Operator Wants Out Of Broomfield

While entities like SMG, Global Spectrum, AEG and Olympia Entertainment tend to compete for facility operation contracts, one facility operator in Broomfield, Colo., wants out completely.

The unusual scenario involves Broomfield Sports & Entertainment and owners of the Broomfield Event Center. Tim Wiens, a real estate developer and owner of the facility operation company, sent a letter to the City Council asking for the operation contract to be nullified.

“Well it is unusual and it’s driven primarily from the recession,” GM Gene Felling told Pollstar. “[Wiens] needs to just focus on his core business.”

Felling is the former GM of The Forum in Los Angeles and CEO of Broomfield Sports & Entertainment. The 7,100-capacity arena is owned by a group of city representatives under the name Broomfield Urban Renewal Authority. Wiens, who built the arena, is developing the surrounding infrastructure.

Felling admitted being CEO of the facility operation company means his future could be affected.

“It’s possible. We really don’t know what’s going to happen with Broomfield Sports & Entertainment. The arena will obviously stay for the next 50 years, and I’m general manager and have extensive relationships.

“It’s kind of discouraging because we have made very significant progress here in the last 18 months, and bookings for ’09 look good, and ’10 and ’11 look even better.”

George Di Ciero, Broomfield’s city and county manager, told Boulder County Business Report Wiens will assist in locating a new operator, adding that the process may take three or more months.

Meanwhile, it’s business as usual.

“We have a lot of activity coming in here – Feld events, [The World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions], hockey games, basketball games – and it will be uninterrupted,” Felling said. “The tenants have entrusted me that their events will come off flawlessly and I’ve assured everyone that will be the case.”