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Parks staff to send ice-rink management change to Wichita City Council after budget review
Summary
Parks staff told the Park Board the rink’s management company is retiring and the department will ask Wichita City Council to review a management/ownership transition; staff also presented a multi-year budget outlook that shows a roughly $54,000 shortfall before returning to profitability by 2027.
Wichita City Parks and Recreation staff told the Park Board that the rink’s management company is retiring and that the department will ask Wichita City Council to review a proposed management and ownership transition tomorrow.
Brandon (Parks and Recreation staff member) said the proposed change is primarily a management-company transition and "local staffing won't change," and that the department has completed due diligence on the incoming firm’s financial and customer-service record.
The presentation also included a five-year projection for the rink showing “about a $54,000 deficit” in the out years and a staff estimate that the facility will return to profitability by 2027. Brandon said the projection assumes continued attendance growth and some new revenue streams tied to planned improvements.
Staff told the board a potential tenant was under discussion for an upstairs concession or retail space; that tenant would require capital improvements the department may propose through the city’s capital-improvement program (CIP) if an agreement is finalized. Brandon said any CIP spending would be contingent on a signed agreement with the prospective tenant.
The board did not take a formal vote at the meeting. Staff described the next formal step as a City Council review and final approval of any change to the rink’s management or ownership structure.
Why it matters: the rink is a revenue-producing Parks and Recreation facility; a management change affects the contract under which operations run and may require council approval for assignment or amendment of the existing management contract. The board received the briefing and will await Council action.
Staff contact and follow-up: Parks staff said representatives of the incoming company will be available at Council to answer questions when the item is scheduled for that body’s review.
