, or are under public opinion to maintain a perceived “ownership” of the facility.

Many believe that typical government operations are simply not suited to act as a dynamic, aggressive and flexible sales and marketing organization. Can you operate an "entrepreneur" as a public facility, and compete in this ever-changing business landscape successfully?

Through analysis of private versus public versus a hybrid model of public assembly facility management, this session will explore the pros and cons of this issue through in-depth sharing of information and experiences from our panel.

Those who attend and participate in this session will better understand examples of:

• Reasons why owners typically privatize.
• The perceived advantages and disadvantages of private (contract) management versus public management.
• Characteristics of a successful public management operation
• The emerging hybrid model, a "public-private" facility

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