Coliseum attendance, bookings increase

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) -- Total attendance and usage of the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne both increased in 2011, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Randy Brown.

Brown updated the Coliseum’s Board of Trustees at their regular meeting Thursday, informing them that total attendance increased 2.02% from 2010, for a total of 1.13 million visitors. It was the 21st consecutive year that the facility welcomed more than a million guests through its doors.

Additionally, use of the facility increased 7.9% in 2011 from the year before, for a total of 1,405 events. Economic impact of the facility, a measure of dollars contributed to the local economy, reached nearly one hundred million dollars again. At the end of the year, the Coliseum finished in the black, by more than $65,000.

“Many arenas throughout the country lost money and I am proud to report that we did well despite a difficult economy and we are self-supporting,” said Brown. “For 2012, the outlook is great and the number of bookings is trending up.”

Brown also believes it’s the building and how many events it can hold that makes the coliseum so successful year after year.

“We’re typically running numerous events at the same time.  We can accommodate up to 15 different events at the same time at a set volume.  That ultimately makes us as successful as we are.”

For more information about the Memorial Coliseum, located at 4000 Parnell Avenue and its events, visit www.memorialcoliseum.com .